Area Code Baseball Newsletter: May 2026
Conference tournaments are underway, high school playoff baseball has arrived, and the Road to the Codes continues. In this edition, we spotlight tryouts, alumni standouts, and the 2026 ID Series.
Alumni Spotlight: HS & NCAA
Golden Spikes Award Semifinalists
Multiple Area Code alumni remain firmly in the national spotlight as Golden Spikes Award candidates heading into postseason play, continuing a long-standing trend of Area Code alumni performing at the highest level of amateur baseball.
The award, presented annually by USA Baseball, is given each year to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability, exemplary sportsmanship, character, and an overall positive contribution to the sport. The honor has historically featured some of the biggest names to ever come through the Area Code Games.
This year’s semifinalists include:
Jarren Advincula | Georgia Tech
Advincula has developed into one of the most complete offensive players in college baseball during the 2026 season. The Georgia Tech infielder is hitting .441 with 100 hits, 65 runs scored, and a 1.141 OPS through 54 games, continuing to establish himself as one of the premier hitters in the country. Known for his advanced bat-to-ball skills and consistent offensive production, Advincula has been a major catalyst at the top of Georgia Tech’s lineup throughout the spring.
Lorenzo Carrier | University of Pittsburgh
Lorenzo Carrier is wrapping up a breakout season as one of the most dangerous hitters in college baseball during the 2026 season. The University of Pittsburgh outfielder is hitting .396 with 20 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a 1.361 OPS through 53 games, ranking among the ACC’s top offensive performers while helping power one of the most productive seasons in program history.
The Bear, Delaware native gained national attention following a dominant stretch in March and has continued to establish himself as a major force in the middle of Pittsburgh’s lineup. Off the field, Carrier has also earned recognition for his academic success and leadership within the community throughout his collegiate career.
Roch Cholowsky | UCLA
Roch Cholowsky has remains as one of the premier shortstops in college baseball during the 2026 season. The UCLA standout is hitting .330 with 21 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a 1.149 OPS through 54 games while once again serving as a centerpiece of the Bruins lineup.
The back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Year and Brooks Wallace Award winner has paired elite offensive production with high-level defense at shortstop, helping lead UCLA throughout another strong spring campaign.
Tague Davis | University of Louisville
Few hitters in the country have impacted games the way Tague Davis has during his 2026 season. The University of Louisville sophomore is hitting .358 with a national-best 34 home runs, 96 RBIs, and a 1.311 OPS through 56 games, establishing himself as one of the premier power bats in the country.
Davis earned ACC Player of the Year honors after setting both Louisville’s single-season home run record and the ACC single-season home run mark. His ability to consistently impact games in the middle of the lineup has fueled Louisville’s offense throughout the spring, highlighted by multiple multi-homer performances during conference play.
Jason DeCaro | University of North Carolina
Jason DeCaro has solidified himself as one of the ACC’s most dependable frontline starters during the 2026 season. The University of North Carolina right-hander holds a 10-2 record with a 2.03 ERA and 69 strikeouts across 71 innings, helping anchor one of the top pitching staffs in the country.
DeCaro first broke onto the national stage as a teenager in North Carolina’s weekend rotation and has steadily developed into one of the ACC’s premier arms. The two-time All-ACC selection recently surpassed 200 career strikeouts and continues to set the tone each weekend with his poise, command, and ability to work deep into games.
Grady Emerson | Fort Worth Christian
Grady Emerson continues to reinforce why he is regarded as one of the top players in this year’s draft class. The Fort Worth Christian shortstop is hitting .532 with 42 hits, 42 RBIs, and a 1.661 OPS through 28 games while impacting every facet of the game offensively and defensively.
The consensus top-ranked player in the 2026 HS class has paired elite offensive production with standout defense at shortstop and continued leadership on and off the field. A multi-time USA Baseball national team selection and gold medalist, Emerson has remained one of the most complete and nationally recognized players in amateur baseball throughout the spring. Emerson is only the second high school player in the 48-year history of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award to be named a semifinalist, with the first being Bobby Witt Jr., in 2019.
Jackson Flora | UC Santa Barbara
No pitcher in college baseball has matched the consistency and dominance Jackson Flora has shown throughout the 2026 season. The UC Santa Barbara right-hander holds a perfect 10-0 record with a nation-leading 1.03 ERA, 115 strikeouts, and a 0.893 WHIP across 87.1 innings while overpowering hitters with a deep arsenal and upper-90s velocity.
Armed with an upper-90s fastball and a deep secondary mix, Flora has consistently overpowered hitters throughout the spring, highlighted by an extended scoreless innings streak and a complete-game shutout against rival Cal Poly. His combination of swing-and-miss stuff, command, and consistency has made him one of the premier frontline starters in the nation.
Gavin Grahovac | Texas A&M University
Serving as the centerpiece of Texas A&M’s offense, Gavin Grahovac has once again established himself among the SEC’s top bats during the 2026 season. The junior infielder is hitting .351 with 19 home runs, 71 RBIs, and a 1.161 OPS through 52 games while leading the Aggies in several major offensive categories.
