TUCSON, Ariz. - Following the conclusion of the 2026 regular season, three Arizona baseball players earned All-Big 12 recognition, as Tony Lira (All-Freshman Team/Honorable Mention), Garrett Hicks (Honorable Mention), and Nate Novitske (All-Freshman Team) each collected conference honors.
Lira had an outstanding freshman campaign for the Wildcats and was one of two unanimous selections to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team, while also earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. He started all 53 games for Arizona and concluded the season leading the Wildcats in a multitude of offensive categories, including batting average (.343), hits (74), OPS (.929), slugging percentage (.509), on-base percentage (.420), doubles (19), and extra-base hits (25), while ranking second in runs scored (31) and fourth in RBI (25).
Lira recorded a hit in 41 of 53 games and led the team with 24 multi-hit performances, including seven contests with three or more hits. He was also a cornerstone for Arizona defensively, recording 406 putouts at first base with 31 assists while committing just three errors for a .993 fielding percentage.
Hicks garnered All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition after producing his best collegiate season yet out of the bullpen for Arizona. Overall, the senior appeared in 21 games and posted a 3.94 ERA across 29.2 innings of work. Hicks compiled a 3-2 record on the mound while tallying six saves. He also recorded 28 strikeouts against 15 walks and limited opposing hitters to a .259 batting average. Hicks produced 15 scoreless outings throughout the season.
Hicks improved his numbers in conference play, as he appeared in 12 contests and posted a team-high 2.37 ERA across 19.0 innings against Big 12 competition. Additionally, he limited opposing hitters to a .183 average and recorded 16 strikeouts. Four of his six saves throughout the season came in conference play.
Novitske earned All-Big 12 Freshman Team recognition after a superb debut campaign for Arizona. He appeared in 50 games, making 49 starts, and ranked second on the team in hits (66) and doubles (11), while finishing third in batting average (.303), RBI (27), and runs scored (28). He also ranked fourth on the team in OPS (.771) and on-base percentage (.349).
Novitske recorded a hit in 37 of 50 games and finished second on the team with 19 multi-hit performances, including nine games with three or more hits. Earlier this season, he was named MVP of the Live Like Lou Las Vegas College Baseball Classic after tallying three hits in all three games during the event, going a combined 9-for-14 with four RBI and helping lead Arizona to a 2-1 record with wins over Vanderbilt and UC Irvine.
With the conclusion of the 2026 season, the Wildcats will now turn their attention toward the 2027 campaign as Arizona aims to return to the NCAA Tournament.
