Baseball Welcomes Talented 2026 Recruiting Class

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Belmont University Baseball is proud to announce the signing of a highly accomplished 2026 recruiting class, featuring ten student-athletes from four states and one international transfer. This class includes a strong mix of pitchers, catchers, and position players who have excelled at the high school, travel ball, and even collegiate levels. 

Pitchers: The Bruins bring in five talented pitchers from Tennessee and Kentucky. 

• Jackson Goddard (RHP | Gallatin, Tenn.): The right-handed pitcher from Liberty Creek High School in Gallatin, Tennessee, has helped lead his team to district and region runner-up finishes before a sectional championship, and a state tournament appearance, finishing the season ranked in the Top 10 of the final TBCA poll. Individually, he has earned two All-District selections along with All-Region, All-State, All–Sumner County honors and a spot on the Class AA Mr. Baseball Watch List. On the travel circuit, he has competed with the Blues, East Coast Sox, FTB National, and USA Prime/Aces National, earning two Tournament MVP awards, Preseason All-American recognition, eight All-Tournament selections, and three tournament championships. Jackson is ranked as a Top 500 national prospect and the No. 4 right-handed pitcher in the state of Tennessee. Goddard also competed in varsity basketball and plans to major in sports administration when he gets to Belmont in the fall of '26. He is the son of Richard Dean Goddard and Melissa Gail Lozano, with brothers Tyler Dean Goddard and James Cooper Richardson Goddard. 
• Owen McMahan (LHP | Pleasant View, Tenn.): The left-handed pitcher from Sycamore High School helped lead his team to a district runner-up finish in 2025. He earned District Pitcher of the Year honors in both 2024 and 2025, while also being named to the 2025 All-Tournament Team and earning TSWA and TBCA All-State recognition. He was ranked among Perfect Games Top 500 players nationally. On the travel circuit, McMahan competes with FTB National, helping the program reach a No. 44 national ranking. A multi-sport athlete, he also competed in varsity basketball and golf. McMahan plans to major in sports administration, enjoys golf and fishing, and is the son of Jeff McMahan and Briana Carney, with siblings Elley Keeton and Jacob McMahan. 
• Conor Gray (RHP | Franklin, Tenn.): The right-handed pitcher from Centennial High School earned individual recognition as All-District Second Team, Centennial High School Pitcher of the Year, and the Centennial High School Leadership Award. On the travel circuit, he competes with FTB National, which was ranked 33rd in the nation in 2025 by Perfect Game. He was also ranked as a top 500 overall prospect nationally and a top 15 right-handed pitcher in the state of Tennessee. Gray plans to major in Exercise Science, enjoys listening to music, spending time with friends, late-night car rides, and attending Nashville Predators games. He is the son of Nicole and Scott Gray, with a brother, Aidan Gray, who works with Belmont University Baseball as Data and Analytics coordinator. 
• Chase Farmer (RHP/INF | Somerset, Ky.): A middle infielder and right-handed pitcher, Farmer signed with Belmont following his career at Pulaski County High School. He helped lead Pulaski County to the 2023 12th Region Championship. Individually, he has earned recognition as KHSAA 12th Region Player of the Week, two All-47th District selections, All-12th Region honors, and two All-County Team selections. On the travel circuit, he competes with Louisville Baseball Club 17U and Knights National 18U, earning selection to the USA Baseball 16U All-Midwest Region Team, capturing a gold medal at the 2024 USA Baseball Champions Cup, and being named to the 2025 WWBA World Championship All-Tournament Team. Farmer plans to major in biology when he arrives on campus in the fall. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending time with friends and family. He is the son of Ricky and Kellie Farmer, with a sister, Anna Farmer. 
• Jack Cowan (LHP | Bowling Green, Ky.): The left-handed pitcher from Bowling Green High School has earned recognition as one of the top prospects in the state, ranking as high as No. 8 in Kentucky by Prep Baseball Report and No. 3 by Perfect Game. He was selected as a member of Team Kentucky at the PBR Future Games and participated in the Perfect Game Junior National Showcase, while also being named a Kentucky Governor's Scholars Program participant. Cowan competes on the travel circuit with the Nashville Knights. He plans to major in biophysics when arriving in the fall of '26 and is the son of John and Amy Cowan. 