After transitioning from third base to first base, Grahovac has remained a steady presence on both sides of the ball while emerging as one of the conference’s most productive power bats. His impact has extended beyond the field as well, earning recognition for both his leadership within the program and his success in the classroom throughout the spring.
Landon Hairston | Arizona State University
Landon Hairston has put together one of the most explosive offensive seasons in the country during the 2026 campaign. The Arizona State University outfielder is hitting .421 with 27 home runs, 77 RBIs, and a 1.438 OPS through 54 games while emerging as one of the nation’s most dangerous leadoff hitters.
Hairston’s combination of power, consistency, and run production has placed him among the nation’s offensive leaders throughout the spring, helping fuel one of the top lineups in the Big 12. His breakout year also earned him Big 12 Player of the Year honors and further cemented his place among the premier bats in Division I baseball.
Ryder Helfrick | University of Arkansas
Ryder Helfrick continues to prove why he is considered one of the most complete catchers in college baseball. The University of Arkansas backstop is hitting .292 with 15 home runs, 48 RBIs, and a 1.004 OPS through 54 games while providing elite defensive value and leadership behind the plate.
Known for his impact behind the plate as much as his offensive production, Helfrick has earned national recognition for his defensive abilities, game management, and leadership throughout the spring. The former USA Baseball Collegiate National Team member has continued to solidify himself as one of the most complete catchers in the country.
Cade Townsend | University of Mississippi
Cade Townsend has quickly become one of the SEC’s most intriguing young arms during the 2026 season. The University of Mississippi right-hander owns a 5-3 record with a 3.81 ERA and 81 strikeouts across 59 innings while emerging as a major swing-and-miss presence in the Rebels’ weekend rotation.
Townsend’s ability to generate swings and misses has made him one of the conference’s most effective strikeout pitchers throughout the spring, highlighted by a dominant stretch in April that included multiple quality starts and an SEC Pitcher of the Week performance against Tennessee.
Past Area Code Alumni Who Have Won the Award
2019 — Adley Rutschman, Oregon State University
2013 — Kris Bryant, University of San Diego
2010 — Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada
2004 — Jered Weaver, Long Beach State University
2001 — Mark Prior, University of Southern California
1998 — Pat Burrell, University of Miami
1992 — Phil Nevin, Cal State Fullerton
What’s Next: Area Code Games Tryouts
Each summer, the road to the Area Code Games begins with the Area Code Tryouts, invite-only regional workouts hosted by MLB organizations across the country in June and early July. Seven MLB clubs each operate their own regional team, using the tryout process to identify and build their roster for the Area Code Games in Long Beach every August.
For many players, the process starts long before the summer. It starts with getting seen. Area Code scouts and MLB organizations evaluate players throughout the year, with the Area Code ID Series serving as one of the primary entry points into that pipeline.
At each tryout, players participate in a pro-style workout in front of MLB scouts and college coaches, including the 60-yard dash, defensive evaluations, batting practice, and bullpen sessions. Every tool is evaluated. Every rep matters. At the conclusion of the process, MLB scouts finalize the roster that will represent their region at the Area Code Games.
The Area Code Tryouts are free for all invited athletes to attend. The 2026 Tryout Schedule can be found below.
What’s Next: Area Code ID Series
For many players, the road to an Area Code Tryout invitation starts at the ID Series. Before the roster spot. Before the Area Code Games. There is often a moment where a player was seen for the first time at an Area Code event.
The Area Code ID Series is a pro-style workout built for high school players across the country. Athletes go through athletic testing, defensive evaluations, batting practice, and bullpen sessions, with data captured through Trackman and VALD technology. Players leave with verified metrics, direct feedback, and a better understanding of where they stand among their peers.
Most importantly, they get in front of the evaluators who matter. Area Code staff and scouts are present at every event, identifying players for future opportunities within the Area Code pipeline. Over 300 players across the country have earned Area Code Tryout invitations after attending an ID Series event. For players in the 2027-2030 graduating classes, this is where the process begins.
The 2026 Area Code ID Series schedule features events all across the country, with limited spots available in each market.
If you are ready to compete, get evaluated, and enter the Area Code pipeline, find the event nearest you and register today.
Watch the video below to learn more about the Area Code ID Series and what the experience is all about.
Eligible players: 2027-2030 high school graduates
When: Fall 2026 and Winter 2027
Where: The ID Series has grown to 24 events nationwide
Thank you
As the summer approaches, the next chapter of the Area Code cycle is just beginning. Tryouts are around the corner, the Area Code Games return to Long Beach in August, and the ID Series continues this fall and winter as the next wave of players enters the pipeline.
Thank you for reading and supporting Area Code Baseball. Subscribe for more player spotlights, event coverage, and updates from across the amateur baseball landscape.