UCLA and Illinois Earn Baseball Weekly Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its baseball weekly awards for games played February 16-22, 2026.

Player of the Week
Will Gasparino, UCLA
Jr. – CF – Los Angeles, Calif. – Texas (NCAA)

• Led Big Ten players with five home runs and 13 RBI in helping top-ranked UCLA to a 4-0 week, which included a three-game sweep of No. 7-ranked TCU
• Compiled a slash of .538/.684/1.769 to go along with a 2.453 OPS
• Went 7-for-13 at the plate, compiling seven runs, 23 total bases, and drawing four walks
• The Texas transfer flawlessly handled seven chances in center field
• Becomes the first Bruin to receive Big Ten Player of the Week honors
  

Pitcher of the Week
Wylan Moss, UCLA
So. – R-RHP – Tustin, Calif. – Mater Dei HS

• Came out of the bullpen to pitch four scoreless innings in UCLA’s 5-1 win over No. 7 TCU Saturday at Jackie Robinson Stadium
• Fanned 10 of 13 batters faced, including eight swinging, while allowing two hits
• Finished the game with nine-straight strikeouts to earn the save
• Is the first Bruin to be named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week
• First Big Ten reliever to be chosen Pitcher of the Week since March 31, 2025

Freshman of the Week
AJ Putty, Illinois
Fr. – 1B – McHenry, Ill. – Huntley HS

• Batted .529 (9-for-17) with a homer and 11 RBI over four games
• Finished 5-for-6 with a grand slam to help Illinois to a 14-5 win over No. 6-ranked Coastal Carolina Sunday at the Baseball at the Beach Tournament in Conway, S.C.
• Recorded a .550 on-base percentage and slugged 1.000
• Fielded 1.000 at first base, amassing 25 putouts and four assists
• Last Illinois player named Freshman of the Week: Michael Massey (May 1, 2017)

Team rankings are the highest position listed among the five polls: Baseball America, D1Baseball, NCBWA, Perfect Game, USA Today

2026 Big Ten Baseball Weekly Awards

Feb. 16
PL: Jackson Freeman, Jr., OF, NU
P: Grant Govel, So., S-RHP, USC
F: Angel Laya, Fr., OF, ORE

Feb. 23
PL: Will Gasparino, Jr., CF, UCLA
P: Wylan Moss, So., R-RHP, UCLA
F: AJ Putty, Fr., 1B, ILL