University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Finalize Signing of Nine to 2026-27 Roster
11/18/2025 11:47:00 AM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – Head coach Ty McDevitt and the University of Minnesota baseball program finalized the signing of nine student athletes for the 2026-27 school year this morning, spanning nine cities over three different states.
Next year's freshman class includes Noah Asuma (SS; Cherry, Minn.), Ryan Christiansen (RHP; Lakeville, Minn.), Davis Fleming (1B/OF; Lake Elmo, Minn.), Ryan Hjellming (RHP; Cannon Falls, Minn.), Parker Killian (RHP; Chaska, Minn.), Maddux Lessard (C; Muskego, Wis.), Hudson Ohm (RHP; Zumbrota, Minn.), Bennett Skinner (MIF; Woodbury, Minn.), and Chase Wilk (1B/OF; Las Vegas, Nev.).
"Our 2026 class is a historic one - the first high school class we've signed together as a coaching staff," said head baseball coach, Ty McDevitt. "Our group has worked tirelessly to identify and commit the top players in our region while strategically adding impact talent from outside it. Five of our commits rank among the top ten players in the state of Minnesota, including the No. 1 overall player. We've made a clear statement that Minnesota and the surrounding region are Maroon and Gold. We are excited to welcome these impressive men into our Gopher Baseball Family and look forward to the positive impact they will make."
Noah Asuma
Position: Shortstop | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 205 | Hometown: Cherry, Minn. | High School: Cherry
A native of Cherry, Minn, 6-foot-1 Noah Asuma is a four time All Conference and two time All State player that ranks as the No. 1 shortstop and the No. 6 overall player in the state of Minnesota by Prep Baseball Report. Asuma was named a Class A MN State All Tournament team member following the 2025 MNHSL state tournament.
Goals: "Win a lot of games, and get bigger, faster, and stronger."
Personal: Son of Jolene Asuma-Stevenson and Nick Stevenson, Noah has one sibling; Isaac. His brother, Isaac, currently plays for the Gopher Men's Basketball team. Noah is a four time honor roll student and is currently undecided on a major.
Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator Connor Gandossy on Noah Asuma: "When building a recruiting class you set out to find guys like Noah Asuma. He exemplifies what it means to be a high profile student athlete, not only on the field but off the field as well. Noah brings a strong physical presence and impressive upside to the program, showcasing the kind of athleticism and competitiveness that fits perfectly within our culture. We are equally proud to see the Asuma family continue its Golden Gopher tradition, with Noah joining his brother (Isaac) on the men's basketball team—making it a special time for both the family, the University of Minnesota and the great community of Cherry, Minnesota."
Ryan Christiansen
Position: Right Handed Pitcher | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 220 | Hometown: Lakeville, Minn. | High School: Apple Valley
Joining the Gophers from Lakeville, Minn., the 6-foot-4 right handed pitcher is a one time All Section and two time All Conference player for the Apple Valley Eagles. Ranked as the No. 4 pitcher and No. 5 overall player in the state of Minnesota by Prep Baseball Report, Christiansen has tallied 100 strikeouts over 80 total innings pitched throughout his high school career.
Personal: Son of John and Carla Christiansen, Ryan has two siblings; Josie and Jenna. A ten time honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society, Ryan plans to major in Business.
Why Minnesota?: "The connection I made with Crawford made it an easy choice throughout the recruiting process as well as the environment of the campus.
Pitching Coach Alec Crawford on Ryan Christiansen: "Ryan comes to us from Apple Valley high school and brings a strong foundation, a wide range of skills, and has positioned himself as a pitcher who's poised to take the next step in his baseball career. His dedication to refining his craft and attacking challenges head on makes him an exciting addition to Gopher Baseball. I'm confident that Ryan's energy and potential will elevate our pitching staff and contribute to a winning culture that we have been striving hard to build. Ryan is ranked 477 nationally, 5th in the state of Minnesota by Prep Baseball Report."
Davis Fleming
Position: First Baseman / Outfielder | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 | Hometown: Lake Elmo, Minn. | High School: Cretin-Derham Hall
Ranked as the No. 1 first baseman and the No. 21 overall player in the state of Minnesota, the Lake Elmo native helped lead the Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders to a 2025 MNHSL Class 4A state championship. The one time All Section, All Conference, and All State player was named to Star Tribune's All Minnesota high school baseball team after posting a .486 average with 34 RBIs and 5 HRs in 2025.
