Three Terps Featured On D1 Baseball’s Top 50 Positional Rankings
5/11/2026 1:15:00 PM | Baseball
COLLEGE PARK, MD – Following the conclusion of Week 12, D1Baseball recognized three Maryland Terrapins among the nation's top positional players. Brayden Martin checked in at No. 18 among third basemen, David Mendez earned the No. 42 spot at second base, and fellow middle infielder Ty Kaunas cracked the top 50 at No. 47 among shortstops.
Martin has put together a career year in College Park. With two walks over the weekend, he tied Luke Shliger for the Maryland program record with 138 career walks. Martin currently leads the Big Ten with 49 walks and ranks fourth in the conference with a .472 on-base percentage. The veteran utility man also authored one of the most remarkable streaks in program history, reaching base safely in 76 consecutive games from March 28, 2025 to May 1, 2026. He opened the 2026 season by setting a new Maryland record with a 46-game on-base streak. Martin has also been a major weapon on the basepaths, ranking second in the Big Ten with 19 stolen bases while sitting inside the conference's top five in runs scored with 55.
Mendez has emerged as one of Maryland's most dangerous all-around players this season. The infielder has totaled 22 extra-base hits, including nine home runs, and leads the team with 102 total bases. In Big Ten play, Mendez owns a team-best .350 batting average. He has been equally impactful defensively, recording 125 assists while leading the Terps with 26 double plays turned. Against Wagner on February 28, Mendez was part of four double plays, the most by a Maryland player in a single game this season.
Freshman shortstop Ty Kaunas has made an immediate impact in his debut campaign and is one of just two Terps to start every game this season. Kaunas leads all Big Ten freshmen with 16 doubles and has consistently provided production at the plate and stability in the field. He delivered a breakout performance against Indiana on April 11, going 4/4 with two extra-base hits. The four-hit effort marked the most hits by a Maryland freshman in a game since 2024. Kaunas enters the week with 61 hits, tied with Mendez for the second-most on the team. Defensively, he has been a standout at shortstop, leading the team with 126 assists while helping turn 21 double plays.
Fans will have one final opportunity in 2026 to watch the standout trio at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium this week as Maryland closes out the regular season. The Terps host Georgetown on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before welcoming Penn State for a season-ending series beginning Thursday.
Martin has put together a career year in College Park. With two walks over the weekend, he tied Luke Shliger for the Maryland program record with 138 career walks. Martin currently leads the Big Ten with 49 walks and ranks fourth in the conference with a .472 on-base percentage. The veteran utility man also authored one of the most remarkable streaks in program history, reaching base safely in 76 consecutive games from March 28, 2025 to May 1, 2026. He opened the 2026 season by setting a new Maryland record with a 46-game on-base streak. Martin has also been a major weapon on the basepaths, ranking second in the Big Ten with 19 stolen bases while sitting inside the conference's top five in runs scored with 55.
Mendez has emerged as one of Maryland's most dangerous all-around players this season. The infielder has totaled 22 extra-base hits, including nine home runs, and leads the team with 102 total bases. In Big Ten play, Mendez owns a team-best .350 batting average. He has been equally impactful defensively, recording 125 assists while leading the Terps with 26 double plays turned. Against Wagner on February 28, Mendez was part of four double plays, the most by a Maryland player in a single game this season.
Freshman shortstop Ty Kaunas has made an immediate impact in his debut campaign and is one of just two Terps to start every game this season. Kaunas leads all Big Ten freshmen with 16 doubles and has consistently provided production at the plate and stability in the field. He delivered a breakout performance against Indiana on April 11, going 4/4 with two extra-base hits. The four-hit effort marked the most hits by a Maryland freshman in a game since 2024. Kaunas enters the week with 61 hits, tied with Mendez for the second-most on the team. Defensively, he has been a standout at shortstop, leading the team with 126 assists while helping turn 21 double plays.
Fans will have one final opportunity in 2026 to watch the standout trio at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium this week as Maryland closes out the regular season. The Terps host Georgetown on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before welcoming Penn State for a season-ending series beginning Thursday.
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