Landon Hairston, the Sun Devil Baseball outfielder, has been crowned the Big 12 Player of the Year after a dominant season that placed him atop the conference in batting average, on‑base percentage, slugging percentage, total bases, hits and runs.
His all‑around performance also earned him a semifinalist spot for both the Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, reinforcing his reputation as one of the nation’s most impactful hitters.
Conference Honors
Joining Hairston on the All‑Big 12 teams, Nu'u Contrades secured a first‑team nod and remains a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist, while pitcher Cole Carlon earned first‑team honors on the mound. Dominic Smaldino was placed on the second team at infielder, and Dean Toigo and Sean Fitzpatrick received honorable‑mention recognition.
The Sun Devils are now set to compete in the Big 12 Tournament, beginning May 19, with Arizona State seeded third and scheduled to open play against Cincinnati on May 21 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.
Coach Rich Alday praised the team's depth and highlighted the experience of returning players such as Contrades, who brings a strong background from his high school days in Queen Creek, Arizona, and Hairston, who previously excelled at Orem High School in Utah before moving to Ewa Beach, Hawaii.