LOS ANGELES – The No.1 UCLA Bruins’ double-play connections will be nothing short of All-American in 2026.
Three Bruins ballplayers were named preseason All-Americans by D1 Baseball. Junior shortstop Roch Cholokowsky was named to the All-American first team while both junior first baseman Mulivai Levu and junior third baseman Roman Martin were named to the Third-Team.
There’s been no shortage of buzz around Cholokowsky in his college career and his First-Team selection comes as no surprise. He was the Baseball America and Perfect Game Player of the Year in his sophomore season as well as the first Bruin to be named the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.
Cholokowsky Named to the First-Team
Cholokowsky stands out as one of the nation’s best defensive players, earning an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove at shortstop and becoming the first sophomore to ever win the Brooks Wallace Award as the shortstop of the year.
Ric Tapia – The Sporting Tribune
Roch Cholowsky #1 of UCLA Bruins at bat during the game against UC Irvine Anteaters at Jackie Robinson Stadium on November 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Cholokowsky is an early favorite to be a no.1 MLB draft pick following his college career.
If his First-Team selection wasn’t enough of an indication of his lofty expectations 2026, Cholokowsky was also selected as the Perfect Game Preseason Player of the Year earlier in January.
Cholokowsky led Division 1 baseball with 6.49 WAR and slashed .353/.480/.710 for a 1.190 OPS while slugging 23 home runs and 74 RBIs. He scored 80 runs, the second most in program history and his 179 total bases were the second most in program history during the Super Regional era.
Levu and Martin to the Third-Team
Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
UCLA Bruins first baseman Mulivai Levu (39) catches for an out against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the first inning at Charles Schwab Field.
Levu is looking to build on a 2025 season where he was named Big Ten Second-Team and his 85 RBIs, second in the nation. He started every game for the Bruins while hitting .320 with 12 home runs.
Like Cholokowsky, Levu was a standout defensive player and earned himself an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove at first base. Levu committed one error in 569 chances to earn himself the defensive accolade.
Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
UCLA Bruins third baseman Roman Martin (7) reacts to a strike out call against the Murray State Racers during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Field.
Levu’s fellow Third-Team teammate Martin was also a fellow Big Ten Second-Team selection in 2025. Martin slashed .316/.450/.502 with 15 doubles, nine home runs and 61 RBIs while scoring 60 runs himself, fourth-most on the Bruins in 2025.
The Bruins are projected to be a powerhouse in the college baseball world this season and with the All-American infield that they’re working with, there’s no surprise as to why.