Furcht, Kaczmar, Kuzniewski Named 2026 Captains
6/18/2026 12:52:00 PM | Baseball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State head baseball coach Justin Haire has announced that Noah Furcht, Henry Kaczmar and Gavin Kuzniewski have earned captain honors for the 2026 season.
Starting in 2025, Haire began a tradition of naming captains after the conclusion of the season to honor the student-athletes that best exemplified what it means to be a Buckeye. The qualities that players must demonstrate are elite work ethic, trust, resilience, grit, the ability to overcome adversity and modeling what it means to be a great teammate.
"Continuing the tradition of naming captains for the Ohio State baseball program is an honor we don't take lightly," Haire said "We want to make sure that the young men that earn this honor are the best representatives of what it means to be a Buckeye baseball player. Elite work ethic, trust, grit, resilience, and being a great teammate are the characteristics that Henry, Gavin, and Noah most exhibit and model for our program. We are proud of their commitment and investment in the 2026 version of Buckeye baseball, and we are excited to honor them with the title of captain. We know it is an honor that will stay with them for the rest of their lives!"
Furcht was a grad transfer to Ohio State for the 2026 season after two seasons at UNC Charlotte. Furcht played and started in the outfield in all 55 of the Buckeyes' games this season. He batted .278 with 58 hits, 12 doubles, 11 home runs, 40 RBIs and 43 runs scored. He went 7-for-9 in stolen bases. Furcht was Ohio State's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, and he was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree.
"I am very thankful to be selected as a captain," said Furcht. "I am humbled to join the many great players who have come before me, and that have also been recognized with this honor. I was only able to play here for one year, but in that one year, Ohio State truly felt like home."
Kaczmar, who played for the Buckeyes in 2023-24, returned to Ohio State for his senior season after spending the 2025 season at South Carolina. He set the single-season program record in doubles with 26. He led the Buckeyes in hits with 71 and in runs scored with 50. On the season, he batted .316, had a career-high 12 home runs and went 7-for-8 in stolen bases. Kaczmar was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and earned ABCA/Rawlings East All-Region Second Team honors.
"Ohio State has shaped me not only as a baseball player, but as a person," Kaczmar said. "It has given me so many amazing memories, people and experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime. Being named a captain of this spectacular team is an incredible honor, as there has been so many outstanding players that have come before me and carried on the tradition. I promise to keep the tradition, and The Ohio State University will forever be a second home for me."
Kuzniewski, a sophomore, was the Buckeyes' Friday night starter. He started 15 games on the mound and compiled a 6-3 record. He fanned 69 batters in 83.0 innings pitched and finished the season with an ERA of 4.66. He was one of three Buckeyes pitchers to toss at least one complete game. Kuzniewski was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection.
"It is a tremendous honor to be named a captain," said Kuzniewski. "Many tremendous players have come through this program and to have the respect of my teammates and coaches is something I take pride in. I'm grateful to be a Buckeye and can't wait to get back after it next year."
After a 13-37 season in 2025, the Buckeyes made an incredible turnaround, going 30-25 overall and 18-12 in conference play in 2026. The 17-win improvement is the Buckeyes' biggest program turnaround since the early 1990's. Ohio State hit multiple program milestones, including the first sweep of Nebraska in program history and the first sweep of Michigan in Ann Arbor since 1994. The Buckeyes' 78 home runs are the fourth-most in program history, their 460 strikeouts are fifth-most in program history, and their 18 Big Ten wins are tied for fifth-most in program history.
Starting in 2025, Haire began a tradition of naming captains after the conclusion of the season to honor the student-athletes that best exemplified what it means to be a Buckeye. The qualities that players must demonstrate are elite work ethic, trust, resilience, grit, the ability to overcome adversity and modeling what it means to be a great teammate.
"Continuing the tradition of naming captains for the Ohio State baseball program is an honor we don't take lightly," Haire said "We want to make sure that the young men that earn this honor are the best representatives of what it means to be a Buckeye baseball player. Elite work ethic, trust, grit, resilience, and being a great teammate are the characteristics that Henry, Gavin, and Noah most exhibit and model for our program. We are proud of their commitment and investment in the 2026 version of Buckeye baseball, and we are excited to honor them with the title of captain. We know it is an honor that will stay with them for the rest of their lives!"
Furcht was a grad transfer to Ohio State for the 2026 season after two seasons at UNC Charlotte. Furcht played and started in the outfield in all 55 of the Buckeyes' games this season. He batted .278 with 58 hits, 12 doubles, 11 home runs, 40 RBIs and 43 runs scored. He went 7-for-9 in stolen bases. Furcht was Ohio State's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, and he was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree.
"I am very thankful to be selected as a captain," said Furcht. "I am humbled to join the many great players who have come before me, and that have also been recognized with this honor. I was only able to play here for one year, but in that one year, Ohio State truly felt like home."
Kaczmar, who played for the Buckeyes in 2023-24, returned to Ohio State for his senior season after spending the 2025 season at South Carolina. He set the single-season program record in doubles with 26. He led the Buckeyes in hits with 71 and in runs scored with 50. On the season, he batted .316, had a career-high 12 home runs and went 7-for-8 in stolen bases. Kaczmar was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and earned ABCA/Rawlings East All-Region Second Team honors.
"Ohio State has shaped me not only as a baseball player, but as a person," Kaczmar said. "It has given me so many amazing memories, people and experiences that I will cherish for a lifetime. Being named a captain of this spectacular team is an incredible honor, as there has been so many outstanding players that have come before me and carried on the tradition. I promise to keep the tradition, and The Ohio State University will forever be a second home for me."
Kuzniewski, a sophomore, was the Buckeyes' Friday night starter. He started 15 games on the mound and compiled a 6-3 record. He fanned 69 batters in 83.0 innings pitched and finished the season with an ERA of 4.66. He was one of three Buckeyes pitchers to toss at least one complete game. Kuzniewski was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection.
"It is a tremendous honor to be named a captain," said Kuzniewski. "Many tremendous players have come through this program and to have the respect of my teammates and coaches is something I take pride in. I'm grateful to be a Buckeye and can't wait to get back after it next year."
After a 13-37 season in 2025, the Buckeyes made an incredible turnaround, going 30-25 overall and 18-12 in conference play in 2026. The 17-win improvement is the Buckeyes' biggest program turnaround since the early 1990's. Ohio State hit multiple program milestones, including the first sweep of Nebraska in program history and the first sweep of Michigan in Ann Arbor since 1994. The Buckeyes' 78 home runs are the fourth-most in program history, their 460 strikeouts are fifth-most in program history, and their 18 Big Ten wins are tied for fifth-most in program history.
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