Carson Jasa changed his mindset on the mound, and that led to a breakout year in 2026 with Nebraska baseball.
The right-handed pitcher redshirted his first season then made only four starts in his second before serving as the Huskers’ ace during his redshirt sophomore season.
“I was just looking to attack more, be confident with the stuff that I have, and just go enjoy playing baseball,” Jasa told Hail Varsity. “I wanted to just go have fun and make it easy.”
This past season, Jasa started 16 games. He went 10-2 with a 3.59 era in 87.2 innings pitched. He said he was focused on the results in 2025, but with the help of assistant coach Rob Childress, that changed in 2026.
“There was definitely an emphasis in wanting to throw more strikes and just get ahead in counts,” Jasa said. “I think I did a pretty good job at that this year. I needed to get us deep in games as a starting pitcher, and that was something Coach Childress had talked to me about was just owning the strike zone and really limiting the pitch count so I could get us as deep in ball games as possible.”
Those changes led to Jasa getting drafted. The Chicago Cubs selected Jasa in the third round of the 2026 MLB Draft, with the 98th overall pick.
“My agent called me about four picks before I was selected and said it was either going to be number 97 or number 98,” Jasa said. “So I knew I was either going to go to the (San Diego) Padres or Cubs, and I was super happy with either one of those. God wanted me to go to the Cubs I guess, so I’m super happy that it worked out that way.”
Jasa said his younger self might have been disappointed he wasn’t a first-round pick but still happy he was selected.
“I anticipated and always dreamed of playing professional baseball,” Jasa said. “I love the game of baseball, I love competing, so I’d say he’d be pretty fired up.”
The Thornton, Colo., native received an invite to the MLB combine in Phoenix, where he went through medical testing and met with teams, including the Cubs.
“I believe they liked my projectability, and they like the kind of person I am, I believe,” Jasa said. “That’s something that’s big for the Cubs’ culture, is just getting quality people that are going to be good teammates. That’s something that I believe every team probably valued in me, and we meshed really well.”
Jasa is joining former Nebraska teammate and fellow pitcher Jackson Brockett in Chicago. Brockett signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in February. Jasa said Brockett called him immediately after he was drafted.
“I’m excited just to talk to him and be around him,” Jasa said. “He’s got an infectious energy. He’s hilarious. I like to make his day a little harder and challenge him in that way. He’s just a great dude; I miss that guy. I’m just looking forward to hanging out with him and catching up.”
In Jasa’s final year with Nebraska he became the 13th pitcher in school history and first since Johnny Dorn in 2007 to reach the 10-win mark. Named a third-team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings, Jasa recorded two complete games while limiting hitters to a .210 batting average. The righty also earned first-team All-Big-Ten honors and led the Huskers in strikeouts with 117. This is the fifth most by a Nebraska pitcher in a single season school history.
“Baseball seasons are long and super redundant,” Jasa said. “You’re playing 60-plus games of the same thing, and if you let it get to you, you can start riding the wave of emotions. I’d say the mindset of just taking it one pitch at a time every day and just being where my feet are has done extremely well for me, because why would you worry about anything in the future without doing right now?”
Jasa’s efforts on the mound guided the Huskers to a 43-17 overall record and allowed them to host their first regional since 2008.
In Jasa’s final outing with Nebraska, he allowed one run on five hits with a pair of walks and eight strikeouts. He pitched 6.1 innings and helped Nebraska to a 4-1 win over South Dakota State.
“I was pretty amped up,” Jasa said. “I understood that South Dakota State team was very hot, and any team playing in a regional is a dangerous team, so I was looking forward to it … I was just excited to go get the Huskers a win, and it was just a great atmosphere to pitch in. I had a blast.”
Although Jasa’s collegiate career ended in the Lincoln Regional, he said he’s happy with how it concluded.
“I wish it was more than just one year, but I got to see a lot of really cool things and be a part of some really amazing teams at Nebraska,” Jasa said. “I’ve learned so much. I’d say I’m satisfied. It went the way it did for a reason, and I’m going to be at peace with that.”
One thing that makes Nebraska so special is its fanbase. The 6-foot-7 right-hander was familiar with Husker nation prior to joining the team. He was born in Lincoln and went to Nebraska camps in high school.
“I love Husker nation; I was a part of Husker nation since the day I was born,” Jasa said. “I still am. I love watching football, basketball, volleyball, softball — it’s all fun to me. So Husker nation means the world to me.”
Now, Jasa’s turning his attention to the pros. He signed with the Cubs last week and has begun lifting and throwing. Jasa said he’ll stay at the team’s complex in Arizona until the offseason starts in November.
“I’m looking forward to becoming the best baseball player I can become,” Jasa said. “They have a lot to offer, and there’s going to be a lot available to me to get as good as I want to get. So I’m super excited.”
