Mac Moyer is carrying on a family legacy after learning he’d be getting his opportunity to play professional baseball in 2026.
The former Nebraska baseball center fielder’s father, Jamie Moyer, spent 25 years pitching in the pros, and Mac’s older brothers played in the minor leagues.
“I learned just the poise, humility, and just the confidence in yourself (from them), but also understanding that there’s always work to be done, and there’s always ways to get better,” Moyer told Hail Varsity. “If you phrase it that way, and you’re focused on getting better every day, you’ll be pretty good by the end of it.”
Moyer put in the work, and following a strong junior season with the Huskers, he signed an undrafted free agent contract with the San Diego Padres. He said he was cleaning his apartment when he got the call.
“My family is very big in baseball too, and I’m glad that I get to be a part of that discussion now, also in professional baseball,” Moyer said. “Obviously, for my own aspirations, I’ve grown up always wanting to be a professional baseball player, and it just means the world.”
The Washougal, Wash., native spent his childhood learning from professional athletes. Jamie played for the Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies when Mac was young. He said being around the baseball players helped him in his own career.
“I think you just kind of realize how composed and professional they are as athletes,” Moyer said. “Obviously, they’re very blessed to play a game as their occupation, but they do take it as a job still. It’s a very serious thing that they have to take care of on a day-to-day basis.”
Moyer began his college career at Oregon, where he redshirted, before spending two seasons at San Jacinto Community College. He joined Nebraska in 2026 and spent one season with the Huskers. He said Nebraska’s coaches made Lincoln appealing.
“They really proved to me that they cared and were interested in my success and my development,” Moyer said. “I was blessed enough to come on a visit and just fell in love with campus and the facilities. Even just the everyday people you’re around on a day-to-day basis. From the front desk people that are sitting there that are super polite saying hi to you every day, to the trainers, to nutritionists — Nebraska does a great job with everything.”
In Moyer’s lone season with the Huskers, he helped guide them to a 43-17 overall record, which allowed them to host their first regional since 2008.
“I think it was just the level of connection we made early on in the year,” Moyer said of the team’s success. “Once we developed as a group, it was much easier to improve as a group. Once we were able to be accountable with each other, it made improvement much easier as a team.”
As a junior, Moyer appeared in 60 games with 57 starts in center field. He tied the single-season program record with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Offensively, he batted .353 with four home runs, 13 doubles and two triples. Moyer also drove in 38 runs while leading Nebraska in runs scored with 65.
Named second-team All-Big-Ten and selected to the conference’s All-Defensive Team, Moyer reached base safely in 45 straight games.
“I think our coaches as a whole were great just preparing us through the fall,” Moyer said. “They were definitely challenging us in the right ways and honestly forcing you to improve and get better as a baseball player and as a person. I think that just led to mine and everyone else’s success.”
Moyer said he wants to show the Padres his consistency.
“Ultimately, I’m just looking to prove that I’m an everyday player,” Moyer said. “It has nothing to do with where I went; I’m blessed to have the opportunity to go where I went. There’s not many people in the world that can say that they signed with a professional baseball team, but I am ultimately trying to show the organization that I am an everyday player.”
Moyer has already reported to the Padres training complex in Arizona, ready to begin his professional baseball journey.
“I think I’m just looking forward to the professionalism, and hopefully the want for the entire organization for me to get better, because ultimately that’s what I’m trying to get them, too,” Moyer said. “I will give them my 100% so that I can continue to improve and help them have success.”
