There could be additional additional still coming. And maybe someone will have more in depth reports on these guys. But now that all 21 draftees are signed and delivered, I did a little research on 5 kids the Twins have signed post draft as UDFA. Thought I would share what I’ve found.
ADAM FALINSKI/ RHP/ Troy university: 6′ 3″ 221 lbs, almost 23yo.He began his college career at Eastern Michigan before transferring to Troy for 2025. And it was definitely his best season to date. His coach raves about him as a person and as a teammate. He appeared in 18G with 7 of those being starts. He produced a 5.83 ERA/ 46.1 IP/ 51 H allowed/ 23BB/ and 46 K. He would appear to have reliever written all over him.
ERIC HAMMOND/ RHP/ Georgia: 6′ 4″ 190 lbs 23yo in November. He spent his first 2yrs at USC with limited results. While he started in 21 of 27 appearances, his ERA was pushing 7 both seasons with poor peripherals. However, his 1yr spent at Georgia saw a turnaround with an ERA of 4.15, but only 17.1 IP as a reliever only. He allowed 14 H/ 7 BB/ and had 23 K. I’m thinking late blooming reliever with room to grow and add velocity.
IAN DOUGHERTY/ C/ Oklahoma State: 6′ 2″ 212 lbs almost 23yo. He played all 4yr at OK St and was almost exclusively a catcher. Not much of a bat, and not much power, hitting 10HR in 2024, 8 in 2025, but a career number of only 19 HR. Career quad slash of: .264/ .366/ .475/ .841.
Now it does get a little more interesting.
LUIS HERNANDEZ/ C-1B/ LSU-Puerto Rico: 6′ 1″ 190 lbs 23yo. Hernandez played his first 3yrs at the smaller school of Indiana State before transferring to LSU for the 2025 season. He played almost exclusively as a catcher his freshman season. He spent 2023 as the primary DH, and then moved to 1B in 2024. (I couldn’t find if injury was part of the various moves). While he didn’t perform poorly, he had a breakout at 1B in 2024 with 14 Dbls/ 23 HR/ and 76RBI and a quad slash of .359/ .421/ .644/ 1.114. He was amongst the top performers in the MVC which lead to his transfer to LSU, where he moved BACK to catcher and was their primary backstop this past season. And in about 1/3 less PA, he didn’t perform poorly with 11 Dbls/ 1 Trpl/ 9 HR/ 33 RBI. His quad slash was .270/ .348/ .500/ .848. Not bad for a backstop in his first and only season for a powerhouse SEC program that had a phenomenal year. But is he really a catcher?
Lastly:
HARRY GENTH/ INF/ Division 3 Haverford College: 5′ 8″ 185 lbs almost 23yo. Yes, you read that right, he’s from a D3 school. He’s seen playing time at SS and 3B, but has primarily been a 2B. He put up solid quad line numbers all 4 yrs and improved said numbers all 4yrs. (A few, brief, games played in summer ball that were mediocre, and SSSS). But this past year he produced 15 Dbls/ 2 Trpls/ 23 HR/ 77 RBI with 31 successful SB out of 32 attempts! And get his senior quad slash line: .428/ .556/ 1.034/ 1.600! Those numbers aren’t a mistake. Considering he was on a continuous upswing in production in college, i have to wonder why he didn’t transfer to a larger school for his senior season?
In short, and strictly my opinion, they signed a depth/organizational catcher and a couple arms that have at least some potential out of the pen. In particular, I’m somewhat intrigued by the tall and lanky Hammond from Georgia. How do you perform so poorly at USC, then teansfer to an SEC school and show so much improvement, even in SSS?
Why did Hernandez…who also performed very well for a silver medal PR appearance in the under 23yo games…move off of catcher after his freshman season to DH, and then to 1B? WAS there an injury I couldn’t find? And then the national champion LSU program moves him back to being their primary backstop? It will be really interesting to see if the Twins keep him at catcher, which I presume they will. Based on what he did at Indiana State…though a smaller school…it would seem there is SOME bat and power potential there for a move to 1B if catcher doesn’t work out.
