On June 9, the Mid-American Conference revealed the 2026 Baseball Academic All-MAC Team, a roster that celebrates student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through rigorous academic performance and competitive participation. The announcement underscores the conference’s commitment to honoring those who balance athletic ambition with scholarly achievement.
To earn a spot on the team, each honoree must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 and have taken part in at least half of their sport’s contests during the season. This dual‑criterion standard ensures that recognition reflects both classroom dedication and meaningful on‑field contribution.
Eastern Michigan celebrated the inclusion of eleven of its own players on the list, a testament to the program’s sustained academic rigor. The group features Ethan Davis, Emmett Gillies, John Hale, Fischer Hendershot, Bruce Jellison, Drew Jones, Michael Pfeiffer, Cal Rutherford, Ben Schechterman, Ty Stecko, and Devan Zirwas, each earning the accolade for the first time in their careers.
A Program Setting the Pace
The cohort not only marks the program’s highest number of honorees since the 12‑player tally in 2021, but it also adds to Eastern Michigan’s cumulative total of 156 Academic All-MAC recognitions, involving 101 distinct student-athletes over the years. The university’s baseball squad also boasts the highest cumulative GPA among all EMU men’s programs, posting a 3.481 GPA for the winter semester and a 3.545 overall GPA.
Beyond the baseball team, Eastern Michigan’s athletic department has achieved a record‑setting 3.517 cumulative GPA for the 2026 winter semester, the best of any men’s program across the university. Every Eastern Athletics program maintains a GPA above 3.00, reflecting a campus‑wide culture of academic excellence that has now spanned seven consecutive terms.
Conference‑wide, 114 student‑athletes earned Academic All-MAC honors this year, with Western Michigan leading the pack at 15 selections, followed by Kent State with 13 and Eastern and Ball State each contributing 11. The breadth of representation highlights the MAC’s expanding emphasis on scholarship alongside sport.
Two of the honorees, John Hale and Bruce Jellison, were recently celebrated on the College Sports Communicators Academic All‑District Team, further amplifying the university’s growing footprint in national academic recognitions.
The achievement underscores a broader narrative: Eastern Michigan’s commitment to developing well‑rounded student‑athletes who excel in competition and scholarship alike, setting a benchmark for programs across the Mid‑American Conference.