NJCAA Release (6/22/26)

CHARLOTTE, NC – After having one of the most decorated seasons in NJCAA Baseball history, Johnson County Community College freshman outfielder Ryan Bradford has been named the 2026 NJCAA Division I Baseball Player of the Year. 

Bradford hit an NJCAA record of 42 home runs in one season, batted .437 (114-for-261) with 24 doubles, six triples, 72 extra bases, 36 walks, 128 runs scored, and 113 driven in. He is one of only five players in college baseball history to hit 40-plus home runs. 

"Ryan Bradford was the guy who got one of the best offenses in baseball history going!  He was a one-of-a-kind lead-off guy who hit 42 home runs and still got on base at a .522 clip.  Great players have big moments, and his walk-off grand slam in regionals was one of the biggest," Johnson County head baseball coach Eric Horner said.

Bradford helped the Cavaliers to a perfect 32-0 conference championship season, a program-record 41-game winning streak, an NJCAA Region 6/Plains District title and the first JUCO World Series National Championship in program history, finishing with a remarkable 67-3 overall record. 

Bradford led the NJCAA in home runs, runs scored and extra base hits, as well as second in slugging percentage and RBI and third in hits. He set team records for longest hitting streak at 31 games, most consecutive games with an RBI at 28 games, runs scored, and most multiple-home-run games with nine. 

The Cavaliers made their fifth appearance and were the number one overall seed in the ten-team World Series field. JCCC cruised by number 10 seed Harford in the first round before going on to rattle off wins over Walters State and Miami Dade College to reach the semifinals. After besting Midland College to reach the championship game, Johnson County defeated Blinn 8-5 to win the National Title. Ryan opened the JUCO World Series with a double, home run, walk, three runs scored and two RBI in a 19-2 rout over Harford … Had a triple and scored to help the Cavaliers to an 8-5 win over Miami-Dade. He hit .235 in the World Series (4-for-17) with a double, a triple, a home run, five walks, one hit-by-pitch, seven runs scored and two driven in. 

Horner notes, "Player of the year is earned through relentless work, consistency, and leadership.  Ryan not only had all those characteristics but had a historic season, and he helped lead JCCC to a national championship, making player of the year a fitting finish to an incredible journey.  He will not only go down as one of the best players in JUCO history but also one of the best individuals!"

Bradford has committed to continuing his baseball career at Texas Christian University. 

2025-26 NJCAA Accomplishments

• 2026 NJCAA DI Baseball First-Team All-America
• East Jayhawk Conference Freshman of the Year
• Ranked No. 407 on Perfect Game USA's Top 500 Prospect List
• NJCAA National Player of the Week (2)
• JCCC Student Athlete Academic Award Recipient
• All-NJCAA Region 6/All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference East Division First Team