The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) unveiled its 2026 baseball awards on Thursday, spotlighting the league’s most outstanding players, pitcher and coach after a season marked by record‑setting statistics and a dramatic playoff showdown.
Player of the Year: Seth Nelson
Seth Nelson, a junior shortstop for Bethel University, captured the Max Molock Player of the Year honor after leading all MIAC hitters with a .444 batting average, a .596 on‑base percentage and a 1.374 OPS in conference play. He also ranked second in the league for slugging percentage (.778) and runs scored (26) while driving in 23 runs and delivering 13 extra‑base hits in 63 at‑bats across 20 starts.
Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year: Max Edwards
Saint John’s first‑year right‑hander Max Edwards was voted both the Mike Augustin Pitcher of the Year and the Rookie of the Year. He finished the regular season with a 1.67 earned run average, the second‑best mark in the conference, while limiting opponents to a .179 batting average and striking out 32 batters. Edwards started five conference games, completing three of them and finishing with a 3‑1 record.
Coach of the Year: Matt Parrington
Matt Parrington, the head coach of Macalester College, earned the Jim Dimick Coach of the Year award after guiding the Scots to a 15‑5 conference record. His leadership also marked a personal milestone as he recorded his 400th career victory, cementing his status as the winningest coach in program history.
Macalester’s Historic Run
The Scots captured the MIAC Baseball Playoff championship for the first time since 2017, posting a program‑record 26 overall wins. The title secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament, marking a historic milestone for the school.
Conference Recognition
MIAC coaches selected 33 athletes for the All‑Conference Team, with 19 earning honorable‑mention status. Among them, Augsburg senior outfielder Stanley Regguinti became the 88th player in conference history to receive All‑MIAC honors for the third time, highlighting the league’s depth of talent.
All‑Conference selections and the All‑Playoff Team were determined by votes from the eleven MIAC head coaches, who considered only statistics from regular‑season conference games. The awards underscore a competitive landscape where emerging stars and veteran leaders alike are shaping the future of Division III baseball in the region.