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2026 Middle Tennessee Christian Cougars Team Preview

February 18, 2026
Prep Baseball Tennessee Staff

The 2026 Tennessee high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at the state tournament championships – but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 25 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 25 rankings.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

Please note that all Team Previews were submitted by High School Coaches.

High School: MTCS
Head Coach: Addison Alford
TSSAA Classification: D2-A
District: Middle 3
2025 Record (Playoff Finish): 13-18 

 

ROSTER PREVIEW

+ Top Returning Position Players:

+ Top Returning Pitchers:

  • P Cayden King
  • P Nate Fogle
  • P TJ Finley

TOP NEWCOMERS

+ Impact Underclassmen:

2026 OUTLOOK

+ MTCS enters the 2026 season looking to take a step forward after a 13–18 campaign, returning a veteran-heavy core with college commitments, positional versatility, and multiple two-way pieces. Under head coach Addison Alford, the Cougars bring back a lineup loaded with experience and physicality, giving the program a chance to be more consistent week-to-week as it navigates the Middle 3 schedule.

The offense is built around impact pieces in the heart of the order, starting with Cayden King (2026), a Texas A&M commit and one of the most dynamic players in the division. King brings middle-of-the-order power from the right side and anchors first base defensively, while also serving as a go-to arm on the mound. His ability to impact the game in all three phases makes him the centerpiece of this roster and a matchup problem for opposing teams.

TJ Finley (2026, Radford) provides another premium bat and physical presence. A true corner profile with the ability to catch or play third base, Finley gives MTCS flexibility defensively while projecting as a run producer offensively. His experience and strength should again play a key role in driving in runs and stabilizing the middle of the lineup.

The Cougars also return several athletic, versatile position players who lengthen the order. Eric Bowling (2026) and Tate Cantrell (2026) bring speed and defensive value to the outfield and middle infield, while Drew Prosser (2026) offers reliable at-bats and defensive dependability across multiple infield spots. This group gives MTCS the ability to pressure defenses and maintain competitive at-bats throughout the lineup.

Nate Fogle (2027) headlines the returning underclass contributors with upside on both sides of the ball. A smooth defender at shortstop, Fogle also factors into the pitching staff and continues to trend upward as a complete player. Houston Allen (2027) adds another athletic piece with corner versatility, while Brandon Scarlata (2028) provides utility value and depth that could translate into a larger role as the season progresses.

On the mound, MTCS will lean heavily on its experienced arms. King leads the staff and sets the tone with his presence and competitiveness, while Fogle and Finley give the Cougars additional quality innings and matchup flexibility. Having multiple pitchers with varsity experience allows MTCS to manage workloads and navigate deeper into games, which will be critical in tight district matchups.

The next wave of Cougars talent adds long-term intrigue and depth. Scarlata returns as an impact underclassman, while Trenton Finley, Carter Scoggins, Kingston Glover, Brooks Bateman, Knox Wagner, and Jason Spray Jr. represent a strong developmental group pushing from below. How quickly that class adjusts to the varsity level could play a role in overall depth as the season unfolds.

With a lineup anchored by college commits, multiple two-way contributors, and an experienced pitching core, MTCS enters 2026 with the pieces in place to be more competitive across the board. If the Cougars can pair consistent offensive production with reliable innings on the mound, they have the makeup of a team capable of outperforming last year’s results and making noise in Division II-A.

Find more information on MTCS’s 2026 season below:

+ Follow them on X: @mtcsbaseball
+ Find more 2026 team previews on our TSSAA Season Preview page

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