STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State juniors Ace Reese and Jack Bauer have received preseason recognition from Baseball America, marking significant honors ahead of the 2026 baseball season.
Reese was named a first-team All-American by Baseball America and was included on the publication’s Preseason Player of the Year Watch List. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound infielder also earned first-team All-American honors from Perfect Game and second-team honors from D1Baseball. Last season, Reese started 57 games at third base, leading the team with a .352 batting average, 80 hits, 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a .718 slugging percentage, ranking in the top seven in the Southeastern Conference in each category. His 21 homers tied for the eighth-most in a single season in school history.
The Canton, Texas native was named SEC Newcomer of the Year and a first-team All-SEC selection. He recorded 25 multi-hit games, 20 multi-RBI games, and five multi-homer games during his first season at Mississippi State. Reese also represented the United States on Team USA in Japan during the summer of 2025. His achievements contribute to Mississippi State’s storied history of 168 All-America awards awarded to 58 student-athletes.
Meanwhile, Jack Bauer received the Preseason Freshman of the Year honor from Baseball America. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound pitcher from Frankfort, Illinois, was ranked the top freshman in the nation by Perfect Game and D1Baseball. Bauer threw the fastest recorded pitch by a prep pitcher at 103 miles per hour. He posted a 1.22 earned run average with 56 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings as a senior at Lincoln Way East High School, surrendering only five earned runs.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 4 nationally, open their season at home against Hofstra from Feb. 13-15. Fans can follow the team on social media by searching ‘HailStateBB’ on X, Facebook, and Instagram. More information about the program is available at www.HailState.com.