Position Players: The Bruins welcomes 5 versatile position players to the roster: 

• Gianluca Montanaro (UTL./OF/C | Aurora, Ontario): Montanaro signs with Belmont during an accomplished amateur and collegiate career thus far. A native of Aurora, Ontario, he starred at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School, helping lead his team to three consecutive district championships while earning individual recognition as a member of the Canadian Junior National Team, CPBL All-Star Game MVP, and a selection to the Canadian Premier WWBA Team. He later competed at Bossier Parish Community College, in Louisiana, earning All-Conference DH honors while helping his team finish first in the Region XIV North standings. Montanaro has also competed with the Toronto Mets, where he was named Senior Program MVP. A multi-sport athlete, he also competed in badminton while in high school. He plans to major in data science when he gets to Belmont next fall. He enjoys reading, hiking, playing tennis, and hockey. He is the son of Loreena Montanaro and Maurizio Montanaro, with brothers Luciano and Matteo Montanaro. 
• Bryson Germanenko (C | Cumming, Ga.): The catcher from North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia, has helped lead North Forsyth to a 65% team winning percentage from 2023-2025, including the 2023 Region 8-6A Championship, 2024 Region 8-6A Runner-Up, and back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances. Individually, he will be recognized as a four-year letterman, as well as receiving 2024 All-Region 8-6A First Team, 2024 All-County Team, 2024 PG Preseason All-American, 2024 Region 8-6A All-Academic Team, 2025 Preseason All-County Team, 2025 PG Preseason All-American, and 2025 Region 8-6A All-Region Honorable Mention. On the travel circuit, he competes with the Georgia Jackets, earning eight All-Tournament Team selections. Germanenko plans to major in General Business, enjoys video games, cooking, and pick-up basketball, and has experience as an assistant coach for an 8U recreational team. He is the son of Crystal Germanenko and Jonathan Toxey, with a sister, Reagan Toxey. 
• Cole Photopulos (Utility | Germantown, Tenn.): The utility player from Briarcrest Christian School helped lead his team to the 2024 state championship and back-to-back 2024 and 2025 region championships. He earned individual recognition on the 2025 All-State Baseball Team and TSSAA All-Region Team. On the travel circuit, he competed with Beast National 17U, earning PG 17U Mid-South Summer Kickoff MVP honors, selection to the PG 17U Mid-South WWBA All-Tournament Team, and inclusion on the PG 17U East WWBA Championship All-Tournament Team. Photopulos plans to major in finance, enjoys golf, basketball, ping pong, music, working out, and time at the lake. He is the son of Katherine and Todd Photopulos, with sisters Emily and Anna Photopulos. 
• Andrew Deegan (Middle Infielder | Algonquin, Ill.): The middle infielder signs with Belmont during his career at Jacobs High School. Deegan helped lead Jacobs to regional championships in both baseball and soccer during his freshman year. On the diamond, he earned All-Conference and All-Area honors as a sophomore and junior, while being named Team Offensive MVP and receiving the Team Gold Glove award during his junior season. A multi-sport athlete, Deegan also excelled in soccer, earning All-Conference honors as a junior and senior and All-Sectional recognition as a senior. He competes on the travel circuit with GRB Rays Illinois Green, helping the program to multiple Final Four finishes in premier Midwest tournaments. At this point Deegans major is undecided. He enjoys basketball, golf, lifting, poker, video games, snowboarding, music, watching sports, and spending time with friends. He is the son of Meredith Deegan with siblings Kylie and Ryan Deegan. 
• Kyler Gorley (Outfielder | Nashville, Tenn.): The outfielder from Christ Presbyterian Academy helped lead CPA to a state runner-up finish in 2025 and state tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024. He established himself as a dynamic offensive and baserunning threat, leading his team in extra-base hits during his freshman and sophomore seasons and pacing the squad in stolen bases as a sophomore. He competed on the travel circuit with Florida Travel Baseball. Gorleyplans to major in entrepreneurship, enjoys dirt biking, fishing, training, and playing pickup basketball. He is the son of Ashley Gorley and Mandy Gorley, with siblings Caleb and Sadie Gorley. 

We look forward to seeing this talented recruiting class contribute to the Bruins' success on the field when they get on campus in the fall of 2026. 


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