WVU Baseball head coach Steve Sabins dismissed Chase Meyer from the baseball program following a locker room exchange that sources close to Meyer say began as a private conversation among players, WV Sports Nation confirmed Tuesday. Read More: Chase Meyer Dismissed from WVU Baseball following locker room incident.
Sabins confirmed to WV Sports Nation that Meyer had been dismissed from the team. Later in the day, Sabins addressed the situation with a statement released by the WVU Athletics Communications Department:
“Junior right-handed pitcher Chase Meyer is no longer with our baseball program. I want to thank Chase for his contributions the past three years to our team and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Meyer, a preseason First-Team All-American and the No. 64 overall prospect on D1Baseball’s 2026 MLB Draft board, no longer appears on WVU’s roster. Sabins notified Meyer of the decision by text message, sources said.
What happened
The incident unfolded after a road game at Kennesaw State. According to sources close to Meyer, he and several teammates were talking in the locker room when Sabins overheard players criticizing some of the coaching staff’s in-game decisions and questioning why the team was traveling to Marshall. The road trip would extend an already grueling five-week stretch away from Morgantown with a significant series against Baylor just a few weeks away.
Sabins confronted Meyer, suspended him and told him not to return to the facility until further notice. Shortly after, Sabins sent Meyer a text message informing him he had been dismissed from the program entirely.
An injury that changed the season’s arc
Meyer entered 2026 already behind schedule. Sabins disclosed at a February press conference that his top pitcher was three to four weeks off pace to start the season due to a finger injury on his throwing hand.
“But he’s probably, I hate to use the word behind, but just from a scheduling standpoint and a buildup standpoint, he’s probably three or four weeks behind the rest of the pitching staff,” Sabins said. “But he’s in a great spot. He was up to 97 miles per hour two days ago in Columbia, South Carolina.”
Related: Sabins reveals pitcher Chase Meyer 3-4 weeks off pace for Mountaineers
The origin of the injury remains disputed. Sabins said at the press conference that Meyer broke his finger during Thanksgiving break. Members of the Meyer family contacted WV Sports Nation directly to dispute that account, saying the injury occurred during the Mountaineer Challenge in the first week of December.
Despite the slow buildup, Sabins expressed confidence that Meyer would contribute whenever he returned.
“He’ll be coming out of the bullpen early this season just because he’s probably at a two-inning, maybe three-inning, max depending on how efficient he is early on,” Sabins said. “But he’s capable of anything he wants to do. If he competes well and throws strikes, he can be a starter, he can be a closer, he can be a middle reliever.”
That return never came.
A program loses its ace
The dismissal strips WVU of its most important arm heading into Big 12 play. Meyer entered 2026 as the anchor of a pitching staff that already absorbed significant turnover, with Griffin Kirn, Robby Porco, Jack Kartsonas and Gavin Van Kempen all departing after last season.
Meyer arrived in Morgantown as the seventh-ranked recruit in North Carolina and the No. 31 right-handed pitcher in the country per Perfect Game. In 2025, he went 9-2 with a 3.94 ERA across 22 appearances and three starts, striking out 63 batters in 48 innings and earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. Scouting outlet Over-Slot Baseball called his curveball one of the best in the draft class — generating 15 inches of depth at mid-80s velocity. Over three seasons, Meyer compiled 91 strikeouts in 67.1 innings.
His junior year was supposed to cement his draft stock. Instead, he exits Morgantown before it began.
What comes next
Meyer’s options going forward remain limited in the immediate term. What comes next for him — whether professional baseball, another avenue or simply waiting for the summer draft window — remains to be seen.
oh my
bru
Hate to hear that, sounds abit much. But whatever they have to live with their decisions.
That was a gutless move by the Skipper. Dismissed a kid via text. Chicken Shit move. You could have sent him home then call home back do what ever you need to but don’t be a candy ass about it.
You obviously have no idea what actually happened
You don’t know the half of it. We have ALL the texts and all the convos. #FreeChaseMeyer
Disgraceful
This F N coach should be fired.. ruining a young man’s draft stock and potential future as a MLB player.. probably just jealous because he wishes he was in that young man’s shoes..
Reminds me of a dick head coach we had at D&E years ago..
Players are paid these days to play , not voice their opinions on schedules & voice their opinions on how to manage the team .If he wants to coach then he should take up coaching & give up playing .I stand behind the coach & his decision not a players opinion .
Players are paid these days to play , not voice their opinions on schedules & voice their opinions on how to manage the team .If he wants to coach then he should take up coaching & give up playing .I stand behind the coach & his decision not a players opinion .
Players have the right to complain. Also getting paid . You do know in college baseball is a minor sport and very few have full rides. Players have the right to voice their opinion Ken
This F N coach should be fired.. ruining a young man’s draft stock and potential future as a MLB player.. probably just jealous because he wishes he was in that young man’s shoes..
Reminds me of a dick head coach we had at D&E years ago..
Sounds like the coach is the problem. Punk move to dismiss your best pitcher because the staff was eavesdropping on a private conversation that criticized the coaches. Sabins sounds like he has a big ego that will get crushed during the season. Good luck to Meyers, hope a good team picks you up.
What do you expect from a University that names a Boulevard after a head coach(Don Nehlen) that was 3-11 in 14 Bowl games? Including that Stonebreaking asswhipping they took in the desert by WV native Lou Holtz and ND. Sorta ironic how home grown talent like Saban or Jimbo Fisher just like Holtz never landed in Morganhole! However the powers that be(AD) thought Rich Rod was due for a rerun…really?!?! The only dumber move than that was LSU hiring Brian Kelley’s overpaid non-producing butt!!! WVU’s athletic direction in anything other than the rifle team or women’s B-Ball sucks!
Young men should be coached, not dismissed.
He was the best pitcher fir west virginia
That manager has some seriously thin skin if he has to dismiss a player via text for simply questioning coaching decisions. The players have zero recourse against college coaches who are rarely held accountable for their actions.
WV will lose at least 9 games that they thought were going to be wins all bc of a Coach that can’t talk to his players like a man or mentor young men. Their is a reason why they lost 4 other pitchers from last year’s team.
So disappointed as I was really excited about this year. I don’t know the entirety, but based on this information I believe a conversation could/should have resolved it. If not then discharge but NEVER by a text. It is really pathetic that he can’t tell him to his face.
It’s a chicken shit move on coach’s part to dismiss him via text. If he was any kind of man he could’ve called him in his office and talked about it. The good news is that if you’ve got talent “they will find you”. The kid has a brighter future than coach.
This is WVU Baseball. Sounds like the coach doesn’t have any balls to dismiss a player by text?
Freedom of speech is at stake here. Players have the right to discuss, disagree and speak up for themselves, other players or coaches calls.
I’d be texting the coach….You’re outta here!!!
Freedom of Speech doesn’t guarantee freedom from consequences. It depends on what was said.