The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
John Paul Head Named to ABCA Southeast All-Region First Team
6/9/2026 11:41:00 AM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM – The 2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-Region Teams have been announced across all eight regions. John Paul Head of UAB has been named to the ABCA Southeast All-Region First Team. Head is the first ABCA/Rawlings 1st Team selection in program history and the first 1st/2nd/3rd Team honoree since Ryan Keedy was named to the All-South Region 2nd Team in 2008.
The teams are selected by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association, with the process overseen by the ABCA NCAA Div. I All-America & Coach of the Year Committee. The national committee is chaired by Wichita State head coach Brian Green, and the Southeast Region is headed by Auburn head coach Butch Thompson. First Team All-Region selections are eligible for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. The 2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I All-America teams will be announced on Friday, June 12, prior to the start of the NCAA Division I College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Head had a historic season in 2026 as he led the Blazers in batting average (.329), on-base percentage (.457), slugging percentage (.710), total bases (147), runs batted in (56), runs scored (55), and home runs (22). He also led The American in OPS (1.167) and home runs (22), was second in total bases (147) and runs batted in (56), and fifth in walks (43).
His 22 home runs rank second in program history, one shy of Shayne Carnes' school-record 23 home runs in 1998. The sophomore outfielder from Vestavia Hills, Ala., became the first player in program history with 20+ home runs and 10+ stolen bases in a single season. He also became the fourth player overall in American Conference history to hit 20 home runs in a season.
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NCAA Div. I Southeast All-Region First Team |
||||
|
Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
|
C |
Daniel Jackson |
Jr. |
Georgia |
GA |
|
C |
Vahn Lackey |
Jr. |
Georgia Tech |
GA |
|
1B |
Tristan Curless |
Sr. |
East Tennessee State |
TN |
|
1B |
Alex Sosa |
Jr. |
Miami |
FL |
|
2B |
Jarren Advincula |
Jr. |
Georgia Tech |
GA |
|
3B |
Tre Phelps |
Jr. |
Georgia |
GA |
|
3B |
Ryan Zuckerman |
Jr. |
Georgia Tech |
GA |
|
SS |
Kolby Branch |
Sr. |
Georgia |
GA |
|
SS |
Carson Kerce |
Jr. |
Georgia Tech |
GA |
|
SS |
Brendan Lawson |
So. |
Florida |
FL |
|
OF |
Drew Burress |
Jr. |
Georgia Tech |
GA |
|
OF |
Chris Katz |
Sr. |
Mercer |
GA |
|
OF |
So. |
UAB |
AL |
|
|
OF |
Eli Stephens |
So. |
Mercer |
GA |
|
DH |
Braydon Kersey |
So. |
Mercer |
GA |
|
P |
Steven Cash |
Sr. |
Jacksonville State |
AL |
|
P |
Evan Dempsey |
Jr. |
Florida Gulf Coast |
FL |
|
P |
Aidan King |
So. |
Florida |
FL |
|
P |
Jake Marciano |
So. |
Auburn |
AL |
|
P |
Wes Mendes |
Jr. |
Florida State |
FL |
|
RP |
John Abraham |
Jr. |
Florida State |
FL |
|
RP |
Skyler Hutto |
Jr. |
Jacksonville State |
AL |
BLAZERS HONORED BY ABCA/RAWLINGS
John Paul Head (2026, OF) - Southeast All-Region First Team
Jess Davis (2021, OF) - Gold Glove Team
Ryan Keedy (2008, 1B) - South All-Region Second Team
Shayne Carnes (1998, OF) - All-American Third Team
Jay Cole (1993, P) - All-American Third Team
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