UVA Baseball Loaded With Power Hitters for 2026 Season

Cavaliers return home run king AJ Gracia and add several sluggers from Duke transfer portal

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The University of Virginia baseball team is set to open the 2026 season with a lineup full of power hitters, including returning star AJ Gracia and several transfers from Duke University. The Cavaliers are expected to hit a lot of home runs and doubles this year, with a disciplined approach at the plate that should make them an exciting team to watch.

Why it matters

After a down year in 2025 where the Cavaliers ranked just 12th in the ACC in home runs, the addition of several big bats from Duke gives UVA a chance to be one of the most potent offensive teams in the conference this season. The power-packed lineup could help the program bounce back and compete for a conference title.

The details

Headlining the Cavaliers' lineup is centerfielder AJ Gracia, who hit 29 home runs the past two seasons at Duke. The Blue Devils were second in the ACC in home runs in 2025 with 115. Another Duke transfer, first baseman Harris, hit 9 home runs in 44 games last year and could be poised for a breakout campaign. Left-hander Kyle Johnson, also from Duke, will contribute both on the mound and as a power-hitting designated hitter. Returning players like shortstop Eric Becker (9 HR in 2025) and left fielder Harrison Didawick (career-low 6 HR in 2025) are also expected to provide pop in the lineup. Even the team's new catcher, Jake Weatherspoon, impressed with his power in the fall. The only notable absence is second baseman Joe Tiroly, a Rider transfer who hit 18 home runs last season.

  • The Cavaliers open the 2026 season on Friday, February 14 at home against Wagner.
  • In 2025, the Cavaliers ranked 12th in the 16-team ACC with 69 home runs.

The players

AJ Gracia

A centerfielder and preseason All-American who blasted 29 home runs the past two seasons for Duke.

Harris

A Duke transfer and likely starter at first base, he hit 9 home runs in 44 games in 2025.

Kyle Johnson

A Duke transfer left-hander who was expected to start on the mound in Friday's opener, but has been slowed by arm trouble. He hit 7 home runs in limited at-bats over the past two seasons for the Blue Devils.

Eric Becker

The Cavaliers' returning shortstop who hit 9 home runs in 50 games last season.

Harrison Didawick

The Cavaliers' returning left fielder who matched the UVA single-season record with 23 home runs in 2024 but struggled in 2025, hitting just 6 home runs.

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What they’re saying

“The lineup as a whole is going to be really exciting. We're just not really going to chase much. It's a really disciplined lineup. And obviously when we do get pitches in the zone, we have a lot of guys who can do damage. We're going to hit a lot of doubles and homers.”

— AJ Gracia (cvillerightnow.com)

“I definitely feel I can help this team in the box and on the mound. I wanted to continue to do both.”

— Kyle Johnson (cvillerightnow.com)

“Guys have a lot of power. Guys are going to stay in the strike zone. You hear that a lot from the guys who came over from Duke – control the strike zone. The returners we have are pretty aggressive. I think ET's done a really good job of calming us down a little bit, staying with our strengths and being aggressive.”

— Eric Becker (cvillerightnow.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will open the season on Friday, February 14 at home against Wagner in the first game of a three-game series.

The takeaway

With a lineup stacked with power hitters, including several transfers from Duke, the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team is poised to be one of the most exciting offenses in the ACC this season. The disciplined approach at the plate combined with the ability to hit for power should make the Cavaliers a force to be reckoned with as they look to bounce back from a down year in 2025.