It’s a LONG WAY from D3 to MLB. But when a kid like Genth puts up video game numbers like that he’s at least worth a look.
All of these kids are 23yo, or close to being so. They all have obvious flaws in their abilities/production, SSS of production, or level of play. But a couple of them just might have some tools for the development staff to work with.
Just wanted to share what I’ve found out so far about these UDFA post draft.
Pitt received a commitment from former Kentucky middle blocker/right-side hitter Jordyn Dailey.
Dailey is a redshirt sophomore and will have two years of eligibility. The 6-foot-2 North Carolina native racked up 188 kills, 116 blocks and 42 digs over the past two seasons. Dailey recorded 142 kills, 82 blocks and a .314 hitting percentage in 2024. Her numbers dipped to 46 kills, 34 blocks and a .211 hitting percentage in 2025.
Pitt lost middle blocker Ryla Jones to Penn State through the transfer portal.
HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston volleyball program and head coach Brenda Gray announced the signing of six student-athletes to play for the Bearkats for the 2026 season.
The signing class consists of outside hitters Annika Brooks, Brenlin Garlitz, Justice Rachal, Kameron Rector, Lauren Pyle and Sarah Odell.
“All of these young ladies bring a passion and energy that Sam Houston Volleyball thrives upon,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “They all come with numerous accolades both on the court and in the classroom.”
Annika Brooks • 6-3 • RS • Halletsville, Texas • Sacred Heart Catholic School / Blinn College
Blinn College
– 2025 second team all-conference selection
Ovilla Christian School
– 2021 second team all-district selection as freshman
– 2022 first team all-district selection as a sophomore
– 2022 honorable mention all-area
– 2023 first team all-district selection as a junior
– 2023 TAPPS first team all-state selection
– 2023 honorable mention all-area selection
– 2023 TAPPS academic all-state selection
– 2024 first team all-district selection as a senior
– 2024 TAPPS first team all-state selection
– 2024 TAPPS academic all-state selection
Texas Tornadoes (Club)
– 17s bid to nationals
– 18s bid to nationals
Gray on Brooks …
“Annika brings size and a blocking presence to our game on the right side. We are so fortunate to have her join us this spring.”
Brenlin Garlitz • 5-10 • S • Waxahachie, Texas • Ovilla Christian School
Ovilla Christian School
– 2022 TAPPS second team all-district selection as freshman
– 2023 TAPPS first team all-state
– 2024 TAPPS first team all-state
– 2024 Ellis County All-Star Team
– 4-time state champion
Texas Advantage Volleyball (Club)
– NRG 15s bid to nationals
– NRG 16s bid to nationals
– TAV 18s Black: 5th at nationals
Gray on Garlitz …
“We are excited to bring in a dynamic setter to help run our floor. Brenlin runs a quick offense and brings a passion and love for the game that is undeniable.”
“Justice will be a crowd favorite from the start. She has a contagious energy and a vertical leap that will add to the excitement on the outside position.”
“It is good for us to get an experienced floor leader on the roster and we are excited to have her join us in the spring to begin running our offense and bring her expertise that she delivered in junior college”.
– 2024 and 2025 District 15-6A Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year
– 2024 and 2025 first team all-District 15-6A
– 2024 and 2025 academic all-District 15-6A
– Played club at North Houston Elite Volleyball
Gray on Odell …
“There is an explosiveness to the outside that is needed in this league, which Sarah immediately gives us as a complete, six-rotation player who will help balance our offense.”
If it were up to head coach Charlie Wade, the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team would never start its season this early.
The Rainbow Warriors, who began their preseason practices on Sunday, will officially begin their 2026 campaign on Friday against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Although the ‘Bows have routinely started their seasons on the first Friday of the year, that doesn’t mean Wade has to like it.
“I’ve advocated that the first match can’t be before (Martin Luther King Jr. Day),” Wade said on Monday. “Let them actually have a holiday and then come back and practice for a couple of weeks. But how it goes, everybody kind of ramps it up, practices for a few days and then starts playing.”
