Derek Martinez Named Second Team All-Sun Belt, Freshman All-Sun Belt

5/18/2026 3:02:00 PM

JONESBORO, Ark. (5/18/26) – Arkansas State first baseman and catcher Derek Martinez represents the Red Wolves for the 2026 postseason conference awards, being tabbed Second Team All-Conference at first base, and a member of the Sun Belt All-Freshman Team.

Martinez led the Red Wolves in home runs with 14, the sixth-most in program history and sixth-most in the conference. Finishing second on the team in batting average at .295, Martinez completed the season with 19 extra-base hits on 46 total hits, 35 runs, 35 RBIs, and a .596 slugging percentage, fifth in the conference.

The Clermont, Florida native made 42 starts on 46 appearances, making 27 at first, seven behind the dish, and six as the designated hitter. Martinez finished the season with three multi-home run games, including a go-ahead shot to clinch the win over James Madison (3/27), and a pair to bookend the game for the series at ULM (4/19).

Full Conference Awards:

Player of the Year
Jimmy Janicki, Troy (So., C – Downers Grove, Ill.)
Pitcher of the Year
Grayden Harris, Southern Miss (So., LHP – Central, La.)
Newcomer of the Year

Gage Peterson, App State (Jr., RHP – Jonesborough, Tenn.)
Freshman of the Year
Brady Christman, Georgia Southern (Fr., C/OF – Forsyth, Ga.)
Tony Robichaux Leadership Award
Bryce Blevins, Marshall (Sr., LHP – Louisa, Ky.)
Ron Maestri Coach of the Year
Christian Ostrander, Southern Miss
All-Sun Belt First Team
P Gage Peterson, App State (Jr., RHP – Jonesborough, Tenn.)
P Camden Clark, Southern Miss (So., RHP – Laurel, Miss.)

P Grayden Harris, Southern Miss (So., LHP – Central, La.)
RP Darin Horn, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., RHP – Bluffton, S.C.)
C Jimmy Janicki, Troy (So., C – Downers Grove, Ill.)
1B Matthew Russo, Southern Miss (Sr., 1B – Madisonville, La.)

2B Kyle Morrison, Southern Miss (Sr., 2B – Wetumpka, Ala.)

SS Steven Smith, App State (Gr., SS – Salisbury, N.C.)
3B Wills Maginnis, Georgia State (So., 3B – Newnan, Ga.)
OF Evan Bottone, Marshall (Jr., OF – Bay Village, Ohio)
OF Davis Gillespie, Southern Miss (RS Jr., OF – Birmingham, Ala.)

OF Aaron Piasecki, Troy (Sr., OF – Muskegon, Mich.)

DH Brady Christman, Georgia Southern (Fr., DH – Forsyth, Ga.)
UT Drew Nelson, Troy (Sr., UT – Troy, Ala.)
All-Sun Belt Second Team
P Cody Brasch, Louisiana (Jr., RHP – Haslet, Texas)
P Andrew Herrmann, Louisiana (Gr., LHP – Kennesaw, Ga.)

P Bryce Blevins, Marshall (Sr., LHP – Louisa, Ky.)
RP Colby Allen, Southern Miss (Sr., RHP – Louisville, Miss.)
C Colt Brown, Louisiana (Fr., C – Seguin, Texas)
1B Derek Martinez, Arkansas State (Fr., 1B – Clermont, Fla.)

2B Brennon Wright, South Alabama (Jr., 2B – Starkville, Miss.)

SS Will Johnson, Old Dominion (Jr., SS – Allen, Texas)
3B Stewart Puckett, South Alabama (RS Jr., 3B – DeLeon Springs, Fla.)
OF Charlie Evans, App State (Sr., OF – Levittown, Pa.)

OF Rex Watson, Coastal Carolina (So., OF – Manteca, Calif.)

OF Rashawn Galloway, Texas State (Sr., OF – Boerne, Texas)

DH Manny Salas, Texas State (Jr., DH – North Richland Hills, Texas)
UT Jaquae Stewart, Texas State (Jr., UT – Sinton, Texas)

All-Sun Belt Freshman Team

Colton Denton, App State (Fr., C – Knoxville, Tenn.)

Derek Martinez, Arkansas State (Fr., 1B – Clermont, Fla.)

Case Bosch, Coastal Carolina (Fr., LHP – Jenison, Mich.)

Jackson Smallets, Coastal Carolina (Fr., RHP – Sicklerville, N.J.)

Brady Christman, Georgia Southern (Fr., C/OF – Forsyth, Ga.)

Bennett Edwards, Georgia Southern (Fr., C/OF – Laurens, S.C.)

Colt Brown, Louisiana (Fr., C – Seguin, Texas)

Noah Lewis, Louisiana (Fr., OF – Baton Rouge, La.)

Sawyer Pruitt, Louisiana (Fr., RHP – Watson, La.)

Blaze Rodriguez, Louisiana (Fr., SS – Slidell, La.)

Garett Wiethorn, ULM (Fr., OF – McGregor, Texas)

Ben Tanton, Old Dominion (Fr., RHP – Vestal, N.Y.)

Jackson Cotton, Texas State (Fr., OF – Missouri City, Texas)

Clayton Namken, Texas State (Fr., C – New Braunfels, Texas)

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Derek Martinez Named Second Team All-Sun Belt, Freshman All-Sun Belt