ST. LOUIS - The Missouri Valley Conference announced its baseball "Players to Watch" list for the upcoming season this morning, including five University of Evansville student-athletes – Kenton Deverman (Dardenne Prairie, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West), Max Hansmann (Elmhurst, Ill./York), Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind./Seymour), Reagan Reeder (Ramsey, Minn./Illinois), and Harrison Taubert (Casper, Wyo./Northeast CC).

Deverman returns to campus as one of the most accomplished pitchers in the Missouri Valley Conference. As a sophomore last season, Deverman was tabbed as the MVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year by D1Baseball and served as the Aces' primary Friday night starter for the second consecutive season, posting a 5.61 ERA in 67.1 innings. In 2024, Deverman had one of the finest freshman campaigns in UE history, posting a 4.22 ERA while leading all NCAA freshmen in innings pitched (111.0) and wins (9) and leading the Aces to MVC Tournament and NCAA Regional titles. For his efforts, Deverman was named a Freshman All-American in addition to All-Region accolades, while being named MVC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MVC.

Hansmann enters his senior season having been an anchor of the Aces' pitching staff over the duration of his collegiate career. Across three seasons, Hansmann has appeared in 68 games and made seven starts, tallying 125.2 innings of work with a 6-2 record. Last season, Hansmann worked 50.2 innings and punched out 55, the second-most on the staff. In 2024, Hansmann made 26 appearances, including key outings in the MVC Tournament title game, NCAA Regional final, and NCAA Super Regional. As a freshman in 2023, Hansmann immediately emerged as a reliable bullpen option for the Aces, leading all MVC freshmen and ranking 11^th in the league overall in appearances with 23.

Longmeier lands on the Players to Watch list after a breakout redshirt freshman season in 2025. Longemeier started 52 games and hit .303 as a key cog in the Evansville lineup, leading the team with a .910 OPS and .495 slugging percentage. He finished second on the team with a .415 on base percentage while driving in 36 runs and scoring 40 runs. In conference play, Longmeier was even better, hitting .373 for the fourth-best mark in the league.
 
Reeder joins the Evansville program in 2026 after spending the last two seasons at the University of Illinois. Over two seasons with the Illini, Reeder appeared in 10 games with nine at-bats. Reeder has spent the last two summers with the Duluth Huskies in the Northwoods League and enjoyed a strong summer in 2025, hitting .303 with an .804 OPS.
Taubert returns for his third season in the purple and white in 2026 as a graduate student and an established presence in the Missouri Valley Conference. An every day starter over the last two years, Taubert slugged a team-leading eight home runs and 17 doubles in 2025. An elite defender in the outfield as well, Taubert led the Aces with seven outfield assists a year ago. In 2024, Taubert was an instrumental piece in one of the strongest lineups in program history, hitting .292 with nine home runs, 49 RBI and 54 runs scored. Taubert also tied for the team lead with 21 doubles en route to a .500 slugging percentage.

Opening weekend for the 2026 campaign is two weeks away, as the Aces will travel to Kennesaw, Ga. from February 13-15 to take on Kennesaw State and Marshall for two games apiece. From February 20-22, the Aces will open up the home schedule by hosting 18^th-ranked Kentucky for a three game series at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium.

Season tickets for the 2026 season are on sale now.  We offer great seats that fit with every family budget. For questions or more information on how we can help you and your family create long lasting memories with us at German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium this season, please call Logan Belz at the UE Ticket office 812-488-2623.