Smiley, Harrison And Cruz Headline Miami's MAC Season Awards
5/20/2026 10:00:00 AM | Baseball
CLEVELAND, Ohio—The Mid-American Conference released its 2026 Baseball Specialty Award Winners and All-Conference Teams on Wednesday morning. Among the Specialty Award winners were Head Coach Brian Smiley, who was named MAC Coach of the Year, Tommy Harrison, who was named the MAC Player of the Year and Diego Cruz, who was named the MAC Freshman of the Year. Additionally, seven RedHawks earned All-MAC recognitions: Evan Appelwick, Austin Berggren, Clayton Burke, Cruz, Marcus Dierks, Harrison and Carson Raether. Cruz and Dierks were also named to the All-MAC Defensive team.
Brian Smiley was named the 2026 MAC Coach of the Year, his second consecutive year receiving the honor. Smiley is the first coach in Miami history to win MAC Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons since Bud Middaugh received the award in 1973 and 1974. This season, Smiley led the RedHawks to 25 regular-season conference wins, breaking the program record 23 wins he set last season and bringing his number of career wins at Miami to 100. Smiley's squad also ended their regular season 2-0 against the Big Ten and 18-3 at home. They finished the regular season ranked in the top 40 in the RPI and ranked top five nationally in walks, on-base percentage, runs scored, runs per game and HBPs. Under Smiley's command, the RedHawks have won 20 out of their last 21 conference series, an accolade currently unmatched by any other team in the nation, and clinched their second consecutive MAC regular-season title (first time since 1973-74). The Red and White notched a 25-8 conference record to end the regular season, which earned them the number one seed in this week's MAC Tournament in Avon, Ohio.
Appelwick, a Second Team All-MAC selection at first base, is hitting .285 entering the MAC tournament and leads the RedHawks and the nation in walks with 60. He earned a regular-season on-base percentage of .461 and hit 13 round-trippers. Earlier this season, he broke the all-time Red-and-White career records in walks (178), home runs (51) and RBIs (193). He also holds the single-season records for home runs (21) and walks (60). Defensively, the redshirt senior from Madison, S.D. was an integral piece of the Miami infield this season, starting all 53 games at first base and accumulating 401 putouts with a .984 fielding percentage.
Berggren was named a First Team All-MAC selection at relief pitcher. This season, he pitched 42 innings in 23 appearances for Miami, securing three wins and seven saves as a closer. The senior from Olathe, Kan., has sent down 58 batters on strikes this year (12.4 Ks per nine innings) and leads the team in ERA (3.86) and opponent batting average (.248). Berggren received one MAC Pitcher of the week honor this spring after striking out three batters to close out a win against Michigan and had a perfect six strikeouts in two innings to put away a win over Central Michigan.
Burke was named to the All-MAC Second Team as a starting pitcher after posting nine wins heading into the MAC tournament, a number that puts him in the top 10 nationally. Burke's 9-1 record rests on 76.2 innings of work and just 36 earned runs allowed. The graduate student from Portland, Ore., also punched out 70 batters on strikes and held opponents to just 20 walks. This season, he had two complete games, one against Ball State and one against Akron, to improve his career total with Miami to three.
Cruz was named the MAC Freshman of the Year and also received a spot on the All-MAC First Team at second base and a spot on the All-MAC Defensive Team. The first-year from Carolina, Puerto Rico, is hitting .391 heading into the MAC tournament and ranks second among the nation's freshmen. In 50 starts, Cruz has had 72 hits, 57 runs, 47 RBIs and seven home runs. He has also been a speedster for Miami, hitting 18 doubles and two triples while stealing 22 bases, which ranks in the top 10 nationally among freshmen. Defensively, Cruz has made 96 putouts at second base and sports a fielding percentage of .972.
Dierks, an outfielder, was an at-large selection on the All-MAC First Team and was also named to the All-MAC Defensive Team. This season, Dierks stole 39 bases on 43 attempts and currently ranks eighth in the country in stolen bases. He tallied 11 doubles, three triples, 75 hits and 41 walks during 52 starts in the leadoff slot and ranks 11th in the nation and first in the MAC in runs scored (70). He also ranks fifth in the nation and second in the MAC in on-base percentage (.531). Defensively, the junior from Kansas City, Kan., limited himself to just one error all season, earning a fielding percentage of .993. and making 135 putouts.
Harrison earned MAC Player of the Year honors and was a First Team All-MAC selection in the outfield. The redshirt junior from Cleveland, Ohio had a monster season at the plate, heading into the postseason ranked top 10 in the country in batting average (.402), on-base percentage (.523) and RBIs (85), which broke Miami's all-time single-season record for RBIs. He also leads the MAC in home runs with 17, hits with 82 and total bases with 149. He was a three-time selection as MAC Player of the Week this season, including during the final week of regular-season play, where he hit four home runs, including a grand slam, and went 9-for-15 with 13 RBIs. Defensively, Harrison made 51 putouts in right field, posting a fielding percentage of .988.
