Let’s keep the hype going for the 2026 Mountain West baseball season. We’ve already covered our preseason rankings and all-conference team, so now let’s look at our award predictions for the new season.
Player of the Year
Sean Yamaguchi, Nevada
Sean Yamaguchi enters the 2026 season as the most dynamic everyday player in the Mountain West after a sensational freshman campaign in 2025. The Nevada third baseman hit .324 with 13 home runs, 13 doubles and 50 RBIs, instantly becoming one of the league’s most dangerous middle-of-the-order
bats. His power output tied a Mountain West freshman home run record, and his run production was among the best in the conference regardless of class.
What elevates Yamaguchi into Player of the Year territory is the combination of offensive impact and positional value. He handled the hot corner with confidence, showing strong reactions and arm strength while playing nearly every day for a regular-season championship team. Entering his sophomore season, Yamaguchi is positioned to be the focal point of Nevada’s lineup, and if his upward trajectory continues, he has the tools to be the most dominant player in the conference in 2026.
Pitcher of the Year
Carson Lane, UNLV
Carson Lane established himself as one of the Mountain West’s most dependable frontline starters during the 2025 season, finishing with a 6–4 record, a 4.23 ERA, and 85 strikeouts over 78.2 innings for UNLV. The right-hander consistently took the ball on weekends and gave the Rebels length, recording quality starts against several of the league’s top offenses while limiting hard contact.
Lane’s ability to work deep into games and miss bats elevated his profile heading into 2026. He held opposing hitters to a sub-.250 average and ranked among conference leaders in innings pitched, a testament to both his durability and command. With another year of experience and refinement, Lane enters the season as the Mountain West’s preseason Pitcher of the Year and the anchor of the UNLV rotation.
Freshman of the Year
Tanner Johns, 1B, GCU
Tanner Johns arrives at Grand Canyon as one of the most college-ready freshman bats in the Mountain West, bringing a power profile that could translate immediately. Johns comes from Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas, who hit .404 across 136 games, collecting 151 hits, 118 RBIs and 99 runs. He was rated a top-50 first baseman nationally and the No. 2 at his position in the state of Nevada, per Perfect Game.
Showed elite plate discipline, he finished his high school career with a .491 on-base percentage, .644 slugging percentage and 1.135 OPS, highlighted by back-to-back seasons hitting above .420. While he has yet to log Division I innings, Johns’ high-school and summer ball résumé showed consistent extra-base power and run-production ability, projecting him as a potential middle-of-the-order threat from day one.
With GCU transitioning into a new Mountain West season, Johns is expected to see early opportunities at first base and designated hitter. If his advanced approach carries over and he provides even league-average production as a freshman, his offensive upside could separate him from the rest of the first-year class and make him the preseason favorite for Freshman of the Year honors
Coach of the Year
Brad Sanfilippo, San Jose State
After one of the most successful seasons in Spartans’ history and a deep run in the conference tournament, San Jose State took the interim title off of Brad Sanfilippo and gave him a five-year contract. The Spartans once again outperformed expectations, leaning on pitching depth and disciplined defense to remain competitive week after week.
Under Sanfilippo’s leadership, San José State posted one of the conference’s better team ERAs in 2025 and continued to develop arms internally rather than relying on splash transfers. With a veteran roster returning and sustained success now the norm, Sanfilippo is positioned to be rewarded if the Spartans take another step forward in 2026.
Transfer of the Year
Tyce Peterson, San Diego State (Transferred from Oregon State)
Tyce Peterson enters 2026 as the Mountain West’s most impactful incoming transfer after spending the 2025 season at Oregon State, where he gained experience in one of the nation’s most competitive programs. He garnered all-tournament accolades at the Corvallis Regional, helping the Beavers ultimately reach the NCAA Men’s College World Series. Peterson started 43 of 47 games, slashing .288/.388/.469 with five home runs and 20 RBIs. He also drew 24 walks and scored 39 runs, collecting multiple hits in 11 games and finished with two RBIs on seven occasions.
Now at San Diego State, Peterson is expected to step into an everyday role and provide immediate production. His Pac-12 background, combined with increased opportunity, positions him to be a difference-maker in the Aztecs’ lineup. If his tools translate over a full season, Peterson has all the makings of the Mountain West’s Transfer of the Year in 2026.
