Winter Park Looks for Bounce-Back 2026 Season

The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs enter the 2026 season looking to return to championship form in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. Led by head coach Jim Newlin alongside assistants Mike Baio and Brandon Burgess, the Dawgs bring a strong mix of experience, energy, and player development to the dugout.

After a difficult stretch over the past two seasons, Winter Park is aiming for a fresh start in 2026. The Dawgs finished the 2025 campaign with a 7-28 record after going 12-23 in 2024, but the team is determined to return to form as one of the league's original founding teams. With a renewed roster and coaching staff focused on development and culture, the Dawgs are looking to make a statement this summer.

The roster currently features 31 players, including several returners from the 2025 campaign. Canyon Marcewicz, Eric Entrekin, Knute Rockey, Nick Sakowski, Tyler Mecchella, and Roberto Odor are all set to return for the 2026 season, bringing valuable experience and familiarity to the clubhouse. The mix of returning talent and new additions gives the Dawgs optimism heading into Opening Day.

The Diamond Dawgs play all home games at Alfond Stadium, located at 801 Aragon Avenue in Winter Park, Florida, on the beautiful campus of Rollins College. Winter Park will open the season on the road with a two-game series against the Leesburg Lightning before returning home for Opening Night.

The Dawgs' home opener is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at 6 p.m. against the Leesburg Lightning. Winter Park will host 11 home games during the month of June and hopes to see strong support from the local community throughout the summer.

The FCSL All-Star break will take place July 7–8, while the league playoffs are set to begin July 20 and run through July 27, culminating in a best-of-three championship series. Beyond the competition on the field, the Florida Collegiate Summer League also serves as a valuable opportunity for players to gain experience while giving back to the community as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Coming out to the ballpark is a great way to support the Winter Park community and collegiate summer baseball. The Diamond Dawgs are excited to welcome fans back to Alfond Stadium and look forward to an exciting summer season in 2026.

Justin Baltes (University of Central Florida)