Raether, a Second Team All-MAC selection at catcher, enters the postseason hitting .300 with 42 hits, 40 runs, 38 RBIs and eight home runs in 38 starts behind the dish. He has been an integral piece of the lineup card for Miami, ranking fourth on the team in OPS (1.028), fifth in slugging percentage (.557) and sixth in walks (29). His season was highlighted by a walk-off three-run home run that resulted in a Miami sweep over UMass. Defensively, the sophomore from Goodrich, Mich., finished the season with 258 putouts and a fielding percentage of .983. He also caught 16 batters stealing.
2026 MAC Baseball Postseason Awards & All-MAC Teams
Coach of the Year: Brian Smiley, Miami
Player of the Year: Tommy Harrison, Miami
Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Leininger, Toledo
Freshman of the Year: Diego Cruz, Miami
Freshman Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Frey, Toledo
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
First Team All-MAC
C: Brody Williams, Kent State
1B: Jacob Gillis, Ball State
2B: Diego Cruz, Miami
3B: Troy Sudbrook, Toledo
SS: Charlie Scholvin, Toledo
OF: Tommy Harrison, Miami
OF: Tanner Mally, Western Michigan
OF: Brody Chrisman, Akron
DH: Brayden Huebner, Ball State
Starting Pitcher: Nathan Leininger, Toledo
Starting Pitcher: Max Vaisvila, Northern Illinois
Starting Pitcher: Ethan Stade, Bowling Green
Starting Pitcher: Ricky Kidd, Western Michigan
Relief Pitcher: Austin Berggren, Miami
Relief Pitcher: Turner Doran, Western Michigan
At-Large: Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
At-Large: Marcus Dierks, Miami
Second Team All-MAC
C: Carson Raether, Miami
1B: Evan Appelwick, Miami
2B: Cole Smith, Northern Illinois
3B: Ripken Reese, Kent State
SS: Luke Matthews, Kent State
SS: Brett Griffiths, Ball State
OF: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
OF: Sawyer Solitaria, Kent State
OF: Liam Arsich, Toledo
DH: Caden Robertson, Northern Illinois
Starting Pitcher: Ciaran Caughey, Kent State
Starting Pitcher: Callen Powers, UMass
Starting Pitcher: Hayden Frey, Toledo
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Burke, Miami
Relief Pitcher: Evan Holewinski, Kent State
Relief Pitcher: Peyton Williams, Kent State
At-Large: Blake Bowen, Akron
All-MAC Defensive Team
C– Nick Weaver, Eastern Michigan
1B– Blake Bowen, Akron
2B– Diego Cruz, Miami
3B– Troy Sudbrook, Toledo
SS– Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
OF– Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
OF– Tanner Mally, Western Michigan
OF– Marcus Dierks, Miami
P– Danny Cihocki, Northern Illinois
Brian Smiley was named the 2026 MAC Coach of the Year, his second consecutive year receiving the honor. Smiley is the first coach in Miami history to win MAC Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons since Bud Middaugh received the award in 1973 and 1974. This season, Smiley led the RedHawks to 25 regular-season conference wins, breaking the program record 23 wins he set last season and bringing his number of career wins at Miami to 100. Smiley's squad also ended their regular season 2-0 against the Big Ten and 18-3 at home. They finished the regular season ranked in the top 40 in the RPI and ranked top five nationally in walks, on-base percentage, runs scored, runs per game and HBPs. Under Smiley's command, the RedHawks have won 20 out of their last 21 conference series, an accolade currently unmatched by any other team in the nation, and clinched their second consecutive MAC regular-season title (first time since 1973-74). The Red and White notched a 25-8 conference record to end the regular season, which earned them the number one seed in this week's MAC Tournament in Avon, Ohio.
Appelwick, a Second Team All-MAC selection at first base, is hitting .285 entering the MAC tournament and leads the RedHawks and the nation in walks with 60. He earned a regular-season on-base percentage of .461 and hit 13 round-trippers. Earlier this season, he broke the all-time Red-and-White career records in walks (178), home runs (51) and RBIs (193). He also holds the single-season records for home runs (21) and walks (60). Defensively, the redshirt senior from Madison, S.D. was an integral piece of the Miami infield this season, starting all 53 games at first base and accumulating 401 putouts with a .984 fielding percentage.
Berggren was named a First Team All-MAC selection at relief pitcher. This season, he pitched 42 innings in 23 appearances for Miami, securing three wins and seven saves as a closer. The senior from Olathe, Kan., has sent down 58 batters on strikes this year (12.4 Ks per nine innings) and leads the team in ERA (3.86) and opponent batting average (.248). Berggren received one MAC Pitcher of the week honor this spring after striking out three batters to close out a win against Michigan and had a perfect six strikeouts in two innings to put away a win over Central Michigan.
