SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State baseball program received the Team Academic Excellence Award by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), the organization announced on Wednesday.
With the accolade, the Aztecs were recognized for academic excellence by the ABCA for the first time since the award was launched following the 2016 campaign.
To be eligible for the award, teams must maintain a minimum cumulative team GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the 2025-26 academic year and have a head coach who is a current ABCA member.
San Diego State was one of nearly 500 college programs across four levels (Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA) to be honored by the ABCA. The Aztec baseball squad compiled a team GPA of 3.19 for the 2025-26 academic year.
The ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award caps a banner year for the SDSU baseball program in the classroom. Last month, Aztec shortstop Jabin Trosky received third-team Academic All-America recognition from College Sports Communicators after earning CSC Academic All-District honors along with pitchers Aidan Russell and Drew Talavs.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Kevin Vance, San Diego State also enjoyed a resurgence on the diamond in 2026, capturing the Mountain West regular-season championship, finishing with a 36-24 overall mark, its best record since the 2018 campaign.
Individually, outfielder Jake Jackson blossomed under Vance’s tutelage, earning Mountain West Tony Gwynn Player of the Year honors, while Russell ultimately garnered third-team All-America accolades from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
On July 12, three Aztecs were selected on day two of the 2026 MLB Player Draft, including pitcher Rohan Lettow, who was chosen in the 12th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates, while Jackson was taken in the 20th round by the Los Angeles Angels, followed by catcher Anthony Marnell IV, went in the same round to the Athletics organization. In addition, third baseman Tyce Peterson later signed a free agent contract with the New York Yankees.
Beginning with the 2027 season, San Diego State will join Dallas Baptist, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, Texas State and Washington State in baseball competition as members of the Pac-12 Conference.