SPOKANE, Wash.- Gonzaga Baseball has four players selected to the preseason All-WCC team, setting the stage for a big final season in the WCC for the Zags.

Mikey Bell, Hudson Shupe, Erik Hoffberg and Finbar O'Brien were all recognized as the top players in the conference in preseason. Bell, Hoffberg and O'Brien were WCC First Team All-Conference last season, and Shupe returns after being named to the Second Team All-Conference. Gonzaga has more returning First Team All-WCC players than every other WCC team combined.

Bell was named to the preseason team after winning the WCC Player of the Year last in 2025. He had a .436 batting average and 1.291 OPS in WCC play last season. Bell led the conference in RBIs (32) and hits (41) in the 24 game WCC season. He ended the season on a 21 game hitting streak and led the team with 125 total bases and 11 home runs.

Hudson Shupe returns as the second leading hitter for the Zags. Shupe had the second highest season long batting average (.299) and slugging percentage (.417) on the team last year. He had three separate hitting streaks of over ten games. 

Hoffberg had the second lowest ERA in the WCC last season, throwing a 4.00 for the 2025 season, with a 2.73 ERA in conference play. He led the league in saves, locking down 7 games for the Zags.

O'Brien returns as the wins leader for GU last season, finishing with a 6-1 record in the previous season. He had 83 total strikeouts on the season, third in the conference. In WCC play he averaged 11 strikeouts per 9 innings and led the league in strikeouts looking with 21.

The Zags were picked to finish second in the preseason poll, securing four first place votes. San Diego topped the coaches poll with five first place votes. National media has also been very positive on the chances for the Zags to secure a championship in their last season in the WCC, as D1Baseball picked Gonzaga as the preseason conference favorites.

2026 WCC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll

1. San Diego - 77 points (5)

2. Gonzaga - 73 points (4)

3. Saint Mary's – 67 points (1) 

4. Portland – 55 points

5. LMU – 52 points

6. Santa Clara – 38 points

7. San Francisco – 29 points

8. Pacific – 24 points

9. Pepperdine – 23 points

10. Seattle U - 12 points