WVU Baseball to Headline Inaugural 2027 Orlando Baseball Classic

The WVU baseball program headlines a group of teams, including three that entered NCCA Regional play last season, set to play in the inaugural 2027 Orlando Baseball Classic, Feb. 26-28, at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort. Veteran event-promoter bdG Sports made the announcement Wednesday.

Along with West Virginia, the new event will feature 2026 NCAA super regional participant St. John’s and NCAA regional selection UCF, along with Pitt, Michigan and Indiana State.

“As NCAA baseball continues its impressive growth pattern, interest in early season, destination-location events have become highly sought after, and what better destination than Central Florida and the immaculate Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports,” said Brooks Downing, founder and president of bdG Sports. “Fans and participants alike can enjoy premium collegiate baseball, the Florida sunshine, and of course, the largest and most visited theme park destination on earth, Walt Disney World.”

“We are excited to compete in the Orlando Baseball Classic,” said WVU head coach Steve Sabins. “It is a wonderful venue that Mountaineer fans from all over the country can come to and enjoy. Great weather and great baseball”

The Stadium at ESPN Wide World of Sports will play host to the round-robin event, which will be played in Week 2 of the new season. The Stadium, with a capacity of 9,500 seats and another 2,000 on grass, opened in 1997 and was designed with Major League Baseball dimensions. For two decades, the immaculate ballpark served as the home to spring training for the Atlanta Braves, and has played host to minor league teams, MLB regular-season games for the Tampa Bay Rays, the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the 2001 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament.

WVU players celebrate after winning the 2026 Morgantown Super Regional and securing their place in the College World Series. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)

The Orlando Baseball Classic will check two boxes for NCAA teams: it creates a much-needed national event to start the season, an opportunity to showcase great competition as the new baseball season gets underway; and, it provides a warm-weather destination for a number of teams that typically have to begin the first three weeks of the season away from home while winter hangs on across the northern half of the country.

Matchups are as follows. (All times are eastern and subject to change.)

Friday, Feb. 26

St. John’s vs. Michigan – 11 am. ET

Indiana State vs. West Virginia – 3 p.m.

UCF vs. Pitt – 7 p.m.

 Saturday, Feb. 27

West Virginia vs. St. John’s – 11 a.m.

 Pitt vs. Indiana State – 3 p.m.

 Michigan vs. UCF – 7 p.m.

 Sunday, Feb. 28

 St. John’s vs. Pitt – 11 a.m.

 West Virginia vs. Michigan – 3 p.m.

 UCF vs. Indiana State – 7 p.m.

 Broadcast details will be announced later.

Most of this story originated as a WVU press release. 

Find more coverage of the WVU baseball program at WV Sports Now.