MIAMI – FIU baseball's Cole Cleveland and Andrew Ildefonso were named to the Conference USA (CUSA) Preseason All-Conference Team, as announced by the league office Thursday afternoon.
 
Both Cleveland and Ildefonso are coming off standout freshman campaigns in 2025, earning CUSA All-Freshman Team honors while helping FIU tally 31 wins — the program's highest total since 2017.
 
Cleveland appeared in 46 games and made 37 starts as a true freshman, batting .291 with 41 hits. The Delray Beach, Florida native drove in 32 runs, hit five home runs and led the team with 13 stolen bases. He also recorded nine doubles, ranking fourth on the team, and posted nine multi-hit performances during the season.
 
Ildefonso emerged as a key offensive contributor in his designated hitter role, appearing in 50 games with 42 starts. The Miami native hit .304 with 11 doubles, six home runs and 37 RBI. He registered 13 multi-hit games and produced two four-RBI performances — April 13 vs. New Mexico State and April 22 at FGCU.
 
Conference USA also released its preseason poll Thursday, with FIU projected to finish eighth among 12 programs. Newcomers Missouri State and Delaware were picked sixth and 11th, respectively. Dallas Baptist was selected as the preseason favorite, earning nine first-place votes.
 
It marks the most selections to a Preseason All-CUSA team for FIU since 2019 when Logan Allen and Austin Shenton were tabbed
 
FIU opens the season on Friday, Feb. 13 vs Villanova at FIU Baseball Stadium with first pitch set for 6 p.m.

2026 CUSA Baseball Preseason Poll (first-place votes)

1. DBU (9)                             141 points
2. LA Tech (1)                       111 points
3. Kennesaw State             108 points
4. Jax State (1)                     102 points
5. WKU                                  97 points
6. Missouri State                90 points
7. Liberty                              85 points
8. FIU                                     56 points
9. NM State (1)                    45 points
10. MTSU                                38 points
11. Delaware                         37 points
12. Sam Houston                 26 points

 
2026 Preseason Player of the Year
Chayton Krauss, DBU – Sr. – INF 
 
2026 Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Ben Blair, Liberty – Jr. – RHP
 
2026 Preseason All-Conference Team
C: Grayson Ashe, Jax State
INF: Keaton Grady, DBU
INF: Chayton Krauss, DBU
INF: Tanner Marsh, Liberty
INF: Kyle Hayes, WKU
OF: Cole Cleveland, FIU
OF: Andrew Ildefonso, FIU
OF: Caden Bogenpohl, Missouri State
DH: Jake Bennett, DBU 
DH: Steve Solorzano, NM State
UTL: Max Knight, Missouri State
SP: Ryan Borberg, DBU
SP: Steven Cash, Jax State
SP: Ben Blair, Liberty
SP: Drew Horn, MTSU
RP: Jackson Sleeper, Jax State
RP: Blake Hooks, LA Tech

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