ARLINGTON, Texas – The major award winners and all-conference teams for the 2026 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) baseball season were revealed on Tuesday. All-conference awards were voted on by the league’s seven head coaches.

California Baptist claimed four of the five major awards with Chris Ramirez being named the WAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Malki earning WAC Pitcher of the Year and Cole Hansen securing the WAC Freshman of the Year honor. Tarleton State’s Fuller Smith was voted by his peers as the WAC Coach of the Year.

California Baptist led all teams in the league with seven players included on the all-conference teams, including three players on the first team and three on second team. The regular season champion Tarleton State tallied six all-conference honorees with Utah Tech claiming five All-WAC players.

2026 WAC Baseball Awards

WAC Player & Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Ramirez, So., SS, California Baptist

WAC Pitcher of the Year
Michael Malki, So., RHP, California Baptist 

WAC Freshman of the Year
Cole Hansen, DH/UTL, California Baptist

WAC Coach of the Year
Fuller Smith, Tarleton State

All-WAC First Team
SP – Michael Malki, So., RHP, California Baptist 
SP – Ethan Lay, Sr., RHP, Sacramento State
RP – Zachary Yates, Gr., California Baptist
C – Ty Johnsen, R-Sr., Utah Tech
1B – Hunter Katschke, Sr., Utah Valley
2B – Kyle McDaniel, Jr., Utah Tech
3B – Ryan Kroepel, Jr., Utah Tech
SS – Chris Ramirez, So., California Baptist
OF – Erick Dessens, Jr., Sacramento State
OF – Rayner Heinrich, So., Tarleton State
OF – Kaden Carpenter, Sr., Utah Valley
DH/UTL – Diego Cardenas, Sr., Abilene Christian

All-WAC Second Team
SP – Matthew McCullough, Fr., RHP, Tarleton State
SP – Caylon Dygert, Jr., RHP, UT Arlington
RP – Anthony Treto, Jr., RHP, Tarleton State
C – Sergio Guerra, Sr., Tarleton State
1B – Miller Durham, Jr., Utah Tech
2B – Xavier Melendez, Sr., UT Arlington
3B – Connor Ross, Jr., California Baptist
SS – Zandt Payne, Gr., Abilene Christian
SS – Petey Soto Jr., Jr., Utah Tech
OF – Bryce McFeely, Gr., California Baptist
OF – Sam Harry, Fr., Sacramento State
OF – Jake Tatom, Sr., Tarleton State
DH/UTL – Cole Hansen, Fr., California Baptist

WAC All-Defensive Team
SS – Zandt Payne, Gr., Abilene Christian
SS – Chris Ramirez, So., California Baptist
C – Matt Chavez, Sr., California Baptist
SS – Ike Shirey, Sr., Tarleton State
SS – Petey Soto Jr., Jr., Utah Tech