Wylan Nelson Named ABCA/Rawlings National Position Player of the Year

By Jimmy Friery

Santa Barbara City College Baseball's Wylan Nelson has collected a national honor, winning the 2026 ABCA/Rawlings National Position Player of the Year for the Pacific Association Division, announced by the organization on Monday.

The two-way star from Ventura High was awarded the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Southern California Position Player of the Year earlier this month, also earning the same title from the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA). This award comes on an even wider scale, though.

One player was selected, nationally, at each collegiate level—NCAA Divisions I through III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I through III, and the Pacific Association Division—and the high school level. The Pacific Association Division is comprised of junior colleges from the 3C2A and Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC), which includes schools from Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.

Jackson Flora of UC Santa Barbara won NCAA Division I Pitcher of the Year, meaning two Santa Barbara baseball players were represented.

To learn more, read the ABCA announcement.