University of Massachusets Athletics
Kolben, Powers and Sullivan Named 2027 Baseball Captains
October 17, 2026 | Baseball
The senior trio were voted captains for the 2027 season by their teammates.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts baseball and head coach Max Weir announced that seniors Ryan Kolben, Callen Powers and Braden Sullivan have been named captains for the 2027 season. The captains were selected by a vote of their teammates.
During the 2026 season, Kolben started in 38 of 43 games played behind the plate with a .267 batting average. He posted 36 hits, 19 runs, 29 RBI and 19 walks in 135 at bats, while recording seven home runs on the season, ranking second on the team. He also added five doubles, a triple and stole one base. The Cumberland Foreside, Maine, native, registered his first career triple vs. Siena (2/28) and tied a career-best three runs scored against UMass Lowell (5/5)
Behind the plate, Kolben earned a .985 fielding percentage with 300 putouts, 29 assists and five errors.
Kolben landed on the Academic All-MAC Team and the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
"Becoming a captain of a Division I baseball team is a lifelong dream and an incredible achievement," said Kolben. "Earning the trust of my teammates and coaches to serve as one of the team's leaders is a humbling privilege that I do not take lightly. I recognize that becoming a great leader is a continuous learning process, and I am excited to embrace that challenge every day. I look forward to growing in this role, leading by example and doing everything I can to help our team succeed."
Powers started on the mound in all 13 games last season and posted a 3.96 ERA with a 4-5 record. The Haddam Neck, Connecticut, native, threw a team-leading 75 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched. He struck out a career-high 10 vs. Northern Illinois (4/3), allowing no runs on two hits in seven complete innings. Powers recorded three straight winning decisions on the season – vs. Northern Illinois (4/3), at Eastern Michigan (4/10) and vs. Bowling Green (4/17). He picked up his first win of the year against Siena (2/27), throwing seven complete innings with two runs on five hits and seven strikeouts dealt.
Powers finished the year ranked sixth in the Mid-American Conference with a 3.96 ERA and in innings pitched (84). He also placed ninth in batters struck out (75) and 20th in wins (four).
He was named to the All-MAC Second Team and the Academic All-MAC Team.
"I'm super excited to get to work with this group this year," said Powers. "We have an intriguing mix of upperclassmen and newcomers that mesh really well on and off the field. I can't wait to get into the spring season and build off of a great fall!"
Sullivan earned the start in all 41 games played in the 2026 season. He averaged .260 batting with 40 hits, 28 runs, 25 walks and 16 RBI in 154 at bats. The Taunton, Massachusetts, native, totaled three doubles, a triple and six home runs, and stole eight bases. Sullivan recorded a triple vs. Kent State (3/20) and had a career-best two home runs at Eastern Michigan (4/12).
In the field, Sullivan had a .970 fielding percentage with 77 putouts, 83 assists and five errors.
"I'm privileged to have the opportunity to lead this team and appreciate the trust my teammates and coaches have place in me," said Sullivan. "I'm excited to take on the responsibility of being a leader my teammates can rely on by setting the right example every day and by doing whatever it takes to help us succeed. I look forward to continuing to develop as a leader and competing with this group for the rest of the year!"
During the 2026 season, Kolben started in 38 of 43 games played behind the plate with a .267 batting average. He posted 36 hits, 19 runs, 29 RBI and 19 walks in 135 at bats, while recording seven home runs on the season, ranking second on the team. He also added five doubles, a triple and stole one base. The Cumberland Foreside, Maine, native, registered his first career triple vs. Siena (2/28) and tied a career-best three runs scored against UMass Lowell (5/5)
Behind the plate, Kolben earned a .985 fielding percentage with 300 putouts, 29 assists and five errors.
Kolben landed on the Academic All-MAC Team and the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
"Becoming a captain of a Division I baseball team is a lifelong dream and an incredible achievement," said Kolben. "Earning the trust of my teammates and coaches to serve as one of the team's leaders is a humbling privilege that I do not take lightly. I recognize that becoming a great leader is a continuous learning process, and I am excited to embrace that challenge every day. I look forward to growing in this role, leading by example and doing everything I can to help our team succeed."
Powers started on the mound in all 13 games last season and posted a 3.96 ERA with a 4-5 record. The Haddam Neck, Connecticut, native, threw a team-leading 75 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched. He struck out a career-high 10 vs. Northern Illinois (4/3), allowing no runs on two hits in seven complete innings. Powers recorded three straight winning decisions on the season – vs. Northern Illinois (4/3), at Eastern Michigan (4/10) and vs. Bowling Green (4/17). He picked up his first win of the year against Siena (2/27), throwing seven complete innings with two runs on five hits and seven strikeouts dealt.
Powers finished the year ranked sixth in the Mid-American Conference with a 3.96 ERA and in innings pitched (84). He also placed ninth in batters struck out (75) and 20th in wins (four).
He was named to the All-MAC Second Team and the Academic All-MAC Team.
"I'm super excited to get to work with this group this year," said Powers. "We have an intriguing mix of upperclassmen and newcomers that mesh really well on and off the field. I can't wait to get into the spring season and build off of a great fall!"
Sullivan earned the start in all 41 games played in the 2026 season. He averaged .260 batting with 40 hits, 28 runs, 25 walks and 16 RBI in 154 at bats. The Taunton, Massachusetts, native, totaled three doubles, a triple and six home runs, and stole eight bases. Sullivan recorded a triple vs. Kent State (3/20) and had a career-best two home runs at Eastern Michigan (4/12).
In the field, Sullivan had a .970 fielding percentage with 77 putouts, 83 assists and five errors.
"I'm privileged to have the opportunity to lead this team and appreciate the trust my teammates and coaches have place in me," said Sullivan. "I'm excited to take on the responsibility of being a leader my teammates can rely on by setting the right example every day and by doing whatever it takes to help us succeed. I look forward to continuing to develop as a leader and competing with this group for the rest of the year!"
Players Mentioned
Saturday, May 16
Friday, May 15
Tuesday, May 05
Tuesday, May 05