Personal: Son of Gray and Jana Fleming, Davis has two siblings; Watson and Hughes. A three time honor roll student, Davis plans to major in Entrepreneurial Management.
Goals: "When I get to Minnesota, I want to make an immediate impact, however I can. I see the team winning big games and striving in the Big 10, making a regional, and keeping Minnesota in high regard on a national level."
Assistant Coach Sean Moore on Davis Fleming: "Davis Fleming is the kind of player you love to have on your side and hate to compete against. He plays with an edge and undeniable passion that elevates everyone around him. A standout from Cretin-Derham Hall, Davis brings leadership and toughness to the 2026 class. We know we are getting a fierce competitor and couldn't be more excited to see his impact in the maroon and gold."
Ryan Hjellming
Position: Right Handed Pitcher | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 | Hometown: Cannon Falls, Minn. | High School: Cannon Falls
A 6-foot-1 right handed pitcher out of Cannon Falls, Minn., Hjellming is a one time All Conference and one time All Section starter that ranks as the No. 10 player and No. 5 right handed pitcher in Minnesota by Prep Baseball Report. A preseason underclassmen All American, Hjellming has tallied a 2.16 ERA and 121 strikeouts over his career with the Cannon Falls Moose.
Why Minnesota?: The coaches have been very nice, it's close to home, and I really enjoy the campus.
Personal: Son of Chad and Stephanie Hjellming, Ryan has one sibling; Hannah. A four time honor roll student, Ryan is currently undecided on a major.
Pitching Coach Alec Crawford on Ryan Hjellming: "Ryan comes to us as the 389th ranked player in the nation, 1st in the state of Minnesota by Perfect Game. His dedication, talent, and growth mindset have proven to be a separating factor as one of the premier arms in the 2026 class. He has proven himself capable of competing at an elite level and I'm excited to get a front row seat to his work ethic by bringing him into our program. Ryan represents what we value in our program - work ethic, passion, and a commitment to bettering himself on a daily basis. I'm excited to welcome him and I look forward to his future contributions to Gopher Baseball."
Parker Killian
Position: Right Handed Pitcher | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 180 | Hometown: Chaska, Minn. | High School: Chaska
A 6-foot-1 native of Chaska, Minn., Killian ranks as the No. 1 right handed pitcher and No. 1 overall player in the state of Minnesota for the class of 2026 by Prep Baseball Report. An All State and All Conference player for the Chaska High School Hawks, Killian has been a mainstay in PBR Future and PBR Junior Future games and was voted Most Valuable Pitcher at the 2025 Perfect Game 17U National Elite Championship.
Personal: Son of Chad and Jennifer Killian, Parker has one sibling; Riley. Parker currently intends to major in Finance.
Goals: "I hope to compete for a National Championship and Host a regional at Minnesota. For myself, I would like to compete with the best and play to the best of my abilities."
Pitching Coach Alec Crawford on Parker Killian: "I'm thrilled to welcome Parker into the Gopher Baseball family. Parker brings an undeniable passion for the game, a strong work ethic and the kind of competitiveness that strengthens a program on and off the field. His commitment to improving himself and working on his craft make him an excellent addition to our team. I'm excited to see him grow within our culture and push himself to make his mark in this program. Parker is ranked 320 nationally by Prep Baseball Report, 1st in the state of Minnesota."
Maddux Lessard
Position: Catcher | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 | Hometown: Muskego, Wis. | High School: Muskego
A 6-foot-1 native of Muskego, Wis., Maddux Lessard joins the Gophers as the No. 2 ranked catcher and No. 19 overall player in the state of Minnesota. The All Conference and All State honoree helped the Muskego High School Warriors to a WIAA State Championship in 2025.
Personal: Son of Mike and KellyAnn Lessard, Maddux has two siblings; Kayana and Koufax. A 4.2 GPA student and member of the National Honors Society, Maddux intends to major in Biology or Finance.
Why Minnesota?: I chose Minnesota because of the coaching staff, the opportunity to develop my skills at the highest level, and the chance for my family to be able to watch me play.
Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator Connor Gandossy on Maddux Lessard: "We are thrilled to welcome Maddux Lessard from Muskego (WI) to the Gopher family! Maddux is a standout catcher with tremendous upside behind the plate. Maddux exhibits advanced receiving skills, a strong arm, and a natural feel for handling a pitching staff. Offensively, his raw power and projectable bat make him an exciting addition to the program's future lineup. It was noticeable throughout our evaluation process the type of leader Maddux is, something we value within our catching core at the U. We are eager to see his continued growth and can't wait to get him on campus to develop."
Hudson Ohm
Position: Right Handed Pitcher | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 200 | Hometown: Zumbrota, Minn. | High School: Zumbrota-Mazeppa
Ohm joins the Gophers from Zumbrota, Minn., at 6-foot-2 and ranked as the No. 2 player and No. 2 right handed pitcher in the state. Ohm is a three time All Conference, two time All Section, and one time All State arm who tallied 235 total strikeouts over his first three high school seasons and a 0.98 ERA over 43 innings pitched in his junior year.
Goals: "Be the Ace. Win a Big 10 championship, and a National Championship."
Personal: Son of Charles and Sarah Ohm, Hudson has two siblings; Cora and Preston. A six time honor roll student, Hudson intends to major in Sports Management.
Pitching Coach Alec Crawford on Hudson Ohm: "Hudson embodies the combination of talent, work ethic and competitive fire that defines what we are striving to build as a pitching staff. His steady development over the last few years has been driven by a genuine commitment to mastering every part of his game. Hudson's desire to grow, improve and challenge himself sets him apart and positions himself for continued success on the field. I'm incredibly excited to welcome Hudson to Gopher baseball - his drive and character make him a natural fit for our program. I'm confident that he will make an immediate impact and continue to thrive in an environment built on development, discipline and competitive excellence. Hudson is ranked 394th nationally, 2nd in the state of Minnesota by Perfect Game."
Bennett Skinner
Position: Middle Infielder | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 195 | Hometown: Woodbury, Minn. | High School: East Ridge
A 6-foot-1 middle infielder out of Woodbury, Minn., Skinner joins the Gophers as the No. 9 ranked player and No. 3 ranked shortstop in the state of Minnesota. Throughout his time with the East Ridge, Skinner has earned All Conference honors and helped lead the Raptors to a Class 4A state championship.
Why Minnesota?: "I chose Minnesota because it felt like home. I am close to family but also the staff is amazing and the players made it feel like a place where I can be myself, and be pushed to be the best version of myself. It truly is a place that feels like home."
Personal: The son of Sean and Michelle Skinner, Bennett has two siblings; Crosby and Luke. A three time honor roll student, Bennett intends to major in Business.
Assistant Coach Sean Moore on Bennett Skinner: "Bennett Skinner is a dependable and competitive middle infielder who continues to raise his game each passing week. Since the day he told us he wanted to be a Gopher, he has put in the work and has made noticeable strides in every area of his development. A product of East Ridge High School, Bennett brings physicality, athleticism, and a strong desire to win into the program. The Gopher staff is thrilled to have him in the program now and we know his best baseball is yet to come."
Chase Wilk
Position: First Baseman / Outfielder | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 220 | Hometown: Las Vegas, Nev. | High School: Bishop-Gorman
Joining the Gophers from Las Vegas, Nev., 6-foot-3 Chase Wilk ranks as the No. 1 first baseman in the state of Nevada by Prep Baseball Report and the No. 22 first baseman in the entire nation by Perfect Game. Another mainstay in PBR Future and Junior Future games, Wilk is set to make an appearance in the 2026 Super 60 Pro Showcase.
Personal: Son of Richard and Laura Wilk, Chase has one sibling; Ashlyn. A 4.0 GPA student and National Honors Society member, Chase intends to major in Marketing.
Why Minnesota?: "The Coaches and team made me feel at home and as soon as I stepped on campus for my visit I knew that I wanted to be a Gopher."
Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator Connor Gandossy on Chase Wilk: "We are fired up to welcome Chase Wilk (Las Vegas, NV) to the Gopher Family. Chase is a strong, physical first baseman with a big-time bat and advanced pitch recognition that sets him apart at the plate. Chase has shown the ability to hit over and over again on the National Circuit. While his hit tools stand out, his footwork and defense around the bag should not go unnoticed to fans at Siebert field in years to come. Coming from Bishop Gorman High School, one of the premier high school baseball programs in the nation, Chase brings a championship mentality and proven track record of success."