Who Are the Key Returners That Will Make a Difference for ECU Baseball?
The Pirates of East Carolina clawed their way into the postseason after failing to make the Top 25 during the regular season. However, after an impressive regional performance against an SEC powerhouse, the Pirates had a new monster to face: the transfer portal and the MLB Draft. Losing athletes to the draft and the portal is something even the best teams have to prepare for every year. The Pirates did decent work making moves in the portal to add to the roster of returners. Key returners to watch for the Pirates in the 2026 season include Austin Irby, Alex Peltier, and Jackson DiLorenzo.
Last season, Austin Irby delivered at the plate for the Pirates. The young team struggled offensively to score runs against strong opponents, something the East Carolina program is not used to. Irby, only a freshman, stepped up when his team needed him. In 62 games, Irby recorded a batting average of .303. With strong fall training, he can be expected to be a key member of the Pirates’ batting lineup come spring.
Peltier was also a true freshman in the 2025 season. With a batting average of .211 and a fielding percentage of .980, the young outfielder is one to watch in the coming season. In his freshman season, he played 62 games with the Pirates and scored a total of 27 runs. Fall ball will allow Peltier to truly prove his talents both at home plate and in the outfield. He’ll have to step up in many aspects, but with a year of college ball and a few postseason games under his belt, we may see a whole new side to Peltier.
In the bullpen, Jackson DiLorenzo is a face Pirate fans are eager to see more of. In his two seasons with the Pirates, he’s recorded five total wins and two losses. The six-foot righty has also recorded 50 total strikeouts across just over 40 innings pitched. With some work this fall, he could become the team’s key reliever in his junior season. He’ll also need to step up as a leader in the bullpen. The Pirates are a young team still, and three years of experience gives DiLorenzo something many of those athletes do not have.
