Baseball Welcomes 10 to the Incoming Class of 2030
5/26/2026
Brown Head Coaching Chair in Baseball Frank Holbrook has announced 10 additions to the Bears as part of the incoming class of 2030, who will join the program starting in the Fall 2026 semester.
Brown is coming off a successful first season under Holbrook in 2026, going 23-20 overall and making a run to the finals of the Ivy League Tournament as the No. 3 seed.
Scroll to find an in-depth look at each new Bear below.
Joey Benoit
INF | 6-0, 195 lbs. | East Taunton, Mass. | Taunton
Before Brown: Played for Taunton High School…Hockomock League All-Star selection…Currently holds a .390/.493/.881 slash line with six homers, 11 doubles and 19 RBIs as a senior in 2026…Posted a .406/.500/.621 slash line as a junior with 19 runs scored and 14 RBIs…Played club ball for the GBG Northeast Hawks…Boston Invite All-Tournament Team…Named MVP of the Perfect Game New England Tournament…Batted .350 with a .590 slugging percentage and seven home runs in the summer of 2025.
Personal: Son of Valerie and Michael Benoit…Has an older brother, Michael.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown for the ability to pursue my academics to the fullest and play baseball at a high level. Also, I believe Brown will provide me with the skills to be successful later in life.”
Jake Chung
RHP | 6-2, 170 lbs. | San Marino, Calif. | Harvard-Westlake
Before Brown: Pitched for Harvard-Westlake High School…Posted a 2.44 ERA with a 5-2 record in 28.2 innings during his junior season in 2025…Finished his sophomore year in 2024 with a 3-0 record and a 2.18 ERA over 35.1 IP.
Personal: Son of Jiji and Jason Chung…Has one sibling, Jamie
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown to fully pursue my academic interests through the Open Curriculum while being able to play Division I baseball.”
Morrie Fried
INF/OF | 6-4, 235 lbs. | Pittsfield, Mass. | Pittsfield
Before Brown: Played for Pittsfield High School…Served as team captain…Played club ball for Northeast Baseball and Rip City Academy…Selected as the Perfect Game Tournament MVP…National Honor Society member…Pep Club and Class Council member.
Personal: Son of Jessica Fried and Benjamin Strauss…Has a younger brother, Ruben.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown because of the amazing coaching staff that came in for the baseball team this year and the supporting, open campus environment.”
Henry Gahagan
LHP | 6-1, 180 lbs. | Highland Park, Texas | Highland Park
Before Brown: Three-year letterwinner at Highland Park High School…Led Highland Park to its first 12-5A District Championship in eight years, tossing three complete game shutouts in district play…First Team All-District 12-5A as a pitcher…GM Sports Media Top Playoff Performer of the Week during the Bi-District Championship Round…Currently holds a 6-1 record with 60 strikeouts in 43.0 IP, while also batting .310 as a senior in 2026…Went 5-2 with a 3.08 ERA as a junior in 2025…Graduated cum laude…Academic all-state…Cornerstone Athlete Award winner for demonstrating academic excellence, leadership and community service…National Honor Society member…Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Jackie and Cole Gahagan.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown because it provided the best combination of campus life, academics, and an opportunity to contribute to one of the top baseball programs in the Ivy League. I also chose Brown because of the strong relationship I was able to build with the baseball coaching staff - rooted in trust, and confidence in my abilities to impact the program.”
Nate Kempton
RHP | 6-3, 225 lbs. | Cheshire, Conn. | Choate Rosemary Hall
Before Brown: Attended Choate Rosemary Hall…Second Team All-Founders League selection as a pitcher and first baseman…2026 Perfect Game Preseason Second Team All-Region honoree…Played club ball for Clubhouse CT.
Personal: Son of Jennifer Myer and James Kempton…Has an older brother, Owen who played soccer at Northeastern…His mother is a member of Princeton’s Class of 1993…Has an uncle who attended Brown.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown for its course rigor, the opportunities it offers, a higher level of learning, and the chance to continue and develop as a student and athlete.”
