JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Austin Peay and Stetson were tabbed the preseason favorites after being selected in the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Preseason Gold and Graphite Coaches Polls, announced Thursday by the league office.
The Gold Division head coaches voted Austin Peay as the favorites ahead of the upcoming season. Last year, the Govs recorded a 45-14 overall record and a 26-4 conference play record. APSU infielder, Ray Velazquez was named Preseason Player of the Year. He enters the 2026 season after batting .364 with 18 homeruns and 57 RBI last spring. He ranked third in the ASUN with a slugging percentage of .728. The Lipscomb Bisons were picked second in the Gold Division coaches poll after making an appearance in the last year's tournament.
The Stetson Hatters were chosen as preseason favorites in the Graphite Division preseason coaches poll after receiving the automatic qualifying bid into the NCAA Tournament last season. Stetson went 24-6 in conference play last season and made an appearance in the tournament final. Stetson's Jake Gorelick was named preseason Pitcher of the Year. He posted a 1.31 ERA over 41.1 innings and finished the season with a 4-0 record. The Miami, Fla., native allowed just one run over 6.2 innings against Austin Peay to send the Hatters to last seasons tournament final. Stetson shortstop, Juan De La Cruz was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. De La Cruz recorded 59 putouts and 101 assists with just 6errors on the season. His season-long performance earned him a .964 fielding percentage. FGCU was picked second in the Graphite Division coaches poll. The Eagles were lead by Preseason Player of the Year, Evan Dempsey. The junior recorded 71 hits, 18 doubles and 14 stolen bases last season. Dempsey was second in the nation, first in the conference with a 1.97 ERA.
2026 Preseason Gold Division Coaches Poll
1. Austin Peay (4), 34
2. Lipscomb, 28
3. North Alabama (1), 23
4. Central Arkansas (1), 18
5. EKU, 15
6. Bellarmine, 8
2026 Preseason Graphite Division Coaches Poll
1. Stetson (4), 34
2. FGCU (2), 30
3. Jacksonville, 21
4. North Florida, 19
5.West Georgia, 12
6.Queens, 10
Preseason Player of the Year: Ray Velazquez, Austin Peay and Evan Dempsey, FGCU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Juan De La Cruz, Stetson
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Jake Gorelick, Stetson
2026 Preseason All-ASUN Team
SP - Cody Airington, Austin Peay
SP - Evan Dempsey, FGCU
SP - Chris Diaz, FGCU
RP - Jake Gorelick, Stetson
C - Trevor Conley, Austin Peay
1B - Cole Johnson, Austin Peay
2B - Kyler Proctor, Austin Peay
3B - Ray Velazquez, Austin Peay
SS - Landon Akers, Bellarmine
OF - Zeb Allen, Central Arkansas
OF - Jonah Sheilds, Jacksonville
OF - Evan Dempsey, FGCU
OF - Foster Apple, Stetson
DH - Conner Spelman, Jacksonville
a tie in voting resulted in a 14-person team