Burke was named to the All-MAC Second Team as a starting pitcher after posting nine wins heading into the MAC tournament, a number that puts him in the top 10 nationally. Burke's 9-1 record rests on 76.2 innings of work and just 36 earned runs allowed. The graduate student from Portland, Ore., also punched out 70 batters on strikes and held opponents to just 20 walks. This season, he had two complete games, one against Ball State and one against Akron, to improve his career total with Miami to three.
Cruz was named the MAC Freshman of the Year and also received a spot on the All-MAC First Team at second base and a spot on the All-MAC Defensive Team. The first-year from Carolina, Puerto Rico, is hitting .391 heading into the MAC tournament and ranks second among the nation's freshmen. In 50 starts, Cruz has had 72 hits, 57 runs, 47 RBIs and seven home runs. He has also been a speedster for Miami, hitting 18 doubles and two triples while stealing 22 bases, which ranks in the top 10 nationally among freshmen. Defensively, Cruz has made 96 putouts at second base and sports a fielding percentage of .972.
Dierks, an outfielder, was an at-large selection on the All-MAC First Team and was also named to the All-MAC Defensive Team. This season, Dierks stole 39 bases on 43 attempts and currently ranks eighth in the country in stolen bases. He tallied 11 doubles, three triples, 75 hits and 41 walks during 52 starts in the leadoff slot and ranks 11th in the nation and first in the MAC in runs scored (70). He also ranks fifth in the nation and second in the MAC in on-base percentage (.531). Defensively, the junior from Kansas City, Kan., limited himself to just one error all season, earning a fielding percentage of .993. and making 135 putouts.
Harrison earned MAC Player of the Year honors and was a First Team All-MAC selection in the outfield. The redshirt junior from Cleveland, Ohio had a monster season at the plate, heading into the postseason ranked top 10 in the country in batting average (.402), on-base percentage (.523) and RBIs (85), which broke Miami's all-time single-season record for RBIs. He also leads the MAC in home runs with 17, hits with 82 and total bases with 149. He was a three-time selection as MAC Player of the Week this season, including during the final week of regular-season play, where he hit four home runs, including a grand slam, and went 9-for-15 with 13 RBIs. Defensively, Harrison made 51 putouts in right field, posting a fielding percentage of .988.
Raether, a Second Team All-MAC selection at catcher, enters the postseason hitting .300 with 42 hits, 40 runs, 38 RBIs and eight home runs in 38 starts behind the dish. He has been an integral piece of the lineup card for Miami, ranking fourth on the team in OPS (1.028), fifth in slugging percentage (.557) and sixth in walks (29). His season was highlighted by a walk-off three-run home run that resulted in a Miami sweep over UMass. Defensively, the sophomore from Goodrich, Mich., finished the season with 258 putouts and a fielding percentage of .983. He also caught 16 batters stealing.
2026 MAC Baseball Postseason Awards & All-MAC Teams
Coach of the Year: Brian Smiley, Miami
Player of the Year: Tommy Harrison, Miami
Pitcher of the Year: Nathan Leininger, Toledo
Freshman of the Year: Diego Cruz, Miami
Freshman Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Frey, Toledo
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
First Team All-MAC
C: Brody Williams, Kent State
1B: Jacob Gillis, Ball State
2B: Diego Cruz, Miami
3B: Troy Sudbrook, Toledo
SS: Charlie Scholvin, Toledo
OF: Tommy Harrison, Miami
OF: Tanner Mally, Western Michigan
OF: Brody Chrisman, Akron
DH: Brayden Huebner, Ball State
Starting Pitcher: Nathan Leininger, Toledo
Starting Pitcher: Max Vaisvila, Northern Illinois
Starting Pitcher: Ethan Stade, Bowling Green
Starting Pitcher: Ricky Kidd, Western Michigan
Relief Pitcher: Austin Berggren, Miami
Relief Pitcher: Turner Doran, Western Michigan
At-Large: Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
At-Large: Marcus Dierks, Miami
Second Team All-MAC
C: Carson Raether, Miami
1B: Evan Appelwick, Miami
2B: Cole Smith, Northern Illinois
3B: Ripken Reese, Kent State
SS: Luke Matthews, Kent State
SS: Brett Griffiths, Ball State
OF: Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
OF: Sawyer Solitaria, Kent State
OF: Liam Arsich, Toledo
DH: Caden Robertson, Northern Illinois
Starting Pitcher: Ciaran Caughey, Kent State
Starting Pitcher: Callen Powers, UMass
Starting Pitcher: Hayden Frey, Toledo
Starting Pitcher: Clayton Burke, Miami
Relief Pitcher: Evan Holewinski, Kent State
Relief Pitcher: Peyton Williams, Kent State
At-Large: Blake Bowen, Akron
All-MAC Defensive Team
C– Nick Weaver, Eastern Michigan
1B– Blake Bowen, Akron
2B– Diego Cruz, Miami
3B– Troy Sudbrook, Toledo
SS– Michael Maloney, Western Michigan
OF– Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe, Kent State
OF– Tanner Mally, Western Michigan
OF– Marcus Dierks, Miami
P– Danny Cihocki, Northern Illinois
Players Mentioned
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