Neil MacKinnon
RHP | 6-3, 200 lbs. | Duxbury, Mass. | Thayer Academy
Before Brown: Attended Thayer Academy…First Team All-ISL and All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention selection…Posted a 2.30 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 35.2 innings as senior in 2026…Played club ball for the US9 Prospects…Also played football, totaling over 400 receiving yards with five touchdowns and added two interceptions as a senior…Second Team All-NEPSAC selection in football.
Personal: Son of Danielle and Tom MacKinnon…Has three younger sisters, Maddie, Emma and Olivia.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown for the opportunity to compete at the highest level on the field and in the classroom. I also built a relationship with the coaches that I am excited to further.”
Dane Purdy
RHP | 6-2, 190 lbs. | Cary, N.C. | Apex
Before Brown: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Apex High School…Ranked in the top 500 nationally in the class 2026 by Perfect Game…First team all-conference honoree as a senior in 2026 when he struck out a school single-season record 73 batters over 46.2 innings…Four-year pitcher, and also played shortstop and center field for three years…Served as a team captain…Played club ball for the TPA Nationals…Graduated top 10 in his class of over 600…Four-time academic all-conference…UNC Chapel Hill Morehead-Cain Merit Scholarship Finalist…AP Scholar with Distinction.
Personal: Son of Stephanie and Darren Purdy…Has a sister, Caroline…His grandfather David Purdy played baseball at Wofford.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown for the one-of-a-kind combination they have between both top tier athletics and academics. On top of this, I really enjoyed the campus and the city of Providence when I came up for the first time to visit.”
Cooper Russell
INF | 5-7, 160 lbs. | Lakewood, Ohio | Lakewood
Before Brown: 2025 PBR DII First Team All-State selection…2025 CWC Player of the Year…2024 and 2025 First Team CWC All-Conference selection…2024 and 2025 first team all-district…Posted a .412/.545/.545 slash line as a sophomore in 2024 and a .393/.526/.667 slash line with six doubles and five homers as a junior in 2025…Played club ball for Force Ohio Baseball and Northeast Baseball…AP Scholar and high honor student.
Personal: Son of Nicole and Michael Russell…Has two siblings, Alex and Calvin.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown because of the world class academics, paired with the opportunity to play baseball at the highest level under Coach Holbrook and the rest of the baseball staff.”
Logan Studer
C | 5-11, 180 lbs. | St. Louis, Mo. | St. Louis University H.S.
Before Brown: Four-year varsity starter at St. Louis University High School…All-state selection…First team all-conference honoree…As a junior in 2025, posted a .424/.546/.564 slash line with 10 doubles, one triple, 24 runs, 18 RBIs, 16 steals and 21 walks with only nine strikeouts…National Honor Society member…Academic all-state…First honors student.
Personal: Son of Kelly and Dana Studer…Has a younger sister, Kenzie.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown because it was a perfect fit for all I wanted in a school. Coming from a highly academic high school, I was looking for an academically challenging school like Brown. On the athletic side, I wanted to play at the Division I level and Brown University baseball has given me the opportunity to do so.”
Sean Walsh
INF | 6-1, 185 lbs. | Atlanta, Ga. | Marist H.S.
Before Brown: Three-year varsity team member at Marist High School…Holds a .385/.490/.573 slash line so far in his senior season in 2026…Played club ball for the Ninth Inning Royals…Ranked in the top 500 in the class of 2026 by Perfect Game…2026 Perfect Game Preseason Southeast Honorable Mention All-American…Named a PG Top Performer and has been named to several PG all-tournament teams…National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member…Named to the Dean’s List each term.
Personal: Son of Susan and Ryan Walsh…Has a brother, Connor, and two sisters, Claire and Sally…Both parents are member of Brown’s Class of 1993 and has two grandparents from the Class of 1965…His mother Susan (née Smith) is a two-time Olympian who represented Ireland in track and field (400m hurdles) and is a member of the Brown Athletics Hall of Fame.
Why Brown?: “I chose Brown because it offers the best opportunity to achieve both my academic and athletic goals.”
Click here to view the full 2027 season roster.
The Bears full 2027 season schedule will be released this fall.
