Hayden Frey, a left‑handed pitcher for the University of Toledo, has been crowned a Second‑Team Freshman All‑American by Baseball America, a testament to his rapid ascent in the 2026 collegiate baseball landscape.
The honor places him among 32 top freshmen and eight starting pitchers nationwide, underscoring the impact of his 2026 campaign.
Season highlights
Frey’s standout outing came on April 25 at Bowling Green, where he limited the opposition to a single hit over eight innings and struck out eight batters. That performance earned him the MAC Co‑Pitcher of the Week award.
He finished the season with 11 starts and 15 appearances, posting a 6‑4 record, a 3.79 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 78.1 innings pitched. Those numbers positioned him fifth in the Mid‑American Conference for ERA, eighth in opponent batting average and tenth in innings pitched.
Program‑wide impact
His 65 strikeouts helped the Rockets amass a program‑record 550 strikeouts for the season, while the team’s pitching staff ranked 39th nationally with 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.
Beyond individual statistics, Frey’s contributions were pivotal in Toledo sweeping the major MAC pitching awards, a feat that reflects both depth and consistency within the program.
The recognition also extended to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, which named him to its second‑team Freshman All‑American list, further validating his breakout year.
Looking ahead, Coach Nathan Leininger praised Frey’s work ethic and predicts that the left‑hander will continue to be a cornerstone of the Rockets’ rotation as he matures.