​It’s rare to see Duke baseball making offseason headlines, but the Blue Devils just landed a massive boost ahead of next season. James Clark, a five-star recruit, announced his decision to withdraw from the 2026 MLB Draft and subsequently committed to Duke.Clark is a consensus five-star recruit, the 24th-ranked player in the class of 2026 and the No. 10-ranked shortstop in the country, according to Perfect Game.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBaseball America writer Carlos Collazo called the Riverside, California native “one of the better pure hitters in the prep class.”The timing couldn’t be better for a Duke team that struggled to find an identity in 2026 after longtime head coach Chris Pollard left for Virginia last offseason.Just two years removed from an ACC title, year one under head coach Corey Muscara was a step back. The Blue Devils finished 26-31 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.Clark’s addition to the ‘26 class adds to Duke’s 30th-ranked recruiting class, one that Muscara expressed confidence and excitement in.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We’re incredibly proud of the 2026 class we’ve put together, and James’ commitment to Duke is another testament to the hard work our staff has put into building something special,” Muscara said. “This class further lays the foundation for the future of our program and the standard we want to set for years to come.”Clark himself took to social media to reflect on the decision, stating that he has “no doubt” that he’ll be back for the draft in three years.He ended his post with a simple message: “Duke, let’s get to work.”This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: 5-star SS withdraws from MLB Draft, commits to Duke