Indiana University Athletics
2026 Baseball Preseason Watch List Central
1/3/2026 9:00:00 PM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Before the 2026 baseball season begins, publications and outlets like D1 Baseball, Perfect Game, Baseball America will release preseason honors, awards and accolades. Below is a list of all preseason honors and awards earned by Hoosiers during the build up to the new campaign on the diamond.
The Hoosiers will be led by a talented sophomore core that includes reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Jake Hanley. IU is set to open the new season against nationally-ranked ACC foe North Carolina in Chapel Hill on February 13th.
This list will be updated throughout the preseason.
Perfect Game Preseason All-American Team
#34 Hanley, Jake (3rd Team)
Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley was one of three Big Ten players tabbed as a Preseason All-American by Perfect Game in 2026. After winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors last year, Hanley returns as one of the most experienced and productive players in the conference. He hit 14 home runs last year with 52 RBIs while finishing third on the team with 73 hits.
Hanley will be tasked with anchoring the middle of the lineup alongside a deep collection of sophomore bats. His classmates shortstop Cooper Malamazian, catcher Hogan Denny and third baseman Will Moore make up a talented cohort of returning talent for head coach Jeff Mercer in 2026.
Full Release
Perfect Game Class Rankings
Select Players
Perfect Game released its top players by class as the 2026 season comes around. Freshman right-handed pitcher Xavier Carrera was listed as the No. 41 overall freshman before his debut season. The hard-throwing youngster was a blue-chip recruit out of Indiana and has the potential to be a big piece of IU's bullpen this season. He was the fifth-highest player in the Big Ten listed among the nation's best freshmen.
Returning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jake Hanley was listed as the No. 16 sophomore by Perfect Game on a list of 100 players. He leads a deep collection of sophomores that are expected to produce for the Hoosiers this season. Catcher Hogan Denny was 65th on the Perfect Game release for the upcoming season.
Senior Jackson Bergman was one of the best arms in the MAC over the last two seasons. He brings a plethora of experience to Bloomington and is an expected part of IU's weekend rotation. He was the No. 67 senior by Perfect Game ahead of the new season.
Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten Team
#34 Hanley, Jake (1st Team)
Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley was tabbed as a Preseason All-Conference selection by Perfect Game to begin the year. After a stellar first year where he took home Freshman All-American honors, Hanley is expected to anchor the middle of IU's lineup for head coach Jeff Mercer.
On top of being an all-conference selection, Hanley was named the top 2027 MLB draft prospect in the Big Ten. He started all 56 games last season at first base for the Hoosiers and slugged 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. He was one of two Big Ten first basemen to be a Gold Glove national finalist last year.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - Catchers
#2 Denny, Hogan (No. 46 Catcher)
Sophomore catcher Hogan Denny is likely to take over duties behind plate this year as he transitions back to his natural position. After a slow start to the season, Denny exploded late in the year and hit .292 on the year with 40 hits, 11 doubles, six home runs and 24 RBIs. He made 50 appearances and 39 starts last year, a majority of them as the team's designated hitter.
