Here's a look at 12 star-studded players to watch during the 2026 college baseball season.
1. UCLA's Roch Cholowsky
Let’s start with Cholowsky at UCLA. Many might argue the Golden Spikes Award favorite for this year. Last year he posted a 1.190 OPS with 23 homers and hit over .350. He is a premiere shortstop.
2. Alabama's Justin Lebron
Speaking of shortstops, Lebron at Alabama is another one of the best shortstops in the country with great instinct defense and consistency at the plate with power. He smashed 18 home runs last season.
3. Coastal Carolina's Cameron Flukey
Let’s get a pitcher in here. Flukey at Coastal Carolina is 6’6 and tops out at 98 mph. He has experience on the biggest stage at the 2025 Men's College World Series. Last year, he posted a 3.28 ERA with 117 strikeouts.
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4. Florida State's Myles Bailey
Bailey at FSU was named the No. 1 first baseman in the country by D1baseball for good reason. He hit .327 last season with 19 homers.
5. Georgia Tech's Drew Burress
Burress at Georgia Tech is another early Golden Spikes Award candidate. He hits for power to all fields and is perhaps one of the best outfielders in the country to watch this year. He hit over .330 last year with 19 home runs.
6. Miami's Daniel Cuvet
Cuvet at Miami put up some flashy numbers last year — a 1.158 OPS, hit over .370 with 18 home runs.
7. Mississippi State's Ace Reese
Reese at Mississippi State hit over .400 in SEC play last season with 18 blasts.
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8. LSU's Derek Curiel
Curiel at LSU hit .390 in the 2025 NCAA tournament en route to a national title as just a freshman. Stay tuned for a big sophomore campaign.
9. Arkansas' Ryder Helfrick
Helfrick at Arkansas is one of the best backstops in the country. Not to mention, he hit over .300 with 15 homers last year.
10. Oregon State's Dax Whitney
Whitney at Oregon State is a 6’3 right-hander that posted a 3.4 ERA in 2025 with 120 strikeouts.
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11. TCU's Sawyer Strosnider
Strosnider was one of the best freshmen in the country last year. A stellar outfielder, he hit .350 before winning Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
12. Texas' Dylan Volantis
And finally, Volantis. The left-hander was outstanding in SEC play, complemented by a 1.94 ERA while setting the freshmen record for saves in the SEC.
