Jones College baseball team’s offseason overview and season preview
With the first game of the 2026 baseball season just around the corner, the Jones College baseball team is more prepared than ever. Last season, the Bobcats went 35-15 and did not make it past the Region 23 Tournament. However, with a new team this year, the team still has the same mindset, and that is to win. This year, Wesley Thigpen will be entering his fifth year as the team’s head coach and plans to do something that has not been done since 2016.
“It’s the same expectation every year, and that is to win a national championship and to have a national championship culture,” Thigpen said. “That means what we do on the field, in the classroom and in the community. We want to represent a national championship brand in everything we do.”
Having 35 wins, like the team last year, is definitely something that is impressive, especially when 20 of them are conference wins. However, the playoffs are where it matters, and last year the team fell short of its goal and was knocked out in the Region 23 Tournament. This season, Coach Thigpen is taking a different approach to make sure his guys are ready for the big games.
“We’ve put more pressure on our guys in practice,” Thigpen said. “One of the biggest things we addressed in recruiting was building more depth, especially on the pitching staff. The last two years, we ran out of gas in the region tournament because our pitchers had logged a lot of innings during the regular season. This year, we’re managing the staff differently and focusing on having more depth so we’re better prepared for postseason play.”
Since Jones College is a two-year college, it can be hard to build a winning culture, but Coach Thigpen has managed to have a winning season every year since being named head coach. He has made it clear that he cannot take all the credit for success because, at the end of the day, it is a team effort.
“Having strong sophomore leadership really helps,” Thigpen said. “The culture is important, but it’s even more important that the players uphold that standard. When players hold each other accountable, it makes the yearly transition much easier.”
Coach Thigpen believes that the team must have players rise up as leaders among each other. He explained that having certain players within the team step up is valuable for success because it is not just another coach telling the players what to do; instead, it is a peer setting the tone by leading by example and showing responsibility.
“We have named two team captains, and they are Colton Smith and Talan Theriot,” Thigpen said. “Smith is a pitcher, and Theriot is a position player, and both really uphold the standard of our program.”
Sophomore Colton Smith was named team captain for the 2026 season. He emerged as a leader within the pitching staff, pitching in multiple games last season for the Bobcats. This offseason, he focused on taking his game to the next level and setting the tone not just for himself but also for his teammates. Smith is confident heading into the season, with guys from last season’s team and new players joining the roster all being on the same page.
“I’m really excited to hit the ground running,” Smith said. “I think we have a talented pitching staff returning a lot of guys, as well as bringing in even more that are ready to go,” Smith said. “This freshman class is mature and physical and seems ready to play at this level.”
Talan Theriot was also named team captain for this upcoming season. The infielder who primarily plays shortstop and currently has a batting average of .295 was on the team last season and got to learn firsthand the standards for Jones College baseball. He believes in the winning culture that the teams before them have set, and he thinks that this team is more than ready to go the distance in the postseason.
“I think the expectations are really high,” Theriot said. “We’re coming off two really good years, and I think we’re primed to have a big season this year.”
The baseball team competed in a short fall season to prepare for the spring. In those games, Theriot had a batting average of .491, which is 27 hits out of 55 at-bats, and in those 27 hits he had three home runs, two doubles and a triple. Theriot said he believes that as a good leader one must lead with actions and show the team what the standard looks like. With Jones College being a two-year school, keeping that standard helps maintain the winning culture within the program.
“Turnover is part of it at a two-year college, but you have to hit the ground running,” Theriot said. “We have a big freshman class with guys ready to make an impact. It’s about having players who are willing and ready to play and keeping that culture going from one year to the next.”
The offseason is all about turning built-up potential into steady progress. The time between seasons can shape and change the direction of a player’s whole career. Sophomore Brayson Graham from Wayne County, Mississippi, came to the team last season as a talented pitcher who just lacked a little control. Going into this season, he has been able to throw up to 98 miles per hour. Another pitcher, freshman Gage Thompson from Oak Grove, Mississippi, has really impressed his coaches this season, showing that he is a true competitor.
“Brayson Graham has been up to 98 miles per hour this fall and has done a great job improving his control,” Thigpen said. “Gage should play a big role on the mound. He competes hard and has been impressive so far.”
The pitching staff is the team’s core going into the season. With a combination of experience in the returners and talent in the newcomers, this pitching staff will be lethal. Right-handed pitchers Colton Smith and Drew Lambert are back and have improved a lot since last year. Josh Lee also returns after pitching a lot of innings for the Bobcats last season, and Chase Russell is also coming back after throwing a lot and producing a lot of hits in his first season. The staff said they are excited to have freshman right-handed pitcher Gage Thompson. The team has the talent; it is just a matter of setting up a strong rotation.
“We return a lot of experience,” Thigpen said. “Early in the season, we’ll figure out roles like starters and closers and put guys in the best position to be successful.”
In the 2025 season, the team had 16 wins and four losses at home. However, when the team was playing away, they only had 13 wins and nine losses. The team benefits when playing at home and has the mindset of “protecting their home,” making sure other teams never have an easy time.
“One of our goals every season is to try to go undefeated at home,” Thigpen said. “It’s a high goal, but that’s what we aim for. Road games are tough in junior college. You might leave at 5 a.m., play two games, and not get back until late at night. That’s a long day, so road games are usually tougher.”
Jones College baseball should provide an exciting season for the college and community.
“We play a good brand of baseball, and it’s a great way to support our student-athletes,” Thigpen said. “You’ll see a team that’s disciplined, tough and passionate about what they do. We’re a talented group, and as a coaching staff, we’re focused on putting the right pieces in the right places to help this team be successful.”
The team is set to play its first game against Coastal Alabama on Jan. 28 and will play its first home game on Feb. 2 against East Central. Coach Thigpen believes the guys are ready to take on anyone, but it is all about one game at a time.
After months of preparation and hard work during the offseason, the 2026 baseball season is here. With new players coming in and different approaches to a few things, the mindset still stays the same: Win.
by Jackson Vella