D1 Baseball named him the No. 46 overall catcher in the Big Ten in the country on Thursday (Jan. 29) afternoon. He was one of just 10 true underclassmen catchers to make the list. When he's not catching, Denny will spend time in the corner outfield and is expected to be a big contributor for head coach Jeff Mercer in 2026.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - First Basemen
#34 Hanley, Jake (No. 7 First Baseman)
Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley will be the thumper in the middle of the lineup this season for the Hoosiers. The 6-foot-6 Ohio native was named the No. 7 preseason first baseman in the country and the No. 2 first baseman in the Big Ten by D1 Baseball to start the new year. He's coming off an impressive freshman campaign where he started all 56 games. Hanley was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season after providing 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. Paired with sophomore catcher Hogan Denny in the middle of the order, IU has high expectations for those two returning bats.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - Second Basemen
#8 Stewart, Aiden (No. 24 Second Baseman)
Senior second baseman Aiden Stewart is one of few transfer position players on this year's roster but is expected to fill a big void on the right side of the infield. He brings over 150 games of college baseball experience with him after stops at Siena and Delaware and projects to form a formidable middle infield duo with sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian. Stewart hit .326 with nine home runs and 48 RBIs last season while with the Blue Hens. He's got 152 career hits to his name and will likely reach the 200-hit threshold before all is said and done this season. D1 Baseball has him as the No. 24 second baseman to begin the year and No. 2 in the Big Ten.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - Shortstops
#15 Malamazian, Cooper (No. 38 Shortstop)
Sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian cracked the starting lineup in March of last year and never let up. He appeared in 55 games and ended the year with 46 starts - 33 at shortstop. He has proven to be one of the best defensive players on the roster and will provide head coach Jeff Mercer an anchor in the middle of the diamond. His offensive skills showed up in flashes last year with a .320 average and 17 doubles. Two of his home runs last year were two-run blasts in the eighth inning of comeback wins over Ohio State and Maryland. D1 Baseball gave him the nod as the No. 38 shortstop in the country entering the season and No. 5 in the Big Ten.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - Third Basemen
#4 Moore, Will (No. 41 Third Baseman)
Much like his fellow sophomore counterpart on the left side of the infield, third baseman Will Moore enjoyed a fantastic debut season in 2025. The Canadian led the Big Ten in on-base percentage (.514), reaching safely with 43 hits, 34 walks and 17 hit-by-pitches. Moore spent time at four different spots in the batting order but settled into the lead off spot down the stretch of the season. The highlight of his freshman campaign was a walk-off single to complete a comeback victory over Maryland in April. D1 Baseball named him the No. 41 third baseman in the country, and No. 4 in the Big Ten, entering the new campaign.
Full Release
Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List
#34 Hanley, Jake
IU's sophomore first baseman continued his run of preseason praise by being named to the 2026 Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List. He was one of four Big Ten players given a nod to the nation's premier individual award. It's the third-straight season that IU has had a player on the preseason watch list. Former All-American outfielder Devin Taylor began the 2024 and 2025 campaigns among the honorees. Hanley is the seventh different IU athlete since 2008 to be honored in the preseason by the Golden Spikes Award.
Full Release
The Hoosiers will be led by a talented sophomore core that includes reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Jake Hanley. IU is set to open the new season against nationally-ranked ACC foe North Carolina in Chapel Hill on February 13th.
This list will be updated throughout the preseason.
Perfect Game Preseason All-American Team
#34 Hanley, Jake (3rd Team)
Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley was one of three Big Ten players tabbed as a Preseason All-American by Perfect Game in 2026. After winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors last year, Hanley returns as one of the most experienced and productive players in the conference. He hit 14 home runs last year with 52 RBIs while finishing third on the team with 73 hits.
Hanley will be tasked with anchoring the middle of the lineup alongside a deep collection of sophomore bats. His classmates shortstop Cooper Malamazian, catcher Hogan Denny and third baseman Will Moore make up a talented cohort of returning talent for head coach Jeff Mercer in 2026.
Full Release
Perfect Game Class Rankings
Select Players
Perfect Game released its top players by class as the 2026 season comes around. Freshman right-handed pitcher Xavier Carrera was listed as the No. 41 overall freshman before his debut season. The hard-throwing youngster was a blue-chip recruit out of Indiana and has the potential to be a big piece of IU's bullpen this season. He was the fifth-highest player in the Big Ten listed among the nation's best freshmen.
Returning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Jake Hanley was listed as the No. 16 sophomore by Perfect Game on a list of 100 players. He leads a deep collection of sophomores that are expected to produce for the Hoosiers this season. Catcher Hogan Denny was 65th on the Perfect Game release for the upcoming season.
Senior Jackson Bergman was one of the best arms in the MAC over the last two seasons. He brings a plethora of experience to Bloomington and is an expected part of IU's weekend rotation. He was the No. 67 senior by Perfect Game ahead of the new season.
Perfect Game Preseason All-Big Ten Team
#34 Hanley, Jake (1st Team)
Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley was tabbed as a Preseason All-Conference selection by Perfect Game to begin the year. After a stellar first year where he took home Freshman All-American honors, Hanley is expected to anchor the middle of IU's lineup for head coach Jeff Mercer.
