Yehl Named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, 10 Players Named All-Big 12
May 19, 2026 01:00 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Redshirt junior Maxx Yehl of the West Virginia University baseball team was named the 2026 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, as announced by the conference on Tuesday.
Yehl was joined by sophomore Gavin Kelly, sophomore Chansen Cole, and graduate student Ian Korn on the All-Big 12 First Team while senior Paul Schoenfeld earned a spot on the second team. Graduate student Reese Bassinger, senior Carson Estridge, junior Armani Guzman, sophomore Matt Ineich, and graduate student Sean Smith were each named All-Big 12 honorable mention.
It is the most first-team selections WVU has had since joining the Big 12 and the most since having four players on the 2009 All-Big East First Team. Overall, it is the fifth time that the Mountaineers have placed four players on the All-Conference first team. The three pitchers on the first team for WVU mark the sixth time in Big 12 history that one school has had a trio of pitchers on the first team, most recently done by TCU in 2015.
After missing the entire 2025 season, Yehl returned to the Mountaineers and was dominant as he went 7-2 on the mound with a 2.10 ERA, best in the Big 12 and seventh in the nation. He struck out 88 batters in 73.0 innings against just 20 walks and held opponents to a .222 batting average. The Portville, N.Y. native becomes the third Mountaineer to take home Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, joining Harrison Musgrave in 2013 and Alek Manoah in 2019. It is the first major award for a Mountaineer since JJ Wetherholt won Big 12 Player of the Year in 2023.
Kelly earns a spot on the first team at catcher, having played 28 of his 49 games behind the plate. He led WVU, was third in the Big 12, and 24th in the nation with a .387 batting average. The Pittsburgh native also led the team with 12 home runs, 47 RBI, 1.167 OPS, 133 total bases, .686 slugging percentage, and .481 on-base percentage. Kelly has thrown out 37% (10-for-27) of would-be base stealers.
In his first year with the Mountaineers, Cole was stellar on the mound, going 8-1, leading the Big 12 in victories. He had a 3.00 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 75.0 innings while holding opponents to team-low .218 batting average. The Boiling Springs, S.C. native saved some of his best outings for conference play, including 8.0 innings at Texas Tech and a complete game against Kansas State.
Korn has been a steady hand on the mound for the Mountaineers this season, making 17 appearances, 15 of which came in relief. He went 5-0 with a 2.63 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 54.2 innings while walking just eight. The York, Pa. native has a whip of 0.99, which leads the Big 12 and is top-35 in the nation.
Schoenfeld joined the Mountaineers this season and put together a strong season at the plate and in the field, hitting .359 with three home runs, 43 RBI, and 42 runs scored while making multiple outstanding catches in centerfield. A threat on the bases as well, the Wichita, Kansas native was second on the team and fifth in the Big 12 with 21 stolen bases.
Bassinger earns All-Big 12 honorable mention for the second consecutive season and has improved his numbers in 2026. In 47.1 innings, he has a 3.23 ERA and 51 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .233 batting average in a team-high 23 appearances.
Estridge has made 17 appearances out of the bullpen this season, going 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched. He has also collected two saves this season and is holding opponents to a .233 batting average and an even lower .214 batting average against Big 12 opponents.
Guzman has started all 50 games for the Mountaineers this year, splitting time in the outfield and at first base. He is hitting .290 with 29 RBI and 47 runs scored while leading the Big 12 with 30 stolen bases. In conference play, Guzman was even better, hitting .340 with an .890 OPS.
Ineich has started every game for WVU at shortstop this season and is hitting .314 with four home runs, 35 RBI, and a team-high 55 runs scored. The South Lyon, Mich. native has drawn 41 walks this season, most on the team, while striking out just 30 times in 194 at-bats.
Smith has primarily been the DH for the Mountaineers this season and has played in 49 games with 47 starts. He is hitting .311 with eight home runs and 45 RBI, both second most on the team. He is hitting .328 in conference play while seven of his home runs have come against Big 12 opponents.
