UCLA Bruins Shortstop Leads Elite Class of Star Players
The 2026 season arrives with excitement as college baseball stars prepare to showcase the sport's most talented players in recent memory. Leading the charge is UCLA's shortstop Roch Cholowsky, the reigning College Player of the Year, who is projected as the number one overall pick in the MLB Draft. The Bruins claim the top spot in preseason rankings thanks to Cholowksy's skill. Right behind him are Alabama's Justin Lebron and LSU's Derek Curiel, two dynamic players ready to take on the challenge.
Roch Cholowsky returns to UCLA after an excellent sophomore campaign. The six-foot-two junior from Chandler, Arizona, slashed .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs last season. He became the first UCLA player to be awarded conference player of the year since 1998. Cholowsky also won the Brooks Wallace Award as the nation's top shortstop. The Bruins enter the season ranked number one nationally with one of the most impressive college baseball stars in the country, while talented freshmen across the nation aim to make similar impacts.
Alabama's shortstop Justin Lebron has emerged as one of college baseball's premier stars after a breakout sophomore season. The six-foot-two junior from Southwest Ranches, Florida, slashed .309/.413/.597 with 18 home runs last season. Lebron set the Alabama program records with 72 runs batted in, the most by a shortstop and by a sophomore. He led the Crimson Tides in home runs, doubles, and stolen bases. Lebron was named a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist and earned Second Team All-Southeastern Conference honors.
LSU's outfielder Derek Curiel completes the elite trio after leading the Tigers to a national championship. The sophomore from West Covina, California, hit a team-high .345 with 20 doubles and 55 runs batted in last season. Curiel was voted National Freshman of the Year and earned Second Team All-American honors. He was named to the College World Series All-Tournament after collecting six hits. His ability to control the strike zone makes him one of the nation's complete college baseball stars.
The depth of elite talent is shaping some of the most interesting matchups for the 2026 collegiate baseball season. Cholowsky's pursuit of a national championship with UCLA reflects the top level of college baseball, while other standout players continue to improve throughout the seasons. Beyond the spotlight on Cholowksy, Lebron, and Curiel, a new wave of breakout players will soon leave their mark. With Opening Day scheduled for February thirteenth, fans can anticipate exciting games as these baseball stars compete for the College World Series title.
