BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team has announced its 2026-27 signing class, welcoming 23 new student-athletes to the Yellowjacket program. The class features 13 transfers and 10 freshmen from across the United States and Canada as head coach Derek Waddoups continues to build on the program's recent success.
Following another winning campaign and the return of a strong veteran core, the Yellowjackets have added a recruiting class that brings a blend of collegiate experience, athleticism and proven production. The incoming group features accomplished junior college standouts, NCAA transfers, state champions, all-conference performers and high-academic student-athletes who will strengthen every area of the roster.
The 23-member class represents nine different states and two Canadian provinces. Washington leads the way with seven signees, followed by Colorado and California with four, Montana with three, Canada with two, Utah with two and Idaho with one.
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Transfer signees
The 13 transfers joining the Yellowjackets include Keon Bandy (Northeastern Junior College), Brendan Clelland (Northeastern Junior College), Austin Cooper (Western Nebraska Community College), Mitchell Heinrich (Panola College), Gavin LaMont (Northeastern Junior College), Luke Palmer (Walla Walla Community College), Tanner Peerey (Northeastern Junior College), Owen Schneider (Whitworth University), Joe Schuyleman (Wenatchee Valley College), Tyler Schuyleman (Georgia Gwinnett College), Kyle Slater (Mt. Hood Community College), Tyrus Vogt (Sierra College) and Jackson Copeland (Pierce College).
The Yellowjackets also continue to strengthen their regional recruiting footprint with three Montana natives joining the program. Bozeman product Austin Cooper arrives after two productive seasons at Western Nebraska Community College, while Manhattan infielder Tristan Engbretson and Billings native Owen Schneider return home to continue their collegiate careers. Schneider transfers to MSUB after pitching at Whitworth University, adding another experienced arm to the Yellowjacket staff.
Keon Bandy
Hometown: Limon, Colo.
Previous school: Northeastern Junior College
Bandy joins the Yellowjackets after two seasons at Northeastern Junior College where he developed into a reliable strikeout pitcher. As a sophomore, the right-hander made 17 appearances while striking out 59 batters in 50.1 innings, averaging 10.55 strikeouts per nine innings. A multi-sport standout in high school, Bandy earned Baseball Player of the Year honors and was twice selected to Colorado's Top 50 Game.
Brendan Clelland
Hometown: Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Previous school: Northeastern Junior College
One of the most accomplished hitters in the class, Clelland arrives after posting consecutive standout seasons at Northeastern. He hit .415 as a redshirt freshman before following with a .357 average as a sophomore, collecting 89 career hits with 72 RBIs. Clelland earned Honorable Mention Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian recognition and finished with the third-highest single-season batting average in Northeastern history.
Austin Cooper
Hometown: Bozeman, Mont.
Previous school: Western Nebraska Community College
Cooper brings power to the Yellowjacket lineup after hitting nine home runs over the past two seasons at Western Nebraska. The Gallatin High School graduate also earned Dean's List recognition during each of his three years with the Cougars and was a standout football player before beginning his collegiate baseball career.
Mitchell Heinrich
Hometown: Vermilion, Alberta, Canada
Previous school: Panola College
A hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, Heinrich made 25 appearances over two seasons at Panola College. He struck out 35 batters in just 29.2 innings as a sophomore while averaging 10.62 strikeouts per nine innings.
Gavin LaMont
Hometown: Castle Rock, Colo.
Previous school: Northeastern Junior College
LaMont adds another experienced arm after compiling 96 career strikeouts across two seasons at Northeastern. He earned All-Region Honorable Mention honors as a freshman and posted a .203 opponent batting average while winning four games.
Luke Palmer
Hometown: Providence, Utah
Previous school: Walla Walla Community College
Palmer appeared in 57 games during two seasons at Walla Walla, highlighted by a freshman campaign where he collected 44 hits, reached base at a .417 clip and drove in 22 runs.
Tanner Peerey
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Previous school: Northeastern Junior College
Peerey enters MSUB after establishing himself as one of the top offensive players in the NJCAA. Over two seasons, he blasted 25 home runs while driving in 85 runs and stealing 33 bases. He hit .350 as a freshman before following with a .324 average and 14 home runs as a sophomore.
Owen Schneider
Hometown: Billings, Mont.
Previous school: Whitworth University
Returning home to Billings, Schneider made 11 appearances as a freshman at Whitworth, earning a victory while striking out seven batters. Prior to college he earned Montana All-State honors and competed in the Montana High School All-Star Game.
Joe Schuyleman
Hometown: Wenatchee, Wash.
Previous school: Wenatchee Valley College
Schuyleman compiled 102.2 innings over two collegiate seasons while earning four victories and recording 62 career strikeouts. The former Washington All-State selection also excelled academically as his high school's valedictorian.
Tyler Schuyleman
Hometown: Wenatchee, Wash.
Previous school: Georgia Gwinnett College
Tyler arrives after spending last season at perennial NAIA power Georgia Gwinnett College. A versatile two-way player, he made appearances both on the mound and in the field while bringing leadership experience as a three-time high school team captain.
Kyle Slater
Hometown: Yamhill, Ore.
Previous school: Mt. Hood Community College
Slater earned First Team All-Region honors after batting .273 with 35 hits and 11 stolen bases as a sophomore. Across two collegiate seasons he totaled 80 hits and 21 stolen bases while establishing himself as one of the Northwest Athletic Conference's top defensive outfielders.
Tyrus Vogt
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
Previous school: Sierra College
Vogt joins the Yellowjackets after beginning his collegiate career at Sierra College. A four-time All-Golden Empire League selection in high school, he served as team captain during three seasons and was an Honor Roll student all four years.
Jackson Copeland
Hometown: Puyallup, Wash.
Previous school: Pierce College
Copeland enjoyed a breakout sophomore season at Pierce, batting .310 with 57 hits, 39 RBIs and 17 doubles while posting a .994 fielding percentage. His defensive consistency and offensive production earned him a reputation as one of the Raiders' most dependable infielders.
Freshman signees
The Yellowjackets welcome an exciting freshman class that features 10 student-athletes from across the western United States.
Leading off the group is San Diego product Colton Daudet, a two-time all-conference selection and league champion who hit .416 as a senior while also starring on the mound. Taye Lords helped Bonneville High School capture Idaho's 5A State Championship and earned First Team All-Conference honors after posting a .360 batting average.
Montana native Tristan Engbretson arrives from Manhattan High School after earning three varsity letters, while Nick Huntington joins from Roosevelt High School in Seattle after competing in baseball, basketball and football.
The class also includes Colton Pamenter from Chaparral High School in Colorado, Lucas Post from Tahoma High School in Washington, Arleigh Souza from Bellarmine College Prep in California, Chase Taylor from Kennewick High School in Washington, Kaden Turner from Los Alamitos High School in California and Max Walker, a Utah state champion who helped Maple Mountain High School capture the 2024 5A State Championship before serving an LDS mission in Uganda.
