IRVING, Texas – Baylor baseball’s first baseman Tyce Armstrong was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, while stud shortstop Travis Sanders and closer Caleb Bunch earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors. Outfielder Brady Janusek was named to the All-Freshman Team while right-handed pitcher Lucas Davenport picked up honorable mention recognition as the 2026 Big 12 Awards were announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
Armstrong had one of the best slugging seasons in program history as he shattered Baylor’s single-season home run record with 24 long balls, while leading the Bears in RBIs (64), runs scored (47), total bases (157) and OPS (1.218) — an astounding OPS of 1.218 led all Big 12 infielders. The UTA transfer played in all 54 games this spring and, in his first contest in the Green and Gold, tied an NCAA record by hammering three grand slams in a game against New Mexico State.
Sanders, meanwhile, was one of the best shortstops and leadoff hitters in the conference, as he led the Bears in batting average (.376), stolen bases (24) — the most by any Baylor player since Brooks Pinckard swiped 36 in 2011 — and on-base percentage (.464); he scored 46 runs and totaled 80 base knocks — the most by a BU hitter since 2021 — 14 of which were doubles, to go along with nine home runs. The Copperas Cove native led the squad in multi-hit contests (24) and reached base in 50 of the 52 games he played in this season. Sanders finished the regular season with just six errors and a stellar .972 fielding percentage.
Right-handed pitcher Caleb Bunch (5Sr.) was Baylor’s best reliever this season and finished the year with a 3.26 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 38.2 frames; he recorded a team-high five wins and seven saves. He totaled 48 punchouts, and opponents had a .238 batting average against. Bunch logged 14 scoreless outings in 2026, including a nine-game stretch from March 15 to April 17, and racked up multiple strikeouts in 11 appearances this season.
As for Janusek, the stud rookie broke Max Muncy’s program record for home runs from a freshman with 13. He also totaled 48 RBIs and was third on the team in runs scored (45), total bases (121) and OPS (.919).
In 12 starts as Baylor’s Friday-night ace, Davenport collected five wins and helped the Bears post a 9-5 record in series openers while finishing the regular season with a 5.61 ERA and a stellar 68-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 61 innings pitched. His season was highlighted by a complete-game performance against Texas Tech on May 2. Davenport recorded at least five strikeouts in nine of his 12 outings and reached double-digit punchouts twice, including a career-best 12-strikeout performance against BYU on April 2.
2025 ALL-BIG 12 AWARDS
First Team
- INF: Tyce Armstrong (Big 12 Newcomer of the Year)
Second Team
- INF: Travis Sanders
- RHP: Caleb Bunch
Honorable Mention
- RHP: Lucas Davenport
All-Freshman Team
- OF: Brady Janusek
