New names will headline the lineup, while a few familiar faces look to step into expanded roles
By Zach Horwitz @HorwitzZach February 12th, 2026 – photos by Carl James
For the first time in years, Indiana’s outfield won’t revolve around established stars. With program home run leader Devin Taylor and All-American Korbyn Dickerson off to professional baseball, Jeff Mercer turns the page to a younger, faster and more defensive-oriented group in 2026.
Left Field
If there’s one constant during Jeff Mercer’s seven seasons in Bloomington, it’s his willingness to trust freshmen early. That trend appears set to continue.
Cal Gates, a Bedford native and one of the top in-state recruits in the 2025 class, has quickly moved past the early adjustment period. After a quieter fall, Gates responded with a strong winter and now looks poised to open the season as Indiana’s starting left fielder.
There’s legitimate upside here.
Gates projects as more than just a steady freshman placeholder. His swing has shown increasing life, and his ability to make adjustments has stood out throughout the preseason. If that trajectory continues, he has the potential to develop into one of Indiana’s most productive players by the end of 2026.
Center Field
Center field shapes up as the most competitive spot in the outfield, though Cole Decker currently holds the inside track.
The Evansville native made his impact last season primarily as a late-game pinch runner, using his speed to influence games without taking regular at-bats. Now, he’ll look to turn that athleticism into everyday production. Decker fits the mold of a prototypical Mercer center fielder: range in the gaps, disruptive on the bases and capable of shifting momentum without relying on power.
Behind him sits Chandler-Gilbert C.C. transfer Ayden Crouse.
Now a redshirt junior, Crouse is coming off an impressive junior college campaign in which he tallied 92 hits, hit .391 and swiped 56 bases. His defensive ability alone makes him a late-inning option, even if he doesn’t break out as the starter. Depending on matchups — particularly against left-handed pitching — Mercer could lean into a platoon approach early in the season.
The position may not be settled long-term, but Indiana has two athletic options capable of handling the responsibility.
Right Field
As mentioned in the 2026 Infield Preview, (https://iubase.com/2026-season-preview-infield/), Hogan Denny projects as one of the most versatile pieces on the roster. Mercer expects to move him around — right field, catcher and designated hitter — depending on the day and the matchup.
Wherever Denny’s bat is needed most, he’ll be in the lineup.
When that role shifts him away from right field, Caleb Koskie is the likely next option. The Minnesota native brings versatility of his own. A true two-way player, Koskie made five appearances on the mound last season while also starting 12 games in the outfield in 2025.
His impact stretch last April — highlighted by a first-inning grand slam against Michigan State — helped solidify his role down the stretch and proved his ability to provide instant offense.
Much like center field, right field could become a matchup-driven position early in the season. Mercer has never shied away from analytics or situational decisions, and this spot gives him flexibility to prioritize either offense or defense depending on game flow.
Behind Denny and Koskie sits intriguing depth. Pepperdine transfer Brodey Bitove adds experience, while highly regarded freshmen Trey Meyers — ranked seventh in Illinois — and Noah Drake, the second-ranked outfielder in Indiana out of Castle High School, represent long-term upside within the program.
Right field may not have a fixed identity in February, but it offers Mercer options — and options tend to create competition.
The identity of this outfield will likely evolve through the first month of the season. Platoons, defensive substitutions and matchup-based decisions could define the early weeks while roles solidify. Between Gates’ upside, Decker’s range and speed, and the lineup flexibility surrounding Denny and Koskie, Indiana has multiple pathways to production. The names may be new, but the blueprint remains the same.