La Salle Baseball Returns to the Diamond: Alumni-Led Resurrection Aims to Put Explorers ‘Back on the Map’
Philadelphia, PA – This Friday, the sound of metal bats and the pop of leather gloves will return to Hank DeVincent Field, signaling more than just the start of a new season. For La Salle University, it marks the completion of a resurrection. After the baseball program was unceremoniously cut in 2020 amid pandemic-related financial restructuring, a relentless campaign by a loyal community of alumni and supporters has successfully restored the team to varsity status.
The Explorers are set to open their 2026 season on their home turf, the culmination of a two-year, three-phase relaunch plan that has already drawn national attention. But as Head Coach David Miller prepares his squad for the first pitch, the sentiment around the program is clear: restoration was step one; now, they must prove they belong.
Deep Search: The Road to Reinstatement
The program’s revival is a case study in alumni mobilization. When the university announced the elimination of baseball and six other sports in 2020, the decision was met with immediate backlash. The “loyal baseball community,” led by key figures such as Billy Watts—a former La Salle outfielder (1988-94) and current senior vice president at General Mills—refused to let the program die.
Watts and other boosters didn’t just pledge money; they demanded a strategic overhaul. “About three or four years ago when they started talking about bringing the program back, I was like, ‘All right, that’s great, but you’ve got to show me,'” Watts told local media. He emphasized the need for a “sustainable growth model” rather than a temporary fix.
This structured approach resulted in a rapid accumulation of capital that shocked university administrators. According to Athletic Director Ashwin Puri, the fundraising targets for Phase I—which included significant upgrades to the stadium, fencing, and the creation of an indoor complex—were met in just over six months, a process originally slated to take a year.
Background Info: A “Destination” in the Making
At the center of this revival is Coach David Miller, who is serving his second stint as the Explorers’ skipper. Miller, whose wife is a La Salle alumna, views the program’s return as “unfinished business.” Before the program was halted, his 2021 squad had achieved a school-record 32 wins, and Miller was named Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year. He frequently highlights that 10 players from that final roster went on to play professionally, validating his development system.
Now, Miller is aiming higher. “My mindset was always to make this a destination program for college baseball in the Northeast,” Miller said. He explicitly listed powerhouses like Penn State, Pitt, Boston College, and UConn as the peers he wants La Salle to join.
The recruiting trail suggests this isn’t just talk. Despite having no active team for two years, La Salle’s 2025 recruiting class was ranked in the top 30 nationally by Perfect Game, sandwiched between established elites like Stanford and Arizona. Miller has also successfully courted transfers from major programs, including UConn, Memphis, and Coastal Carolina.
Objections: The Challenges of Sustainability and Competition
While the optimism is palpable, significant hurdles remain. The sheer emotion of reinstatement often fades once the games begin, and the program faces the harsh reality of Atlantic 10 competition. While Miller believes the team can be competitive immediately, he tempered expectations by noting, “I’m not suggesting we’re going to win the A-10” right away.
Furthermore, the “sustainable growth model” demanded by donors like Watts will be tested. Initial fundraising bursts are common in crisis scenarios, but maintaining donor enthusiasm for Phase II (locker rooms and player amenities) and Phase III requires on-field success and continued administrative support.
There is also the pressure on the “infrastructure.” The recruits and transfers were sold on a vision—a stadium and facilities that were, until recently, nonexistent or in disrepair. As Puri noted, the recruits started coming “before they even built it.” Now that the physical structures are rising, the pressure shifts to the players to validate the investment immediately, a tall order for a roster that has never played together in a varsity contest.
As the Explorers take the field this Friday, they do so not just as a baseball team, but as a proof of concept. The loyal community restored the program; the players and coaches must now ensure it stays on the map.
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