One of the few positives Wade sees in the compressed preseason schedule is the fact that the Rainbow Warriors are not in class yet, which allows them the time to focus on an intense schedule featuring two practices a day leading up to the opener.
Trips to the practice gym have been frequent in recent days. Inside of it is a collection of world-class athletes, a roster featuring players from seven different countries and four separate states. Although there’s only one senior among the 19 players, the Rainbow Warriors are a team with clear national championship expectations in 2026.
The Rainbow Warriors have played in four national championship matches under Wade, winning it all in 2021 and 2022. The ‘Bows went 27-6 in 2025 and were swept by UCLA in the national semifinals. In 2026, UH returns five of its seven starters in that semifinal match, not counting star opposite hitter Kristian Titriyski, who missed the last eight matches due to an ankle injury.
Despite its losses in personnel, the Rainbow Warriors have reloaded. After losing beloved assistant coach Milan Zarkovic to UCLA, Wade got Maui native and former Ball State head coach Donan Cruz to join the staff. Meanwhile, the void left by former starting libero ‘Eleu Choy will likely be filled by Canadian national teamer Quintin Greenidge, a newcomer in Mānoa who will have two years of college eligibility remaining.
When Grand Canyon University decided to immediately scrap its nationally ranked men’s volleyball program following the 2025 season to focus on other sports, the Rainbow Warriors were able to benefit by signing freshman All-American Trevell Jordan and former GCU commit Thatcher Fahlbusch. Jordan is competing for one of the two starting spots at middle blocker, along with Ofeck Hazan, Justin Todd, Alex Parks and 7-foot freshman Roman Payne.
“None of us saw it coming,” Jordan said of Grand Canyon punting on men’s volleyball. “The team and squad (at UH) has been really inviting. They’ve been working with me to get me more accommodated to here, as it’s a big move from where I originally was from.”
Jordan immediately became one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal upon entering. He was already familiar with a handful of players on the UH roster after playing with them on multiple United States national teams.
“He had offers to go to every top program in the country, and ironically, they were pushing him to make a fast decision, and they pushed him towards us,” Wade recalled. “I was the one saying, ‘Hey, I’m in for the long haul. I want you here. Take your time to figure it out.'”
Running the show for the Rainbow Warriors is Tread Rosenthal, the team’s 6-foot-11 setter who established himself as the team’s unquestioned leader as a sophomore in 2025.
“I think last year we showed that we had the potential to be the best team on any given night, but I think this year we need to be the best team every night no matter what,” Rosenthal said. “I think that just comes with working with together to get it more consistent.”
Added Wade: “It’s year three (for Rosenthal). It’s the payoff year, right? By the third year, you can see there’s just kind of a calm confidence to him that he’s kind of been there, done that. He clearly is the leader of the team. These are his guys. A lot of them are here because of him. Looking for even bigger and better things from him this year for sure.”
Hawai‘i will start off the year as the No. 2 team in the country following the release of the preseason AVCA poll, which had UCLA in the top spot. External expectations are high for the Rainbow Warriors, but internal expectations are higher.
“My freshman year, we didn’t go to the championship. My sophomore year, we lost in the the semis,” junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko said. “We have to get the championship now. I feel like the whole team knows we could win the championship. We have the team for it, but now we need to be consistent enough to beat every single team every night. And we’re just really, really excited to prove that to everyone.
“We all want to win a national championship. That’s the goal. We won the Big West last year, that was wonderful for sure, but we want that big one.”
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
Setter: Madison Markwardt, Round Top-Carmine, soph.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ana Servin, Sulphur Bluff, sr.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Professional Volleyball League team Choco Mucho Flying Titans announced four addition to their team, Eya Laure, Jaila Atienza, Alina Bicar, and Caitlin Viray, for 2026 on Wednesday.
“The Choco Mucho Flying Titans welcome 4 new players to the team! They bring the grit, speed, and fire that will make every match unforgettable,” they wrote in their post.
This came after Royse Tubino, Bia General, Cherry Nunag, and Aduke Agunsanya ended their stint with the team. (Instagram/Choco Mucho Flying Titans)
