Landon Hairston, a sophomore outfielder for Arizona State, has been crowned Baseball America’s 2026 College Player of the Year, a distinction that underscores a season that few have matched and even fewer have surpassed.
Hairston compiled a .400/.509/.860 slash line, smashing 28 home runs while adding 20 doubles, two triples, 11 stolen bases and 44 walks against just 27 strikeouts. His on‑base plus slugging percentage topped every qualified Division I hitter, cementing his status as the most productive bat in the nation.
The sophomore’s .570 weighted on‑base average was unmatched, making him the only player in the country to post a wOBA above that threshold. He also drove in 81 runs, the most by a leadoff hitter and tied for fifth overall, a statistic that highlights his ability to convert on‑base opportunities into tangible damage.
A milestone in Arizona State history
Hairston became the seventh non‑draft‑eligible player ever to earn the award and the first since Mike Kelly in 1990, propelling Arizona State to sole possession of the most College Player of the Year selections with four. His achievement adds another chapter to the program’s storied lineage of talent.
Scouts have taken notice, with one describing Hairston’s game as “pretty polished.” He currently sits fourth in Baseball America’s 2027 college draft rankings, a placement that suggests a top‑tier professional prospect despite still having eligibility remaining.
The Hairston family’s baseball pedigree runs deep; his father Scott Hairston and uncle Jerry Hairston Jr. each carved out lengthy Major League careers. Their combined experience appears to have shaped Landon’s approach at the plate and his poise under pressure.
Looking ahead, Hairston is positioned to chase a piece of history that has never been achieved in the award’s annals: a second College Player of the Year honor. No player has ever repeated, and the prospect of doing so adds a compelling narrative to what promises to be another electric season for the Arizona State star.