On top of being an all-conference selection, Hanley was named the top 2027 MLB draft prospect in the Big Ten. He started all 56 games last season at first base for the Hoosiers and slugged 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. He was one of two Big Ten first basemen to be a Gold Glove national finalist last year.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - Catchers
#2 Denny, Hogan (No. 46 Catcher)
Sophomore catcher Hogan Denny is likely to take over duties behind plate this year as he transitions back to his natural position. After a slow start to the season, Denny exploded late in the year and hit .292 on the year with 40 hits, 11 doubles, six home runs and 24 RBIs. He made 50 appearances and 39 starts last year, a majority of them as the team's designated hitter.
D1 Baseball named him the No. 46 overall catcher in the Big Ten in the country on Thursday (Jan. 29) afternoon. He was one of just 10 true underclassmen catchers to make the list. When he's not catching, Denny will spend time in the corner outfield and is expected to be a big contributor for head coach Jeff Mercer in 2026.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - First Basemen
#34 Hanley, Jake (No. 7 First Baseman)
Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley will be the thumper in the middle of the lineup this season for the Hoosiers. The 6-foot-6 Ohio native was named the No. 7 preseason first baseman in the country and the No. 2 first baseman in the Big Ten by D1 Baseball to start the new year. He's coming off an impressive freshman campaign where he started all 56 games. Hanley was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season after providing 14 home runs and 52 RBIs. Paired with sophomore catcher Hogan Denny in the middle of the order, IU has high expectations for those two returning bats.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - Second Basemen
#8 Stewart, Aiden (No. 24 Second Baseman)
Senior second baseman Aiden Stewart is one of few transfer position players on this year's roster but is expected to fill a big void on the right side of the infield. He brings over 150 games of college baseball experience with him after stops at Siena and Delaware and projects to form a formidable middle infield duo with sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian. Stewart hit .326 with nine home runs and 48 RBIs last season while with the Blue Hens. He's got 152 career hits to his name and will likely reach the 200-hit threshold before all is said and done this season. D1 Baseball has him as the No. 24 second baseman to begin the year and No. 2 in the Big Ten.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - Shortstops
#15 Malamazian, Cooper (No. 38 Shortstop)
Sophomore shortstop Cooper Malamazian cracked the starting lineup in March of last year and never let up. He appeared in 55 games and ended the year with 46 starts - 33 at shortstop. He has proven to be one of the best defensive players on the roster and will provide head coach Jeff Mercer an anchor in the middle of the diamond. His offensive skills showed up in flashes last year with a .320 average and 17 doubles. Two of his home runs last year were two-run blasts in the eighth inning of comeback wins over Ohio State and Maryland. D1 Baseball gave him the nod as the No. 38 shortstop in the country entering the season and No. 5 in the Big Ten.
Full Release
D1 Baseball Preseason Player Rankings - Third Basemen
#4 Moore, Will (No. 41 Third Baseman)
Much like his fellow sophomore counterpart on the left side of the infield, third baseman Will Moore enjoyed a fantastic debut season in 2025. The Canadian led the Big Ten in on-base percentage (.514), reaching safely with 43 hits, 34 walks and 17 hit-by-pitches. Moore spent time at four different spots in the batting order but settled into the lead off spot down the stretch of the season. The highlight of his freshman campaign was a walk-off single to complete a comeback victory over Maryland in April. D1 Baseball named him the No. 41 third baseman in the country, and No. 4 in the Big Ten, entering the new campaign.
Full Release
Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List
#34 Hanley, Jake
IU's sophomore first baseman continued his run of preseason praise by being named to the 2026 Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List. He was one of four Big Ten players given a nod to the nation's premier individual award. It's the third-straight season that IU has had a player on the preseason watch list. Former All-American outfielder Devin Taylor began the 2024 and 2025 campaigns among the honorees. Hanley is the seventh different IU athlete since 2008 to be honored in the preseason by the Golden Spikes Award.
Full Release
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