Two Mavericks Earn Preseason All-WAC Honors Ahead of 2026 Season 

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – The UT Arlington baseball program saw two student-athletes recognized among the league's top returning talent as the Western Athletic Conference announced its 2026 preseason honors, voted on by the conference's head coaches. 

Senior outfielder Xander McAfee and junior right-handed pitcher Caylon Dygert were both named to the 2026 Preseason All-WAC Team, highlighting the impact and experience returning to the Mavericks' roster entering the spring. 

McAfee earned preseason recognition after serving as one of UTA's most consistent offensive contributors in 2025. The senior appeared in 48 games and posted a .294 batting average with an .855 OPS, tallying 53 hits, 14 doubles, six home runs and 40 RBIs while anchoring the Mavericks' lineup. 

Dygert enters the season as a key piece of the pitching staff after going 7-4 with 84.2 innings pitched and 61 strikeouts last year. A true two-way contributor, the junior also made an impact offensively, batting .370 with a .982 OPS and an impressive .482 on-base percentage. 

The Mavericks open the 2026 season on Friday, Feb. 13 as they begin a new campaign in the Western Athletic Conference

2026 WAC Preseason Player of the Year 
Ryan Kroepel, Jr., 3B/RHP, Utah Tech 

2026 WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year 
Cody New, Jr., LHP, California Baptist 

2026 Preseason All-WAC Team 

C – Sergio Guerra, Sr., Tarleton State 
1B – Grant Watkins, Sr., Abilene Christian 
2B – Slade McCloud, Sr., Tarleton State 
3B – Ryan Kroepel, Jr., Utah Tech 
SS – Chris Ramirez, So., California Baptist 
OF – Braden Regala, So., Abilene Christian 
OF – Rayner Heinrich, So., Tarleton State 
OF – Xander McAfee, Sr., UT Arlington 
DH – Diego Cardenas, Sr., Abilene Christian 
SP – Cody New, Jr., LHP, California Baptist 
SP – Caylon Dygert, Jr., RHP, UT Arlington 
RP – Ryan Kroepel, Jr., Utah Tech 

#BuckEm 

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