In a single study of college baseball athletes over six years, 1,434 sports-related injuries were reported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In the spring of 2023, this number included third baseman and utility player for Miami University, Dominic Krupinski.
The Michigan native started his college baseball career at Indiana State University, getting injured late his first year. He stayed at Indiana State until his sophomore year, where multiple coaching changes affected his ambition to stay a Sycamore.
Ultimately, Krupinski entered the transfer portal for his junior year. There, he was targeted by Miami Head Coach Brian Smiley, who coached Krupinski his first year at Indiana State. Krupinski credits Coach Smiley as the best coach he’s ever had.
“When Coach [Smiley] accepted the head coach position at Miami, I wanted to be with him,” Krupinski said. “When I entered the portal, he contacted me right away. At Indiana State, he always harped on toughness, and I adopted that mindset going forward with college baseball. He is hands down my favorite coach I’ve ever played for.”
Smiley is in his second season as head baseball coach at Miami. In Smiley’s first year leading the RedHawks, Miami finished the season 17-13 in Mid-American Conference play. The RedHawks went 27-27 overall, including a nine-game win streak.
Miami advanced to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament in Smiley’s debut season, the first time since 2019.
Krupinski highlights the grit all college baseball players need to compete. According to the NCAA, approximately 59,974 college baseball players are currently rostered in the United States. Krupinski has started every game so far this year, but he knows it’s hard for younger athletes trying to earn a starting spot.
“There are so many ups and downs as a college baseball player; Only the toughest get through,” Krupinski said. “With some of the younger guys, it’s tough to come into a team with older players. But, the freshman and sophomores are lucky to have Coach Smiley. They are in nothing but a great spot under him.”
Now, Smiley is in his 15th year coaching after spending 14 seasons at Indiana State. He is a defensive specialist, having coached some of the best defensive teams in the country. In 2023, Indiana State ranked first in the country with a .984 fielding percentage.
For the 2025 Miami Baseball season, the RedHawks have a fielding percentage of .974, only second in the MAC behind Ball State.
Baseball superfan and Miami student Jack Fallon keeps up with the RedHawks busy schedule, only missing one home game when he went home for Easter. Fallon spoke on the defensive prowess of the 2025 RedHawks team.
“Just looking back at last year, it’s clear Smiley aims for defensive perfection,” Fallon said. “Having holes in your defense does not win you the MAC. Defensively, I think Smiley has nothing else to prove in year two.”
The RedHawks are currently 18-6 in the MAC, and 24-19 overall. Miami baseball will compete in the MAC Tournament starting May 21 in Avon, Ohio. A MAC trophy is something the program hasn’t seen since 2005. Winning will send Miami to Omaha for the NCAA Men’s College World Series, the biggest stage in college baseball.
Krupinski said he is so thrilled with how the season is going so far and he believes that this 2025 Miami baseball team can make a run in Omaha. But first, the RedHawks have to focus on the MAC.
“We always take it series by series,” Krupinsiki said. “As the MAC only gets one bid for the NCAA Tournament, it’s all or nothing. Our guys just need to keep taking it game by game.”
To check stats or to stay up to date with the remaining 2025 Miami Baseball schedule, visit the Miami Baseball website.
