The 2026 Texas high school baseball season was full of surprising finishes, outstanding individual achievements and memorable postseason moments.Now with the high school baseball season officially in the books, it’s time to answer a major question — Who was the Big Country’s best baseball player during the 2026 season?We want to hear from you! The Reporter-News has selected 16 of the Big Country’s top high school baseball players as finalists for the 2026 Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Baseball MVP.
Finalists were selected based upon statistics, individual accolades, team success and feedback from area coaches.The Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Baseball MVP poll will open on Wednesday, July 15, and close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28.Here is a closer look at every candidate for the Abilene Reporter-News’ Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Baseball MVP for the 2026 Texas high school baseball season:Athletes listed in alphabetical order below.
P/INF Carson Boone, Abilene Cooper, Jr.Boone, a first team all-district pick in District 4-5A, anchored the Cougars’ pitching staff during a strong junior season where he recorded a 2.44 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 54⅓ innings pitched. He also batted .358 with 23 RBIs, five doubles, three triples and a home run offensively.OF Gavin Brooks, Tuscola Jim Ned, Sr.Brooks was recognized as District 6-3A’s Offensive MVP after he helped the Indians reach the 3A DI regional final by hitting .419 with 55 runs scored, 19 stolen bases, three triples and two home runs.P Carson Cochran, Cisco, Sr.Cochran — the District 7-2A Pitcher of the Year — logged 60 innings on the mound for the Loboes, tallying an 8-3 record with 84 strikeouts and a 1.05 ERA while also recording five shutouts and a no-hitter.P/C Brandt Cox, Ira, Sr.Cox was one of the Lone Star State’s sharpest pitchers in Class 1A, logging an 8-1 record with 67 strikeouts and 1.45 ERA in 38 ⅔ innings pitched for the Bulldogs to earn District 5-1A Pitcher of the Year honors. He also hit .408 with 27 runs scored, 22 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, six doubles and a home run.P/3B Hunter Eddington, Coleman, Jr.Eddington was named Co-MVP of District 7-2A after notching an 8-3 record with a 1.06 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 59⅓ innings pitched for Coleman. He also posted a .364 batting average with 22 RBIs, two doubles and two triples offensively.P/3B/OF George Ferguson, Abilene High, Jr.Ferguson was one of the most dominant pitchers in all of Texas high school baseball, tallying a 0.10 ERA with 135 strikeouts, 17 hits and five walks allowed on his way to earning the District 4-5A MVP award. He was named the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 5A Pitcher of the Year after racking up nine shutouts, three no-hitters and a perfect game. Ferguson also hit .364 with 27 RBIs, nine doubles, five triples and a home run.P/SS Colby Garrett, Abilene Wylie, Sr.Garrett posted a 7-1 record with a 1.08 ERA in 45⅓ innings pitched for the Bulldogs to earn District 4-5A’s Pitcher of the Year award. He also recorded a .401 batting average and a 1.089 OPS with 36 RBIs, 33 runs scored, eight stolen bases, nine doubles, five triples and four home runs. 3B RJ Gomez, Big Spring, Sr.Gomez earned Class 4A THSBCA All-State honors after a dominant season as one of the Big Country’s most prolific power hitters. The senior third baseman hit .523 with a 1.687 OPS, 25 runs scored, 22 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, 14 doubles, two triples and five home runs.
SS/P Lane Goodson, May, Sr.Goodson was one of the Big Country’s most dominant two-way players in 2026, shining for May as both an elite hitter and standout pitcher during the Tigers’ run to the Class 1A regional semifinals. He hit .734 with a 1.882 OPS, 43 runs scored, 35 stolen bases, 27 RBIs, 10 doubles, six triples and one home run. The District 7-1A MVP also tallied a 9-1 record on the mound with a 2.35 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 41⅔ innings pitched.P/OF Ian Gruben, Hamlin, Sr.Gruben – a Class 1A THSBCA all-state selection – helped power the Pied Pipers’ run to the state semifinals with a 10-1 record on the mound, a 1.30 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched. He also earned the District 7-1A MVP award after hitting .366 with 25 RBIs, four doubles and two triples.UTL/P Myles McCarty, Abilene Wylie, Fr.McCarty enjoyed a breakout freshman year for the Bulldogs during their run to the 5A DII regional finals, hitting .418 with a 1.412 OPS, 43 runs scored, 42 RBIs, 15 doubles, seven triples and three home runs.P/3B Jesse Nieto, Hawley, Jr.Nieto posted a 7-2 overall record on the mound with a 1.32 ERA and 34 strikeouts through 53 innings pitched to take home District 8-2A MVP honors. He hit .435 with a 1.050 OPS, 26 RBIs, 26 runs scored, 11 doubles and a home run for Hawley offensively.P/C Brody Oliver, Albany, Sr.Oliver was honored as the District 8-2A Offensive Player of the Year after hitting .500 with 28 RBIs, 47 stolen bases and eight doubles. He also left a mark on the mound finishing a strong senior season with a 7-3 record, a 0.80 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 52⅓ innings pitched.P/UTL Ethan Schindler, Stephenville, Fr.Schindler had one of the most impressive freshman campaigns of any Big Country player in 2026, hitting .379 with 41 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples and one home run. Stephenville’s ace also logged an 8-5 record on the mound with 72 strikeouts and a 2.52 ERA through 58⅓ innings pitched.P/SS Aiden Shank, Gordon, Sr.Shank – the THSBCA’s Class 1A Pitcher of the Year – helped Gordon reach the Class 1A UIL Baseball State Championship game for the second consecutive season thanks to a phenomenal senior season on the mound. The Longhorns’ ace tallied an 8-2 record with 105 strikeouts and a 0.54 ERA through 51⅔ innings pitched. He also batted .361 with 42 runs scored, 33 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, eight doubles, one triple and two home runs. C Sterling Wilson, Clyde, Jr.Wilson led the Bulldogs with 30 RBIs while batting .369 with six doubles, five triples and three home runs. The junior also made major contributions on the mound, logging a 3-1 record with 30 strikeouts and a 4.57 ERA in 23 innings pitched for Clyde.
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This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Fan Vote | Who should be the ARN’s 2026 All-Big Country Baseball MVP?
Reporting by Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News | USA TODAY Network
