November 11, 2025

Dakota State University Baseball is proud to announce the early signing of nine student-athletes to the 2026 recruiting class. The group includes seven standouts from the Trojans' home state of South Dakota, continuing the program's strong tradition of developing local talent.

The 2026 early class features a blend of high-level athletic ability, academic excellence, and strong character—qualities that align with the core values of the Dakota State baseball program. The coaching staff focused on addressing key roster needs, particularly by adding projectable pitching talent and impact left-handed hitters to strengthen the lineup for years to come.

Head Coach Derrion Hardie expressed his excitement about the early signing class and the continued momentum within the program. "We're thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of young men to the Trojan family," said Hardie. "This class represents everything we look for at Dakota State—talent, commitment, and character. Our coaching staff did a tremendous job identifying players who not only fit our culture but also help us continue building on the momentum our program has established. The future of Trojan Baseball is in great hands."

With a balanced mix of arms and bats, the 2026 early signing class reflects the program's ongoing dedication to developing homegrown talent and competing at a high level.

In 2025, the Trojans established an average of 32 wins a season since 2021. Other highlights include a regional ranking, four players signing professional contracts, a National Pitcher-of-the-Week, the Conference Pitcher-of-the-Year, breaking seven DSU records, recognition as a National Scholar Team, and 825 community service hours worked.

2026 Early Signing Class:
Grady Ramos – LHP/OF – Dakota Valley High School – Dakota Dunes, S.D. – 6'0" - 175
Grady is a left-handed pitcher and outfielder from Dakota Dunes, S.D., and Dakota Valley High School. In the 2025 high school spring season for the Panthers, Ramos earned 1st Team Class B All-State and All-Region honors after posting a .594 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched where he struck out 54 hitters and walked just 10. He also led the Panthers to a Class B State Championship game appearance during the 2025 summer Legion season where he compiled a 6-2 record and a 2.32 ERA on the mound with 77 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched. He also posted a .348 batting average with 15 doubles at the plate and stole 17 bases that summer. Carrying a 3.88 GPA, Ramos plans to pursue a degree in accounting during his tenure at Dakota State.

Coach Rutan on Grady: "We're pumped to welcome Grady and his family to our program here at Dakota State. He impressed us the first time we saw him play at the Class B High School State Tournament back in May and we made it a point to watch him play as much as possible over the summer. After following him continuously this summer and getting him to one of our prospect camps, we knew Grady was a perfect fit for our program and the future of our pitching staff. Grady is a humble and mature young man with the tools and makeup necessary to be successful in our program. Aside from that, Grady has proven to be nothing short than a flat-out winner, and we look forward to him bringing that mindset and experience with him to DSU. Grady is only going to get better as he continues to develop, and we're excited to see the jumps he will make during his senior season before his arrival to campus. We're excited to get to work with Grady and see what he will accomplish in his four years here at Dakota State."

Easton Feser – 1B – Yankton High School – Yankton, S.D. – 6'0" - 190
Easton Feser joins the Trojans from Yankton, S.D. Feser was a standout athlete both on the football and baseball field for the Bucks. As a junior, Feser's Bucks qualified for the State Tournament during the high school season with Feser being a mainstay in their lineup. Success followed Feser into the summer as he was named Legion All-State Honorable Mention while hitting .329 with a .476 slugging percentage and driving in 39 runs.  Summer 2025 was capped off by Yankton being the Runner-Up for the SD Class A Legion State Tournament which qualified them as a South Dakota representative in the Central Plains Regional.

Coach Evers on Feser: "Easton has proven himself as one of the best left-handed hitters in the state and we could not be more excited to get him on campus next fall. We've been privileged to be able to watch his growth over the last couple of summers and we think his best baseball is still out in front him here as a Trojan."

Kyler Boyd – RHP – Jefferson High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 5'10" - 150
Kyler is a right-handed pitcher out of Sioux Falls, S.D., and currently attends Jefferson High School. During the 2025 spring season, which saw a Class A State Championship Runner-Up finish for the Cavaliers, Boyd was a main contributor on the mound recording 45 strikeouts while only walking 15 batters in 35 innings pitched. He followed that up by posting a 1.91 ERA while striking out 66 batters in 55 innings pitched during the 2025 summer Legion season for Sioux Falls Post 15 West in which he earned Honorable Mention All-State honors. Maintaining a GPA of 4.18, Boyd plans to pursue a degree in Exercise Science while at DSU.

Coach Rutan on Kyler: "We're thrilled to welcome Kyler and his family to our program here at Dakota State. He is a guy that got on our radar early during the high school season and watched him turn in one quality outing after another throughout the high school and Legion seasons. He brings a lot of unique qualities to the table between the ability to change the timing on his delivery effectively and tunnel each of his pitches well of one another. Kyler has seen significant strides in his development in the last year and is only going to continue to get better, which has us excited about his future here at DSU. Along with his athletic talents, Kyler is a tremendous and dedicated student in the classroom which makes him a great fit for our culture. We look forward to working with Kyler and seeing his development continue to progress in his time at Dakota State."

Tucker DeHaan – OF – Roosevelt High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 5'11" - 190
Tucker is a left-handed hitting outfielder from Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, S.D.. He's a standout student-athlete with a 3.74 GPA and a multi-sport background, also competing on the football field for the Rough Riders. On the diamond, Tucker is known for his pitch recognition and selection, bat-to-ball skills, and power potential from the left side. His performance during his junior season earned him Team Defensive MVP honors and a spot on the All-Region Team.  During his junior season of summer baseball, DeHaan hit .356 with 16 extra-base hits, 19 walks, only 9 strikeouts, and 10 stolen bases.

