KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its postseason academic awards for the 2026 baseball season. One-hundred and 63 NCAA Division II student-athletes from all 13 MIAA baseball member institutions were honored by the Association for their work in the classroom this season. There were also 21 players named MIAA Scholar-Athletes and only 10 who earned the league's Academic Excellence award.
The prestigious Academic Excellence award was achieved by just 10 MIAA baseball student-athletes. An Academic Excellence award recipient must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of at least 4.00 at the certifying member institution. The honoree also must have at least two terms of grades reported at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.
The Scholar-Athlete award distinction also went to 21 student-athletes who excelled in the classroom and on the field. In the classroom, a Scholar-Athlete is an individual that has a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.50 or better at the certifying member institution and have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution. Student-athletes must also receive All-MIAA honors in the 2026 season to achieve the full Scholar-Athlete status.
One-hundred and 63 baseball student-athletes were named to the 2026 MIAA Academic Honor Roll. To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 or above at the certifying member institution. The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms.
Only three baseball players earned all three of the Association's postseason academic honors:
- Missouri Southern State University's Blake Jones is a sophomore All-MIAA selection with a 4.0 GPA as a biology major.
- Missouri Southern State University's Marcus Young is a sophomore All-MIAA selection with a 4.0 GPA as a middle school social studies education major.
- Newman Univesrity's Kaynan Kaku is a senior All-MIAA selection with a 4.0 GPA as a data science major.
Click here to view all 163 MIAA baseball student-athletes who earned academic honors in the 2026 season.
These baseball academic awards do not include first year student-athletes or first-year transfers. The MIAA will release separate academic awards for its 2025-26 newcomers at the end of June.