The Green Wave will roll with a third-year program veteran and two transfers as it looks to start 2026 on a high note.
Opening Day of college baseball season is upon us, and the Tulane Green Wave has officially announced its starting rotation for the first weekend of action.
The Green Wave lost quite a few pieces of its veteran pitching staff at the end of last season, but that hasn't slowed the program down one bit. The Sluggerbirds made significant moves in the transfer portal while retaining key difference-makers. Although things might look different on the mound this year, the talent is certainly there.
Tulane will roll with right-handed pitcher Trey Cehajic on Friday. The graduate student is the only member of the starting rotation who played on the team previously, and he's looking to make a big jump as a leader of the program in his third year.
Cehajic had a solid 2025 campaign that ended with a 5-2 record on the mound. The righty made 15 appearances and pitched 57 complete innings of action, tossing 57 strikeouts and posting a 4.89 earned run average. He held opponents to 31 earned runs and 66 hits on the year.
Additionally, Cehajic enters the season with some high expectations: he's been named a First-Team Preseason All-Conference selection by Perfect Game. There's plenty of confidence that he can be a standout Friday night guy for the Green Wave.
Saturday brings a fresh face to the Olive Green and Sky Blue: left-handed pitcher Beau Sampson. The junior transfer from the Oklahoma Sooners had limited playing time in the SEC, but he made the most of his opportunities out of the bullpen. Sampson posted a 1-0 record in 13 games for Oklahoma, totaling 10 strikeouts, six earned runs and just one extra-base hit on the year.
The lefty has struggled a bit in the past with ball control, as he walked 11 batters and threw three wild pitches in 2025. Given that he was just a sophomore, it's safe to say that some extra experience and preparation will help him tremendously.
Sunday's starter is another newcomer, as righty Jack Frankel will look to close out the weekend series on a high note. The Liberty Flames transfer made 18 appearances during his 2025 freshman season, becoming a key piece of the team's rotation. Frankel posted a 4-3 overall record and a 3.40 ERA with 32 strikeouts on the year. In comparison, he gave up 37 hits and 17 earned runs while walking just 12 batters.
All three players have the potential to provide a much-needed spark right out of the gate for Tulane as the team looks to put together a strong season and make a return to the NCAA Tournament.
The Green Wave will open its season on Friday as it travels to Los Angeles to take on the Loyola Marymount Lions in a three-game series. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. CT.