Coach Hardie on Tucker: "We've been following Tucker for the past few years and have really liked the way he's continued to grow as both a player and a person. He comes from a great family and brings the kind of work ethic and character we look for in our program. Tucker has the potential to be a future middle-of-the-order left-handed stick for us, and we're excited to have him as a Trojan."

Noah MacFarlane – RHP – Jefferson High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 6'2" - 195
Noah is a right-handed pitcher hailing from Sioux Falls, S.D., and will be coming to DSU from Jefferson High School. Making 14 appearances during the 2025 spring season for the Cavaliers, MacFarlane recorded a 3.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched. He held hitters to an opposing batting average of .195 and was also a perfect 6-6 in save opportunities. In 10 appearances on the mound for Sioux Falls Post 15 West in the summer, MacFarlane recorded 30 strikeouts across 37 innings pitched. Maintaining a GPA of 3.33, MacFarlane plans on majoring in Finance during his career at Dakota State.

Coach Rutan on Noah: "We're happy to have Noah joining us here at DSU. Noah has potential at the collegiate level and his outings throughout the summer, especially at our prospect camp this past August, solidified that. He has a solid frame and quality metrics on his pitches which makes us excited about his projectability. Noah has experience in both starting and high leverage relief roles which will help him transition to the college level tremendously and make him a dynamic piece of our pitching staff for years to come. We're excited to get to work with Noah and see both his physical and pitching development take off over these next 4-years as a Trojan."

Jack Holys – OF – Columbus High School – Columbus, Neb. – 5'10' - 170
Jack is a quality left-handed hitting outfielder from Columbus, NE. A high-academic student-athlete with a 4.0 GPA, he brings a combination of bat-to-ball skills, speed, and emerging power to our program. During his junior year of high school and summer baseball, Jack hit at a .354 clip, with 13 extra base hits, 25 stolen bases, and walked more than he struck out. Jack was selected as a team captain and recognized as an All-Conference and Academic All-State student-athlete. His consistent production and leadership make him a tremendous addition both on and off the field.

Coach Hardie on Jack: "We first identified Jack this past summer and immediately saw the potential for dynamic ability in his game. We invited him to our camp, and he made quite an impression—blasting two home runs during the scrimmage portion of camp, showing the kind of impact bat and athleticism that will translate at the next level."

Griffen Schlapkohl – C/UTL – Harrisburg High School – Sioux Falls, S.D. – 5'10 170
Griffen is a catcher/utility player from Sioux Falls, S.D., and Harrisburg High School. Contributing to a Class A State Championship for the Tigers in the 2025 summer Legion season, Schlapkohl posted a .296 batting average with a .402 on-base percentage while earning spots in the starting lineup at catcher, second base, and third base. A two-sport athlete in both baseball and football, Schlapkohl currently carries a 3.6 GPA and plans to pursue a degree in Business Analytics during his time at Dakota State.

Coach Rutan on Griffen: "I think Griffen is an excellent fit for our program here at Dakota State. He is versatile and plays the game with a solid level of hustle and grit that impressed us tremendously when watching him this past summer. He played a key role in Harrisburg claiming the Class A State Legion Championship and we look forward to him bringing that winning pedigree and success with him to our program. Griffen is coachable and a mature young man possessing the characteristics needed to have a successful collegiate career as a student-athlete at DSU. He will provide a ton of value to our program given his flexibility on the field along with his relentless and driven attitude. We're happy to welcome Griffen and his family here to DSU and look forward to working with him throughout his career as a Trojan."

Brady Lester – C – West High School – Bellevue, Neb. – 5'10 185
Brady is a catcher from Bellevue, NE, and attends West High School where he helped lead the Thunderbirds to a 20-10 record and a District Championship game appearance for the 2025 spring season. Playing for WOW Factor Midwest 18U in the fall of 2025, Lester posted a .358 batting average while tallying 11 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 home runs in 67 at-bats as their lead-off hitter. He also maintained a fielding percentage of .975 between being behind the dish and in the outfield. A 3.2 GPA student, Lester plans to pursue a degree in Exercise Science while at DSU.

Coach Rutan on Brady: "We're excited to welcome Brady and his family to our program here at Dakota State. Brady brings tools to the table that fit well within our offensive approach and style of play that make him a great fit within our offense. Brady comes to us from solid high school and travel ball programs in Nebraska which will have him set up well for his transition to our program and the collegiate level overall. With room to grow, Brady has the qualities and mindset to have a successful career, and I look forward to watching him develop during his time here at Dakota State."

Braden Danziesen – OF – Sioux Valley High School – Volga, S.D. – 6'2" - 185
Braden, a left-handed hitting outfielder from Sioux Valley High School in Volga, South Dakota, brings a combination of athleticism, speed, and competitive drive that has made him one of the top multi-sport athletes in the area. A true student-athlete, Braden maintains a 4.0 GPA while excelling in baseball, football, and track for the Cossacks. His junior season of high school and summer baseball was one to remember — despite battling through injury, he hit over .400 with 12 extra-base hits, 14 walks, 15 strikeouts, and 10 stolen bases. His efforts earned him All-Region honors and helped Sioux Valley qualify for the Class B High School State Tournament. Known for his raw, twitchy athleticism, Braden has shown the ability to impact the game in multiple ways, both offensively and defensively.

Coach Hardie on Braden: "We're excited about Braden and what he brings to the table. His raw athletic ability and speed stand out right away, but what's just as impressive is his work ethic and competitiveness. He's a kid who's only going to keep getting better. Braden received scholarship offers in both football and track, a testament to his well-rounded athletic talent. He now turns his full attention to the diamond, where his combination of skill and athleticism projects well."