SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The college baseball season officially kicks off this weekend with the seventh iteration of the MLB Desert Invitational, bringing together eight programs in Arizona for a showcase of early-season talent. The event, which runs from to , features a mix of returning teams and newcomers vying for an early edge as they prepare for conference play.
Four programs – Air Force, Iowa, Northeastern, and Penn State – will be making their Desert Invitational debut, joining UConn, Kansas State, Nebraska, and Grand Canyon. The tournament aims to establish itself as the premier opening weekend event in college baseball, attracting attention from MLB scouts and fans alike. Chuck Fox, MLB’s senior director of baseball and softball development, has long envisioned the Invitational as a platform to showcase the sport’s rising stars.
The schedule gets underway on with four contests. Iowa will face Kansas State at Goodyear Ballpark at 3 p.m. ET, while UConn takes on Nebraska at Salt River Fields and Northeastern battles Grand Canyon at Brazell Field @ GCU Ballpark, both at 8 p.m. ET. Air Force and Penn State will also square off at Goodyear Ballpark at 8 p.m. ET.
features Penn State against Grand Canyon at Salt River Fields at 3 p.m. ET, followed by Kansas State versus UConn at Scottsdale Stadium at 7 p.m. ET. Iowa will then meet Air Force at Salt River Fields at 8 p.m. ET, and Nebraska will play Northeastern at Sloan Park at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The action continues on with Kansas State facing Penn State at Sloan Park at 2 p.m. ET, and Iowa taking on Northeastern at Salt River Fields at 3 p.m. ET. Nebraska will then challenge Grand Canyon at Sloan Park at 7:30 p.m. ET, and Air Force will play UConn at Salt River Fields at 8 p.m. ET. The tournament concludes on with Kansas State versus Air Force at Sloan Park and Stanford versus Nebraska at Salt River Fields, both at 3 p.m. ET.
A significant draw for the participating programs is the exposure provided by MLB Network, which will broadcast three games live with Gregg Caserta, Dan O’Dowd, and Jesse Borek calling the action. All other games will be streamed live on MLB.com, with the exception of the matchup between Northeastern and Grand Canyon.
The growing partnership between Major League Baseball and the college game is a key factor in the Invitational’s success. Nebraska head coach Will Bolt emphasized the importance of the coverage, stating, “It shows where we’re trending in Division 1 baseball and the partnership with Major League Baseball continues to be a great thing to help grow our game.”
Kansas State head coach Pete Hughes echoed that sentiment, adding, “I love the fact that MLB, the world and the country can get a feel for what kind of coaching is being done in the Northeast, in the Big Ten and in the Big East. It’s the gold standard of college baseball when it comes to people, integrity … and the ability to get teams ready.”
While the event doesn’t feature any players currently ranked in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Draft Prospects, several players are generating buzz. Northeastern’s Harrison Feinberg was recently named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. Outfielder Tyler Minick of Connecticut, right-handers Garrett Ahern of Grand Canyon, and Ty Horn of Nebraska are all considered potential Day 1 selections in the MLB Draft. Penn State’s Preston Yaucher, despite not yet having played a collegiate game, has also turned heads with his performance in the Appalachian League.
The Invitational also provides a platform for showcasing two-way talent, with Donte Lewis of Kansas State and Tyler Guerin of Iowa both expected to pitch and hit throughout the weekend. The presence of these versatile players adds another layer of intrigue to the already competitive field.
Grand Canyon, a frequent participant in the Desert Invitational, sees the event as a valuable opportunity to elevate its program. Head coach Gregg Wallis noted, “It’s just been a great experience for us to participate [each of the past three years]. I think it’s one of the highlights of our year — opening at home and the excitement around that, always playing quality opponents and then getting into the big league ballparks — that kind of helps prepare us.”
The expansion of the tournament to include Goodyear Ballpark and Scottsdale Stadium alongside established venues like Sloan Park, Salt River Fields, and Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark, provides players with the unique experience of competing in the same ballparks used by Major League teams during Spring Training. This exposure to professional facilities is seen as a valuable developmental opportunity.
For Air Force, the Desert Invitational represents more than just a baseball tournament. Head coach Mike Kazlausky emphasized the broader significance of the event for his players, stating, “For us coming out there to be able to play, it’s called practice. At the end of the day for our kids, it’s a lot more than just the white lines and what happens during the course of a game… I think I have a different perspective than most regarding playing the game of baseball, just preparing these kids to go fight and serve our country later on in life. That’s our ultimate goal.” He added, “So that makes me proud to be at this school. We’re going to fight, we’re going to compete, and hopefully you guys don’t mind, we want to shake hands after every game.”
As the MLB Desert Invitational continues to grow in stature, it solidifies its position as a key event on the college baseball calendar, offering a compelling blend of competition, exposure, and developmental opportunities for players and programs alike.
