Los Angeles, CA – May 30: Fresno State Head Coach Ryan Overland (left) walks up to the mound at the NCAA baseball regional tournament game between UCLA and Fresno State at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday, May 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
As we continue our preseason coverage of the 2026 Mountain West baseball season, our next stop is our preseason conference team.
The Mountain West awarded five Nevada players on its preseason team, as San Jose State trailed with three, and Fresno State, Washington State, Air Force, UNLV and New Mexico had one representative each.
MW Connection Preseason Team
C- Walker Zapp, Sr, Air Force
Zapp capped his 2025 campaign as Air Force’s offensive catalyst, hitting .330 with 65 hits, 18 doubles, five triples, seven homers and 43 RBIs while adding eight steals and anchoring the Falcon lineup. Against Mountain West pitching, he produced 37 hits and 26 RBIs, showing he can be a run producer even from the catcher spot.
Behind the plate, Zapp started all 51 games, threw out 11 would-be runners and posted a .970 fielding percentage, giving Air Force both offensive punch and defensive leadership. With his game-calling and experience, he enters 2026 as one of the league’s most respected backstops.
1B- Griffen Sotomayor, Sr, Fresno State
Sotomayor enjoyed a breakout 2025 season, batting .330 with 68 hits, 16 doubles, seven home runs, 44 runs scored and 41 RBIs while posting a .519 slugging percentage in his first full year with the Bulldogs. He also delivered nine 3-hit games and showed an ability to swing the bat consistently throughout the lineup.
As a senior first baseman/DH, Sotomayor brings middle-of-the-order power and contact ability to Fresno State’s offense, providing RBI upside and veteran poise. His production will be key as the Bulldogs aim to build off their 2025 postseason.
2B- Jun-Hyuk Kwon, Sr, Nevada
Kwon brings championship experience to second base after helping Nevada capture the 2025 Mountain West regular season title (34-23, 19-11 MW). He slashed .346/.441/.571 with eight home runs, 33 RBIs and 11 doubles. Kwon’s strong defense and consistent contact were key ingredients in a Pack lineup that batted .294 and hit 56 home runs.
His leadership up the middle and baseball instincts make him a stabilizing presence in Nevada’s infield. As a senior second baseman, expect Kwon to be a table-setter and run-producer in key situations for a Wolf Pack team picked to contend again in 2026.
3B- Sean Yamaguchi, So, Nevada
Yamaguchi burst onto the scene as a freshman, batting .324 with 72 hits, 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 50 RBIs, tying a Mountain West freshman home run record and earning Freshman of the Year honors.
His combination of pop and plate discipline gives Nevada a steady middle-order bat, and his defensive confidence at third base adds value on both sides of the ball. As a sophomore, Yamaguchi is poised for an even bigger role in 2026 after a historic debut.
SS- Karsen Waslefsky, Sr, New Mexico
Waslefsky was a key part of the Lobos’ offense that hit .337 last year, as he batted .298 on the season with an .828 OPS, scoring 32 runs on 42 hits while driving in 31. He finished the season with six doubles, one triple and five homers.
Defensively, his fielding percentage was at .959 with 47 putouts and 116 assists on 170 opportunities with just seven errors. As a senior shortstop, his glove and experienced bat will be integral to a Lobo squad hoping to build on its prolific run production.
OF- Khalil Walker, Gr, New Mexico
Walker was one of the Lobos’ most consistent bats in 2025, flirting with a .400 average and ending the year just under .400 with standout slugging and on-base skills. He was among the NCAA’s top hitters in midseason metrics, reflecting his elite bat-to-ball skills and contact rates.
With multiple extra-base hits and terrific on-base ability, Walker will be counted on to provide offense from the top of the order and spark New Mexico’s potent lineup once again.
OF- Max Hartman, Sr, Washington State
Hartman posted a strong 2025 offensive season, hitting around .363/.438/.518, with five home runs and a .475 on-base percentage that made him one of WSU’s most productive bats.
His athleticism in the outfield, paired with a disciplined approach at the plate, gives Washington State a reliable presence atop or in the middle of the lineup. As a senior leader, Hartman’s offensive consistency will be a major asset in conference play.
OF- Alex Fernandes, Sr, San Jose State
Fernandes stood out in 2025 with an advanced offensive profile, hitting .361/.447/.509, which led the Spartans and made him one of the Spartans’ most dangerous hitters. He was also named to the Mountain West All-Tournament Team after recording eight hits and six runs scored across the Tournament’s five games as the team’s leadoff hitter.
His combination of on-base ability and gap power gives SJSU a dynamic presence in the outfield, and as a senior he’ll be counted on to drive in runs and set the table in key spots throughout the season.
UTL- Jayce Dobie, Sr, Nevada
The two-way player had a breakout 2025, batting .339 with 65 hits, 15 doubles, seven homers, and 36 RBIs while also pitching with a 2-2 record and 37 strikeouts over 43 innings.
His rare dual-threat ability as both a hitter and pitcher makes him one of the most versatile players in the Mountain West. As a senior, Dobie’s bat will be a run producer for the Wolf Pack and his flexibility will give Nevada strategic depth all season long.
P- Alessandro Castro, Jr, Nevada
In his 2025 debut campaign, Castro emerged as a weekend starter for Nevada, finishing 4-1 with a 4.39 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 10 Mountain West starts. With some more unknowns on Nevada’s pitching staff, Castro will most likely become the Pack’s Friday night guy.
His ability to miss bats and pitch deep into games provided stability for the Wolf Pack rotation, and entering 2026 Castro will be looked at as an anchor of a staff aiming to repeat as regular-season champions.
Lane was a cornerstone of the UNLV rotation in 2025, posting a 6-4 record with a 4.23 ERA and 85 strikeouts across 78.2 innings.
His experience and ability to win ballgames give the Rebels an established arm at the top of the staff, and as a junior, Lane will be crucial to UNLV’s aspirations to climb the conference standings.
P- Tyler Albanese, Jr, San Jose State
Albanese delivered a strong sophomore season with San José State, finishing 4-3 with a 2.97 ERA over 39.1 innings while striking out 56 batters across 39.1 innings. He also picked up nine saves, showing poise and strike-throwing ability out of the bullpen or as a starter.
As a junior, his demonstrated command and consistency make him one of the more reliable arms in the Mountain West heading into 2026.
P- Tyler Patrick, So, Fresno State
Patrick went 1-3 with a 4.26 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 38 innings. He was a key contributor to Fresno State’s pitching staff during a season that saw the Bulldogs return to postseason play. He owned the lowest ERA for a freshman during the 2025 season. Patrick pitched 3.0 innings out of the bullpen in a high-stakes extra innings game against Nevada during the Mountain West Championship, keeping the Wolf Pack scoreless in extra innings and allowing the Bulldogs to win.
Looking ahead, Patrick’s youth and experience from a full season give him the chance to be a breakout arm for Fresno State in 2026.