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Thursday, May 21, for the Big 12 quarterfinals. First pitch from Surprise Stadium in Arizona is set for 7:30 p.m. against an opponent still to be determined.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Yehl was joined by sophomore Gavin Kelly, sophomore Chansen Cole, and graduate student Ian Korn on the All-Big 12 First Team while senior Paul Schoenfeld earned a spot on the second team. Graduate student Reese Bassinger, senior Carson Estridge, junior Armani Guzman, sophomore Matt Ineich, and graduate student Sean Smith were each named All-Big 12 honorable mention.
It is the most first-team selections WVU has had since joining the Big 12 and the most since having four players on the 2009 All-Big East First Team. Overall, it is the fifth time that the Mountaineers have placed four players on the All-Conference first team. The three pitchers on the first team for WVU mark the sixth time in Big 12 history that one school has had a trio of pitchers on the first team, most recently done by TCU in 2015.
After missing the entire 2025 season, Yehl returned to the Mountaineers and was dominant as he went 7-2 on the mound with a 2.10 ERA, best in the Big 12 and seventh in the nation. He struck out 88 batters in 73.0 innings against just 20 walks and held opponents to a .222 batting average. The Portville, N.Y. native becomes the third Mountaineer to take home Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, joining Harrison Musgrave in 2013 and Alek Manoah in 2019. It is the first major award for a Mountaineer since JJ Wetherholt won Big 12 Player of the Year in 2023.
Kelly earns a spot on the first team at catcher, having played 28 of his 49 games behind the plate. He led WVU, was third in the Big 12, and 24th in the nation with a .387 batting average. The Pittsburgh native also led the team with 12 home runs, 47 RBI, 1.167 OPS, 133 total bases, .686 slugging percentage, and .481 on-base percentage. Kelly has thrown out 37% (10-for-27) of would-be base stealers.
In his first year with the Mountaineers, Cole was stellar on the mound, going 8-1, leading the Big 12 in victories. He had a 3.00 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 75.0 innings while holding opponents to team-low .218 batting average. The Boiling Springs, S.C. native saved some of his best outings for conference play, including 8.0 innings at Texas Tech and a complete game against Kansas State.
Korn has been a steady hand on the mound for the Mountaineers this season, making 17 appearances, 15 of which came in relief. He went 5-0 with a 2.63 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 54.2 innings while walking just eight. The York, Pa. native has a whip of 0.99, which leads the Big 12 and is top-35 in the nation.
Schoenfeld joined the Mountaineers this season and put together a strong season at the plate and in the field, hitting .359 with three home runs, 43 RBI, and 42 runs scored while making multiple outstanding catches in centerfield. A threat on the bases as well, the Wichita, Kansas native was second on the team and fifth in the Big 12 with 21 stolen bases.
Bassinger earns All-Big 12 honorable mention for the second consecutive season and has improved his numbers in 2026. In 47.1 innings, he has a 3.23 ERA and 51 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .233 batting average in a team-high 23 appearances.
Estridge has made 17 appearances out of the bullpen this season, going 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched. He has also collected two saves this season and is holding opponents to a .233 batting average and an even lower .214 batting average against Big 12 opponents.
Guzman has started all 50 games for the Mountaineers this year, splitting time in the outfield and at first base. He is hitting .290 with 29 RBI and 47 runs scored while leading the Big 12 with 30 stolen bases. In conference play, Guzman was even better, hitting .340 with an .890 OPS.
Ineich has started every game for WVU at shortstop this season and is hitting .314 with four home runs, 35 RBI, and a team-high 55 runs scored. The South Lyon, Mich. native has drawn 41 walks this season, most on the team, while striking out just 30 times in 194 at-bats.
Smith has primarily been the DH for the Mountaineers this season and has played in 49 games with 47 starts. He is hitting .311 with eight home runs and 45 RBI, both second most on the team. He is hitting .328 in conference play while seven of his home runs have come against Big 12 opponents.
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Thursday, May 21, for the Big 12 quarterfinals. First pitch from Surprise Stadium in Arizona is set for 7:30 p.m. against an opponent still to be determined.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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