Dee Kennedy Jr., Sergio Guerra, Max Knight and Grant Govel Earn National Recognition From College Baseball Foundation
February 17, 2026
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Dee Kennedy Jr., (Kansas State), Sergio Guerra (Tarleton State), Max Knight (Missouri State) and Grant Govel (USC) earned weekly honors from the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) for their respective performances last week, it was announced on Tuesday.
Kennedy Jr. earned the Brooks Wallace Award Player of the Week while Guerra was named the Buster Posey Award National Collegiate Catcher of the Week. Knight earned the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week. Govel was selected as the National Pitcher of the Week.
Brooks Wallace Award Player of the Week
(Nation’s Most Outstanding Shortstop)
Dee Kennedy Jr., SS, Junior, Kansas State University, Fort Worth, Texas
Kennedy turned in a dominant performance over Opening Weekend, hitting .538 (7-for-13) with five extra-base hits, including three home runs, including two grand slams. He slugged an impressive 1.385 while posting a .625 on-base percentage and an eye-popping 2.010 OPS. He was also perfect on the base paths, going 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. He hit a grand slam in the fourth inning of the season opener —a 106-mph blast to left center. He capped the weekend with a game-leading and career-high seven RBI in the Wildcats’ dominant 24-5 win over Penn State giving Kansas State a perfect 3-0 weekend at the MLB Desert Invitational in Goodyear, Arizona.
Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Week
Sergio Guerra, C, Senior, Tarleton State University, San Diego, Texas
Guerra was on fire in the batter’s box in Tarleton’s season opening weekend sweep against Le Moyne. He was six-for-nine (.667) at the plate, racking up 13 RBIs, six runs, three home runs and three walks against the Dolphins. Guerra posted a gaudy 1.778 slugging percentage and a .733 on-base percentage on the weekend. In the season opener, Guerra had three hits in three at bats, including two home runs, two walks and eight RBIs in a 20-3 TSU victory. Defensively, he did not commit an error or a passed ball.
John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week Award
Max Knight, LHP/1B/OF, Junior, Missouri State University, Bixby, Oklahoma
Knight picked up a series-clinching win on the mound and was pivotal for the Bears at the plate in helping lead Missouri State to a pair of victories at Louisiana. The southpaw tossed three shutout innings, allowing one hit, while striking out four in earning the victory in relief in a 13-12 11-inning slugfest in game two of the series. Knight was 4-for-11 (.364) with a pair of RBIs and runs in the series. He also had a home run, a walk and one stolen base on the weekend.
National Pitcher of the Week
Grant Govel, RHP, Sophomore, USC, Rolling Hills Estates, California
Govel was masterful on the mound in his 2026 debut racking up six no-hit innings in the Trojans’ 11-0 run-rule victory over Pepperdine. Govel struck out 10 batters, while only allowing only two runners to reach base (1 walk, 1 HBP) in his 77-pitch outing. After allowing a walk in the first inning, Govel retired 11 straight batters. Freshman Cameron Fausset closed the game with a scoreless inning to deliver the combined no-hitter.
College Baseball Foundation Weekly Honors
Each week the CBF recognizes weekly award winners in conjunction with the Brooks Wallace Award, Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and the National Pitcher of the Year Award.
The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to honor the nation's most outstanding shortstop. It is a tribute to Brooks Wallace, a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977-80 who passed away at age 27 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Prior to 2009, the award recognized the national player of the year.
2026 Brooks Wallace Award Weekly Honorees
Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown
2/17 - Dee Kennedy Jr., SS, Junior, Kansas State University, Fort Worth, Texas
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Established in 2000, by the Wichita Sports Commission, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award is presented annually to honor the nation's most outstanding catcher. Posey began his collegiate career as a shortstop, before moving to catcher where he won the 2008 Johnny Bench Award, Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. In his MLB career with the San Francisco Giants, Posey earned three world series titles, seven All-Star Game selections, five Silver Slugger Awards, the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year, 2012 National League MVP and was a 2016 Gold Glove Award winner.
2026 Buster Posey Award Weekly Honorees
Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown
2/17 - Sergio Guerra, C, Senior, Tarleton State, San Diego, Texas
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The John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award is presented annually by the College Baseball Foundation to honor the nation's top combo pitcher-position player. Olerud, who was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, was a standout pitcher and first baseman at Washington State University from 1987 through 1989.
2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player Weekly Award Honorees
Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown
2/17 - Max Knight, LHP/1B/OF, Junior, Missouri State University, Bixby, Oklahoma
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The Pitcher of the Year award, college baseball's version of the Cy Young Award which was created in 2009, is given annually to the nation's top collegiate pitcher.
2025 National Pitcher(s) of the Year Weekly Award Honorees
Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown
2/17 – Grant Govel, RHP, Sophomore, USC, Rolling Hills Estates, California
