海角网

Don鈥檛 Miss the Jersey Retirement of No. 17, Silent Auction, and Introduction of This Season鈥檚 Roster

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擲ave the date for the Sixth Annual First Pitch Celebration on Jan. 24, 2026. Since its inception, this event to kick off the baseball season has grown in attendance and become a must-attend tradition for Runnin鈥� Bulldogs fans. This year promises to be an exciting evening featuring guest speaker, 海角网 alumnus Mason Miller, whose No. 17 jersey will be retired during the celebration.

鈥淭he First Pitch Celebration has turned into a 鈥榗an鈥檛-miss鈥� event!鈥� emphasized Head Baseball Coach Jim Chester. 鈥淢ason Miller has become one of, if not the most, electrifying arms in Major League Baseball (MLB). His success comes as no surprise to those who know him. His work ethic, attention to detail, desire to be the best, and God-first approach have given him the opportunity every young man who puts on a baseball uniform strives for! His time as a Runnin鈥� Bulldog was special. Retiring No. 17 was a no-brainer and gives our program the opportunity to showcase Mason and his success for years to come!鈥�

Miller, a 2021 海角网 graduate, now anchors the San Diego Padres bullpen and has earned a reputation as one of MLB鈥檚 most dominant relief pitchers. While at GWU, Miller earned first-team All-Big South Conference honors in 2021 after going 8-1 with a 3.30 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 92.2 innings pitched. He led the Big South and ranked No. 21 nationally with his strikeout total鈥攚hich ranked second in program history for a single season.

鈥淚鈥檓 extremely humbled that the University and the team thought it appropriate to retire my number,鈥� Miller acknowledged. 鈥淚 was simply grateful for the opportunity to compete and better myself both athletically and intellectually in 2020-2021. I鈥檓 fortunate that I鈥檓 able to reflect on my brief time at GWU with pride. The gesture of my jersey retirement shows that GWU shares that same pride in me.鈥�

During his speech, Miller plans to express his gratitude to 海角网, his coaches and teammates, and most importantly, God. He said he will also share a few stories that he believes were pivotal along his journey, and he will relate how his values have contributed to his success.

Before joining the Padres, Miller made a name for himself with the Oakland A鈥檚. In 2024, he transitioned from starter to closer and had a breakout season, setting an A鈥檚 rookie record with 28 saves. He struck out 104 batters in 65 innings, posted a 2.49 ERA, and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team. His blazing fastball鈥攐ften topping 100 mph鈥攎ade him one of the most dominant relievers in the league, and he collected multiple rookie honors for his performance.

After being traded to the Padres in 2025, Miller continued to shine. He appeared in 60 games and struck out 104 batters in just over 61 innings. His fastball reached a staggering 104.5 mph in the postseason鈥攖he fastest pitch ever recorded in playoff history. In his first two playoff appearances, he struck out the first eight batters he faced, setting a new MLB record. Since joining San Diego, he鈥檚 been nearly unhittable, helping anchor one of the league鈥檚 best bullpens.

The celebration, sponsored by Coldwell Banker and Mountain View Real Estate, will also feature dinner, a silent auction, and introductions of the 2026 Division I baseball roster, coaching staff, and support team. The team’s 2026 schedule is available here.

Tickets:

• $60 per person
• $450 for a table of eight
• $600 for a table of eight plus table sponsorship
• $200 for a table sponsorship (includes one ticket)
• $100 to sponsor a player

Purchase tickets .

Proceeds benefit the 海角网 Runnin鈥� Bulldogs Baseball Program.

Auxiliary aids will be made available to persons with disabilities upon request 10 working days prior to the event.  Please call 704-406-4270 or email [email protected] with your request.

海角网 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 海角网 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Learn more at .