The Master’s University baseball team is already making moves to shape its roster for the 2027 season, adding several players with collegiate experience while also bringing a familiar face back to the program.

Over the past several weeks, the Mustangs have announced the additions of pitcher Alex Hernandez, first baseman Chanz Flores and catcher Cristian Hernandez Jr., while former TMU standout Aaron Shackelford is set to return as an assistant coach.

The additions come as The Master’s prepares to replace several key contributors from a team that featured one of the more productive offenses in the conference during the 2026 season.

One of the newest additions is Cristian Hernandez Jr., who signed with the Mustangs on Tuesday and will provide experience behind the plate. Hernandez comes to TMU from Los Angeles Harbor College, where he established himself as a consistent offensive threat.

In 2025, Hernandez hit .363 overall and raised his average to .370 in conference play. He finished the season with a .959 OPS, one home run and 20 RBIs.

While primarily a catcher, Hernandez also saw time at both corner infield positions, giving the Mustangs another player capable of contributing at multiple spots defensively.

Hernandez was named his team’s MVP as a freshman and earned all-conference recognition during his sophomore season.

“Cristian has a longing to grow in his faith in Christ and is a very proven hitter,” said TMU head coach Monte Brooks in an article with TMU Athletics. “He was a great player at the junior college level and is going to bring us experience and passion on the baseball field.”

Hernandez will enter a catcher room undergoing changes following the graduation of Dylan Taguiam and Emilio Morales.

At first base, the Mustangs added Flores, who arrives from Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon.

Flores, a right-handed hitter from Vancouver, Washington, is coming off a 2026 season in which he hit .272 with three home runs and 25 RBIs. He also scored 26 runs and led Linn-Benton with 13 extra-base hits.

The first baseman finished the year with a .358 on-base percentage and .412 slugging percentage while hitting 10 doubles. He also went the entire season without committing an error defensively.

“He’s a tremendous young man with great experience at a top-notch program,” Brooks said in an article with TMU Athletics. “He’s got really big power at first base. Chanz models biblical attributes as a teammate and has great character on and off the field.”

Flores could have an opportunity to make an impact in an offense that will be without two of its biggest contributors from a season ago. All-American Ty Beck and 2026 GSAC Player of the Year Isaiah Morales both graduated following the season.

The Mustangs have also added to their pitching rotation with the signing of Alex Hernandez from Fresno City College.

Hernandez was limited by an injury during the 2026 season, but his previous work at Fresno City showed the type of arm TMU is bringing into the program.

As a freshman in 2025, the right-hander appeared in six games and posted a 2.35 ERA. He struck out 11 batters in 7.2 innings while recording a save.

His most notable performance came against Chabot, when he worked three innings and struck out six batters.

Hernandez’s fastball reached 90 mph during his high school career at Redwood High School in Visalia, where he was a second-team all-region selection.

“Alex is a very talented pitcher who had a lot of success prior to his injury,” Brooks said in an article with TMU Athletics. “We’re very excited to add him to the roster and bring him to TMU.”

The Mustangs are also bringing back one of the most accomplished players in program history, although this time Shackelford will be in the dugout rather than at shortstop.

Shackelford was named the 2019 NAIA Player of the Year after putting together a record-setting senior season at TMU. He finished his collegiate career holding the school’s single-season records for home runs, runs scored, RBIs, total bases and slugging percentage.

His 36 home runs, 83 runs, 99 RBIs, 206 total bases and 1.096 slugging percentage in 2019 remain among the most impressive offensive numbers in program history.

Following his time at TMU, Shackelford was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 14th round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He spent five seasons in professional baseball and reached the Triple-A level with the Indianapolis Indians.

Now, he will bring that experience back to Santa Clarita as an assistant coach beginning with the 2027 season.

“We are blessed to have Aaron Shackelford back in the program,” Brooks said in an article with TMU Athletics. “He is devoted to our Lord Jesus Christ, and extremely passionate to serve, equip and educate the players in their walk with the Lord and their discipline on the field.”

With several months still remaining before the start of the 2027 season, the Mustangs have already added experience at multiple positions while supplementing their coaching staff with someone who knows the program from the inside.

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