SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The John P. and Catherine Murphy Head Baseball Coach Shawn Stiffler has announced four team captains ahead of the 2025 season.
Graduate student outfielder Brady Gumpf, junior infielder Estevan Moreno, graduate student right handed pitcher Jackson Dennies and senior right handed pitcher Radek Birkholz will be serving as captains of the squad in Coach Stiffler’s third season at the helm of the Irish baseball program.
“It is an honor to be able to call these four guys captains,” said Stiffler. “They were voted as captains by their teammates in the fall, and each one of them is very deserving of this role. They exemplify the core values of both the university and our baseball program. Their commitment to Notre Dame and the baseball program is clear to everyone who has crossed their paths.”
Brady Gumpf
Gumpf has played in 92 career contests for the Irish heading into the spring season. He had a single-season career-high 48 games played in 2024 and boasted a .352 on-base percentage with 31 RBI, 12 doubles and nine home runs.
“Brady has grown up in South Bend and around Notre Dame, and the university is in his blood,” commented Stiffler. “His love for this place is unmatched. He has the keen ability to keep us steady at all times. This place just means more to Brady, and his leadership helps our team realize that Notre Dame does in fact mean more.”
Estevan Moreno
Moreno had a team-best .625 slugging percentage in 2024 with 13 home runs and 17 doubles. His 42 runs scored was third on the team, and he has competed in 100 games for the Irish through two seasons of play.
“Estevan has been a leader on the field for us from the moment he walked onto campus as a freshman,” Stiffler shared. “He exemplifies the type of work and effort needed to give every day to be a successful player at this level. He is a guy that our players look to for examples of how to do things the right way on the field.”
Jackson Dennies
Dennies has 41 career appearances and 76.1 innings pitched over his career heading into 2025. During his 2023 campaign, Dennies struck out 49 batters over 46.1 innings of work.
“Jackson is the heart and soul of our team,” said Stiffler. “He is our emotional leader and makes everyone better just through his presence. He knows exactly how to motivate our team. Jackson has been through a lot of challenges, and he has used those moments to grow as a player and as a leader through those moments. There is no doubt we will lean on that leadership throughout our season.”
Radek Birkholz
Birkholz has made 48 appearances with 83.0 innings of work over three seasons for the Irish. He went 3-0 on the mound during the 2024 season with 20 strikeouts in 17.1 innings over nine appearances.
“Radek is the standard of what any coach looks for in a college baseball team captain,” added Stiffler. “He puts his teammates first and is a true servant leader. He comes to the ballpark each day with a positive attitude and a focus on how to make the university and our program better. He continues to elevate this program each day.”
The Irish open the 2025 season with a three-game series at North Florida from February 14-16.