ASU’s Landon Hairston wins Baseball America’s College Player of the Year

Arizona State sophomore outfielder Landon Hairston was named Baseball America’s College Player of the Year on Thursday.

He is the first ASU player since Mike Kelly in 1990 and the seventh non-draft-eligible player to take home the award. The honor also means ASU now has the most Baseball America College Players of the Year with four. Florida State is second with three.

COLLEGE PLAYER OF THE YEAR 🏆

After a remarkable sophomore season, @ASU_Baseball star Landon Hairston takes home the 2026 award.

Hairston hit .400/.509/.860 with a program-record 28 home runs, one of the most dominant seasons by a leadoff hitter ever. pic.twitter.com/sXEfh5ynjq

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 11, 2026

Hairston is coming off a stellar year where he set a new program record for home runs in a season with 28. He added 20 doubles, two triples, 11 stolen bases and 44 walks to 27 strikeouts.

He hit .400 (13th in the nation) with a .509 on-base percentage (17th), .860 slugging (first) and 1.366 OPS (first). His 81 RBIs were the most by a leadoff hitter and tied for fifth in the nation.

Hairston was among four players to take home weekly Baseball America’s Team of the Week honors throughout the season.

The Queen Creek native will run it back with Arizona State next season, where he then can become eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft. Players must play three seasons of college baseball or turn 21 before being eligible for the draft.

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