TAMPA, Fla. (May 19, 2026) – Following the conclusion of the 2026 season, South Florida baseball saw multiple players recognized with American Conference postseason honors, highlighted by shortstop Jevin Relaford earning American Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.
 
The last time a Bull was named Conference Defensive Player of the Year was Eric Snow in 2023. He is now in the Toronto Blue Jays system, playing for the Dunedin Blue Jays.
 
Relaford was also named to the All-Conference first team. He ended the 2026 season with a .961 fielding percentage. He batted .337 with 59 hits, 30 RBI, ten doubles, three triples, and a home run. He was an Honorable Mention for Conference Player of the Week during the season on February 16, after the opening series of the season. Relaford also stole 31 bases during the season, now ranking him tied for sixth all-time by an individual in a single South Florida baseball season. This is the most stolen bases by a Bull since 1996.
 
Two Bulls were named to the All-Conference second team. In the utility spot, Matt Rose, and the catcher spot, Lance Trippel. Matt Rose was recognized as a utility player after batting .301 with 25 hits and 19 RBI while recording a .938 fielding percentage. Trippel ended the season with a .989 fielding percentage, catching 13 batters stealing. Offensively, he had a .304 batting average, 52 hits, 29 RBI, 13 doubles, and three home runs.
 
Three South Florida freshmen were named to the All-Freshman Team—pitchers Michael Senay and Dominic Pontbriant, as well as Bulls third baseman Jack Lutz. Lutz had 47 hits and 22 RBI while batting .285. Senay won American Conference Pitcher of the week twice, was named D1 Baseball's Midseason Top Freshman on April 2, and was Perfect Game's Freshman of the Week on March 24th. Dominic Pontbriant finished the season 4-0 with a save. He threw 47.1 innings, recording 29 strikeouts, and ended the year with a 3.42 ERA.
 
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About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball program, founded in 1966, enters its 61st season in 2026 as a member of the American Conference. Head coach Mitch Hannahs returns for his second year after leading the Bulls to 32 wins in his debut—USF's most since 2018—and 16 victories in conference play, their best league performance since joining the American.
 
USF has made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, highlighted by a Super Regional run in 2021. The Bulls have won five conference tournament titles and six regular season championships.
 
The program has produced 134 MLB Draft picks, including three in 2025. Notable alumni include two-time MLB All-Star and 2018 first-round pick Shane McClanahan, 2022 fifth-round pick Orion Kerkering, and Washington Nationals starting pitcher Brad Lord. Bulls players have earned 12 All-America and 19 Freshman All-America honors.
– #GoBulls –