The Atlantic Coast Conference recently unveiled its All‑Academic baseball squad, honoring eleven Stanford students who have demonstrated both scholarly excellence and competitive commitment. Each honoree maintained a minimum 3.0 grade point average over the previous academic year and participated in at least half of their team's contests.
The Stanford cohort includes Charlie Bates, Sam Garewal, Cohen Gomez, Luke Lavin, Cort MacDonald, Trevor Moore, JJ Moran, Jimmy Nati, Ben Reimers, Brady Reynolds and Kassius Thomas. Their selection reflects a program that prizes intellectual growth as much as athletic achievement.
Scholar‑Athlete of the Year
Among the recognized players, Florida State's senior pitcher Wes Mendes was named the 2026 ACC Scholar‑Athlete of the Year. Mendes earned the accolade with a 3.9 cumulative GPA in mechanical engineering while serving as a key contributor on the mound.
Conference officials emphasized that the criteria for the honor are stringent: a 3.0 GPA for the prior year, a 3.0 cumulative average, and participation in at least 50 % of games. This framework ensures that recipients have proven themselves both in the classroom and on the field.
The acknowledgment highlights a broader trend across the ACC to celebrate athletes who excel academically, a movement that Stanford's coaching staff credits to a culture that integrates rigorous scholarship with Division I competition.