Troy catcher Jimmy Janicki named 2026 Sun Belt Player of the Year in baseball

Troy catcher Jimmy Janicki has officially claimed the top individual honor in the league. The league office announced Monday that the sophomore star has been named the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.

Hailing from Downers Grove, Ill., Janicki has been an absolute force at the plate this season. He enters the postseason pacing the entire conference with 17 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 152 total bases. His statistical dominance doesn't stop there; he currently ranks in the conference's Top 10 in batting average (.353), slugging percentage (.688), OPS (1.109), runs scored (51), hits (78), and doubles (21).

Janicki is not the only Trojan earning league-wide recognition. He is joined on the All-Sun Belt first team by outfielder Aaron Piasecki and two-way standout Drew Nelson.

Piasecki, a senior transfer from Central Michigan, has been a key spark for the Troy lineup. He is currently hitting .355/.458/.419 with 49 runs scored and eight home runs, while his on-base percentage ranks seventh in the league. Nelson, meanwhile, has provided elite versatility, balancing time in the outfield with pitching duties. He has maintained a .318/.396/.482 slash line at the plate while posting a 3-1 record with a 3.93 ERA on the mound.

Elsewhere in the state, South Alabama placed two players on the All-Sun Belt second team: second baseman/shortstop Brennon Wright and third baseman Stewart Puckett. Wright has paced the Jaguars' offense as their leadoff hitter, while Puckett has provided consistent pop with 11 doubles and nine home runs.

Additional major conference awards went to Southern Miss pitcher Grayden Harris (Pitcher of the Year) and coach Christian Ostrander (Coach of the Year). Appalachian State’s Gage Peterson earned Newcomer of the Year honors, Georgia Southern's Brady Christman was tabbed as Freshman of the Year, and Marshall’s Bryce Blevins received the Tony Robichaux Leadership Award.

The action shifts to Montgomery this week as the Sun Belt Conference tournament begins Tuesday at DABOS Park. Fans can look forward to a high-stakes showdown on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., when No. 4 seed Troy faces off against No. 5 seed South Alabama.

2026 All-Sun Belt First Team

• SP — Gage Peterson, Appalachian State
• SP — Camden Clark, Southern Miss
• SP — Grayden Harris, Southern Miss
• RP — Darin Horn, Coastal Carolina
• C — Jimmy Janicki, Troy
• 1B — Matthew Russo, Southern Miss
• 2B — Kyle Morrison, Southern Miss
• 3B — Wills Maginnis, Georgia State
• SS — Steven Smith, Appalachian State
• OF — Evan Bottone, Marshall
• OF — Davis Gillespie, Southern Miss
• OF — Aaron Piasecki, Troy
• DH — Brady Christman, Georgia Southern
• UT — Drew Nelson, Troy

2026 All-Sun Belt Second Team

• SP — Cody Brasch, Louisiana
• SP — Andrew Herrmann, Louisiana
• SP — Bryce Blevins, Marshall
• RP — Colby Allen, Southern Miss
• C — Colt Brown, Louisiana
• 1B — Derek Martinez, Arkansas State
• 2B — Brennon Wright, South Alabama
• 3B — Stewart Puckett, South Alabama
• SS — Will Johnson, Old Dominion
• OF — Charlie Evans, Appalachian State
• OF — Rex Watson, Coastal Carolina
• OF — Rashawn Galloway, Texas State
• DH — Manny Salas, Texas State
• UT — Jaquae Stewart, Texas State