NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion baseball pitcher Hunter Baynes has signed as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
A right-hander from Bradenton, Florida, Baynes started off his collegiate career at Maryland, where he made one appearance for the Terrapins as a freshman in 2024.
Baynes then transferred to ODU ahead of the 2025 season and made 15 appearances in his first season with the Monarchs. He went 0-1 with a 6.87 ERA and 1.69 WHIP while allowing 17 runs (14 earned) on 13 hits and 12 walks. He recorded 20 strikeouts over 18.1 innings and held opposing batters to a .200 clip against him. On March 28 at App State, he allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out three Mountaineers in 2.2 innings in relief. He also recorded three strikeouts in his next outing versus Troy on April 4. He threw 2.1 scoreless frames, didn’t give up a hit, and issued one free pass. On May 23 at the Sun Belt Conference Championship, he limited No. 22 Troy to one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in 1.2 innings out of the bullpen.
He did not make an appearance during the 2026 season.
Earlier this summer, Baynes made four starts for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the MLB Draft League. He went 0-1 with an 11.25 ERA after allowing six runs (five earned) on three hits and nine walks while striking out four in four innings pitched.