Photo by: Will Porada/MSU Athletics
Reese, Sullivan Receive First Team All-SEC Honors
February 05, 2026 | Baseball
STARKVILLE – Two returning members of Mississippi State's roster received All-SEC respect from the league's coaches on Thursday.
Third baseman Ace Reese and designated hitter/utility player Noah Sullivan were each selected as first team members entering the 2026 campaign. The Diamond Dawgs were also picked to finish third while receiving four first place votes, the second-most of any program.
Reese earned first team All-SEC honors last spring in addition to being named the SEC Newcomer of the Year. He started 57 games at the hot corner and led the team with a .352 batting average, 80 hits, 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 66 RBIs, 163 total bases and a .718 slugging percentage while ranking in the top seven in the conference in each of those categories.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Canton, Texas also produced 25 multi-hit games, 20 multi-RBI games and five multi-homer games as a sophomore last season. He has also been named a preseason first team All-American by Baseball America and Perfect Game and garnered second team honors from D1Baseball.
Sullivan was the lone Bulldog to start all 59 games last year as a pitcher and designated hitter. The graduate from Orlando, Florida finished second on the team hitting .345 with 70 hits, 16 doubles, 15 homers and 46 RBIs. He also ranked third in the SEC with a .475 on-base percentage and reached base in 33 consecutive games during one stretch of the season.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound right-hander also drew seven midweek starts on the mound where he posted a 1.96 earned run average with 15 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings but did not factor into a decision.
In 2025, Sullivan was selected as a first team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and a third team selection by Baseball America. He was also the first player in program history to be deemed the Division I Baseball Academic All-American of the Year by College Sports Communicators.
Reese, Sullivan and the rest of the Diamond Dawgs will open the season at home with a three-game series against Hofstra from Feb. 13-15.
2026 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. LSU (9) – 231
2. Texas (1) – 214
3. Mississippi State (4) – 205
4. Arkansas (2) – 203
5. Auburn – 175
6. Tennessee – 162
7. Florida – 156
8. Vanderbilt – 151
9. Georgia – 133
10. Ole Miss - 110
11. Kentucky – 99
12. Alabama – 87
13. Texas A&M – 86
14. Oklahoma - 84
15. South Carolina – 49
16. Missouri – 31
() – First place votes
2026 Coaches Preseason All-SEC Baseball Team
First Team
C: Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
1B: Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
2B: Chris Rembert, Auburn
2B: Camden Kozeal, Arkansas
3B: Ace Reese, Mississippi State
SS: Justin Lebron, Alabama
SS: Tyler Bell, Kentucky
OF: Derek Curiel, LSU
OF: Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M
OF: Henry Ford, Tennessee
DH/Util.: Noah Sullivan, Mississippi State
SP: Hunter Elliott, Ole Miss
SP: Casan Evans, LSU
SP: Liam Peterson, Florida
SP: Dylan Volantis, Texas
RP: Zac Cowan, LSU
RP: Brandon Arvidson, Tennessee
RP: Luke McNeillie, Florida
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Second Team
C: Chase Fralick, Auburn
C: Carson Tinney, Texas
1B: Levi Clark, Tennessee
1B: Will Furniss, Ole Miss
2B: Ethan Mendoza, Texas
3B: Brendan Lawson, Florida
SS: Steven Milam, LSU
OF: Kuhio Aloy, Arkansas
OF: Bub Terrell, Auburn
OF: Jake Brown, LSU
DH/Util: Braden Holcomb, Vanderbilt
SP: Gabe Gaeckle, Arkansas
SP: Connor Fennell, Vanderbilt
SP: Ben Cleaver, Kentucky
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
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Third baseman Ace Reese and designated hitter/utility player Noah Sullivan were each selected as first team members entering the 2026 campaign. The Diamond Dawgs were also picked to finish third while receiving four first place votes, the second-most of any program.
Reese earned first team All-SEC honors last spring in addition to being named the SEC Newcomer of the Year. He started 57 games at the hot corner and led the team with a .352 batting average, 80 hits, 18 doubles, 21 home runs, 66 RBIs, 163 total bases and a .718 slugging percentage while ranking in the top seven in the conference in each of those categories.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Canton, Texas also produced 25 multi-hit games, 20 multi-RBI games and five multi-homer games as a sophomore last season. He has also been named a preseason first team All-American by Baseball America and Perfect Game and garnered second team honors from D1Baseball.
Sullivan was the lone Bulldog to start all 59 games last year as a pitcher and designated hitter. The graduate from Orlando, Florida finished second on the team hitting .345 with 70 hits, 16 doubles, 15 homers and 46 RBIs. He also ranked third in the SEC with a .475 on-base percentage and reached base in 33 consecutive games during one stretch of the season.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound right-hander also drew seven midweek starts on the mound where he posted a 1.96 earned run average with 15 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings but did not factor into a decision.
In 2025, Sullivan was selected as a first team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and a third team selection by Baseball America. He was also the first player in program history to be deemed the Division I Baseball Academic All-American of the Year by College Sports Communicators.
Reese, Sullivan and the rest of the Diamond Dawgs will open the season at home with a three-game series against Hofstra from Feb. 13-15.
2026 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. LSU (9) – 231
2. Texas (1) – 214
3. Mississippi State (4) – 205
4. Arkansas (2) – 203
5. Auburn – 175
6. Tennessee – 162
7. Florida – 156
8. Vanderbilt – 151
9. Georgia – 133
10. Ole Miss - 110
11. Kentucky – 99
12. Alabama – 87
13. Texas A&M – 86
14. Oklahoma - 84
15. South Carolina – 49
16. Missouri – 31
() – First place votes
2026 Coaches Preseason All-SEC Baseball Team
First Team
C: Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas
1B: Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M
2B: Chris Rembert, Auburn
2B: Camden Kozeal, Arkansas
3B: Ace Reese, Mississippi State
SS: Justin Lebron, Alabama
SS: Tyler Bell, Kentucky
OF: Derek Curiel, LSU
OF: Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M
OF: Henry Ford, Tennessee
DH/Util.: Noah Sullivan, Mississippi State
SP: Hunter Elliott, Ole Miss
SP: Casan Evans, LSU
SP: Liam Peterson, Florida
SP: Dylan Volantis, Texas
RP: Zac Cowan, LSU
RP: Brandon Arvidson, Tennessee
RP: Luke McNeillie, Florida
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Second Team
C: Chase Fralick, Auburn
C: Carson Tinney, Texas
1B: Levi Clark, Tennessee
1B: Will Furniss, Ole Miss
2B: Ethan Mendoza, Texas
3B: Brendan Lawson, Florida
SS: Steven Milam, LSU
OF: Kuhio Aloy, Arkansas
OF: Bub Terrell, Auburn
OF: Jake Brown, LSU
DH/Util: Braden Holcomb, Vanderbilt
SP: Gabe Gaeckle, Arkansas
SP: Connor Fennell, Vanderbilt
SP: Ben Cleaver, Kentucky
Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the baseball program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateBB' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
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