- - Check out USA TODAY Sports' college baseball preseason All-American team

Jackson Fuller, USA TODAYFebruary 13, 2026 at 10:03 AM

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There are no shortage of lofty expectations resting on the broad shoulders of UCLA star Roch Cholowsky.

The Bruins' shortstop could be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 MLB draft. Before then, he will close out his college baseball career with expectations of reaching the College World Series for a second consecutive year.

As part of the USA TODAY Network College Baseball Preseason All-American Team, Cholowsky has been named the Preseason Player of the Year. He was also a near unanimous pick as the first-team shortstop.

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LSU's Jay Johnson was selected as the Preseason Coach of the Year, fresh off leading the Tigers to their eighth national title. The final major award goes to Mississippi State pitcher Jack Bauer, who is the USA TODAY Network's Preseason Freshman of the Year.

The SEC led the way with four selections on our All-American team. The ACC had three picks, and the Big 12 had two.

Here’s a look at the entire USA TODAY Sports Network Preseason All-American Team.

USA TODAY College Baseball Preseason All-American TeamC Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech

Lackey emerged as one of the best catchers in America last season by slashing .347/.421/.500 with a team-high 77 base hits. He bring unique athleticism to the position and led Division I catchers with 18 stolen bases on 21 attempts.

1B Brady Ballinger, Kansas

Ballinger carried the Jayhawks offense in 2025 and led the team in batting average (.353), walks (56), slugging percentage (.670), on-base percentage (.495), OPS (1.165), runs scored (71), hits (79), doubles (21), total bases (150), multi-hit games (24) and multi-walk games (16).

2B Chris Rembert, Auburn

Rembert became the first Auburn freshman to earn All-SEC honors since 2008 by slashing .344/.467/.555 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. His elite approach was evidenced by drawing more walks (37) than strikeouts (36).

SS Roch Cholowsky, UCLA

UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) completes a double play against the Murray State Racers during the second inning at Charles Schwab Field.

What can Cholowsky do for an encore after being named National Player of the Year by four outlets in 2025? He led the Bruins in batting average (.353), home runs (23), total bases (179), slugging percentage (.710), on-base percentage (.480), hits (89) and runs scored (80).

3B Ace Reese, Mississippi State

After spending his freshman season at Houston, Reece became a household name by blasting 21 home runs with a .352 batting average for the Bulldogs in 2025. Reece ranked third in the SEC in slugging percentage (.718) and fifth in the SEC in OPS (1.140).

OF Derek Curiel, LSU

Curiel started all 68 games as a true freshman, batting a team-high .345 on the year with 20 doubles, two triples, seven homers, 55 RBIs and 67 runs. He played a key role in LSU winning the 2025 College World Series.

OF Drew Burress, Georgia Tech

Burress was the only player from a Power Four conference in 2025 with at least 60 RBIs (62), 20 doubles (23), 50 walks (53), 15 homers (19) and 70 runs (77). He enters his junior year as the only Division I player with a career slugging percentage over .750 (.756).

OF Lucas Moore, Louisville

Moore's speed is a rare sight on the diamond. He went 53 of 54 on stolen-base attempts last year while hitting .341 with 10 doubles, three triples and five home runs. Moore was a key cog in the Cardinals run to the College World Series.

UTIL Evan Dempsey, Florida Gulf Coast

Dempsey was a First Team All-ASUN honoree as a starting pitcher and a second team selection as an outfielder last season. He posted a 1.97 ERA in 68⅔ innings and led FGCU with 71 hits and 18 doubles.

SP Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers starting pitcher Cameron Flukey (2) throws against the LSU Tigers during the first inning at Charles Schwab Field.

The 6-6 righty struck out 118 batters in 101⅔ innings as the Chanticleers made it all the way to the College World Series final. Flukey was 7-2 with a 3.19 ERA and only allowed three earned runs during 10 innings of work in Omaha.

SP Hunter Elliott, Ole Miss

Elliott missed most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons with injuries, but starred in 2025 with a 2.94 ERA. Opposing batters hit .197 as the southpaw went 10-3 with 102 strikeouts in 85⅔ innings.

SP Dax Whitney, Oregon State

Whitney was a consensus First Team Freshman All-American last year, going 6-3 with a 3.40 ERA. He struck out 120 batters in 76⅔ innings and held opponents to a .216 batting average while sporting a 1.28 WHIP.

RP Tony Pluta, Arizona

The only senior on this list, Pluta recorded 14 saves in 30 appearances last season. He compiled an exceptional ERA of 1.46 across 37 innings and held opposing hitters to an average of .219.

USA TODAY College Baseball Preseason AwardsCollege Baseball Preseason Player of the Year -

Roch Cholowsky, UCLA

College Baseball Preseason Coach of the Year -

Jay Johnson, LSU

College Baseball Preseason Freshman of the Year -

Jack Bauer, Mississippi State

Here are those that voted for the All-American team: Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun; Adam Cole, Motgomery Advertiser; Cory Diaz, The Dailey Advertiser; Jackson Fuller, Southwest Times Record; Aria Gerson, The Tennessean; Liam Rooney, Tallahassee Democrat; Sam Hutchens, Clarion Ledger; Sam Sklar, Clarion Ledger; Colton Sulley, The Oklahoman; Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College baseball USA TODAY Sports preseason All-American team 2026

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