Positional Previews: New Pitchers

MACON – A year removed from posting the second-best team ERA in the Southern Conference, the Mercer Bears brought in seven new arms to complement their 15 returners.

Miguel Hugas
Junior | RHP

Hugas headlines the group of incoming pitchers after a dominant season at Chipola College. The Caracas, Venezuela, native was a two-way player for the Indians and his sophomore season ended with D1 All-FCSAA Second Team and All-Panhandle Conference First Team honors. Hugas made 12 appearances on the mound (10 starts) and posted a 7-3 record with a 3.52 ERA. The towering righty struck out 56 batters in 61.1 innings of work and threw for five or more innings in nine of his outings.

Head Coach Craig Gibson on Hugas – "I love Miguel Hugas. He's the ultimate professional. You know exactly what you are going to get out of him every day. Whenever he is on the mound, there is something special to watch."

Aidan Hayse
R-Freshman | RHP

Although Hayse has yet to make his collegiate debut, his potential is endless. The Shorewood, Illinois native was the No. 3 ranked RHP in the state of Illinois coming out of high school before taking his talents to Tennessee. Hayse redshirted behind a loaded pitching room before making the move to Macon. Perfect Game named Hayse the SoCon Preseason Freshman of the Year ahead of the 2026 season.

Coach Gibson on Hayse – "Aidan has tremendous stuff and brings a lot of arm talent to the table. He's electric. There are signs of greatness with him. We believe that when the consistency comes along, he has the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the country."

Dalton Biggs
Junior | RHP

Biggs transfers to Mercer after two seasons as one of the best closers in the Panhandle Conference for Pensacola State CC. The 2025 Panhandle Conference Fireman of the Year has 39 career appearances out of the bullpen with 67.2 innings under his belt. Biggs went 5-1 as a sophomore with a career-best 3.79 ERA while winning the FCSAA Gold Glove Award for displaying immense defensive prowess on the mound.

Coach Gibson on Biggs – "Dalton is a great athlete and shows tremendous ability to close the game. He gathered a lot of experience at a great program in the final third of the game, and we feel confident that we can see a similar role here."

Caleb Hughes
R-Freshman | RHP

Hughes has yet to make his collegiate debut after redshirting last season at Southern Miss. The Woodstock, Georgia, native had an incredible senior year at Etowah High School where he finished the season with an 11-2 record and a 1.17 ERA to help the Eagles win 34 games and the state championship. The 2024 Cherokee County Pitcher of the Year made the move closer to home looking to contribute in a variety of ways for the Bears.

Coach Gibson on Hughes – "The best way to describe him is by saying he's a right-handed Colton Cosper. He doesn't just throw strikes. He throws quality strikes and has the ability to land multiple pitches in the strike zone. He's had a great camp, and we feel confident that when he's out there, we have a chance to win the game."

Ismael Borrero
Junior | RHP

Borrero, an alum of Chipola College, joins fellow Indian Miguel Hugas in the move to Mercer. Borrero appeared in 38 games throughout his two seasons in Marianna, Florida. The Hurricane, West Virginia, native bolsters a 4.65 career ERA and a 9-5 record with 79.1 innings of work.

Coach Gibson on Borrero – "He's a very talented pitcher with experience in every aspect of the game. His stuff is outstanding."

Nick Staszak
Junior | RHP

Listed at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, Staszak brings a towering presence to the mound and a mix of experience. The junior transfer from Santa Fe Community College made eight starts with 35 total appearances over the last two seasons.

Coach Gibson on Staszak – "Nick might have been a late signing for us, but he has been a great signing for us. He's an excellent competitor that brings it every single time he takes the mound. I believe that you have to beat Nick. He's not going to beat himself."

Michael Strickland
Freshman | RHP

Entering the 2026 season, Strickland is the only true freshman on the Bears' pitching staff. Last year, Strickland posted a 2.02 ERA with a 7-1 record as a senior at Coffee County High School. The Douglas, Georgia, native struck out 88 batters over 65.2 innings while only allowing 15 free passes en route to being named his region's Pitcher of the Year. In his junior season, Strickland went 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA and 76 strikeouts to help Coffee County break a school record for the most amount of wins in a single season.

Coach Gibson on Strickland – "Michael is going to be a guy that we really build our future around. He was a great player for a great program in high school. His ability to pitch ahead and throw strikes early in counts is huge for him."

Players Mentioned

Dalton Biggs

Ismael Borrero

Colton Cosper

Aidan Hayse

Miguel Hugas

Caleb Hughes

Nick Staszak

Michael Strickland

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