LYNCHBURG, Va. – The 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Freshman All-American Teams were announced on Monday and ODU’s Ben Tanton was named to the Second Team.
A right-handed pitcher from Vestal, New York, Tanton earned All-Sun Belt Freshman Team honors and led the Monarchs with a 7-0 record. His other season totals included one save, two shutouts, and a 2.19 ERA through one start and 17 appearances. He allowed nine runs on 21 hits and 13 walks while recording 41 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched. He also posted a 0.92 WHIP, allowed six extra-base hits, five of them doubles, and held opposing hitters to a .162 average.
Tanton finished the regular season tied for the conference lead with six wins. In league play, he made one start and 10 appearances and went 6-0 with a 1.08 ERA, two shutouts, one save, and a 0.92 WHIP. He conceded five runs, three earned, on 12 hits and 11 walks. He struck out 31 in 25 innings tossed with opponents hitting just .141 against him.
His best performance came on May 9 at then-No. 8 Coastal Carolina, when he held the Chanticleers to one hit and one walk in five innings out of the bullpen. He struck out seven, a new career best for the freshman, as the Monarchs defeated CCU, 6-3.
Tanton is ODU’s first Freshman All-American since Perfect Game named Ben Moore to its second team in 2023. He is also the fourth Monarch to be named an NCBWA Freshman All-American, joining Andy Garriola (2019), Carter Trice (2021), and Blake Morgan (2022).
To see the complete list of Freshman All-Americans, read the NCBWA release here.