Youngstown State baseball student-athletes Braden Gebhardt, Brayden Kuriger and Teddy Ruffner have been named to the 2026 Valeo Horizon League Baseball All-Academic Team for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom, the league office announced on Wednesday.
The Penguins had multiple players earn all-academic honors for the seventh consecutive season. At least one Penguin has been named academic all-league in each of the last 10 campaigns.
Gebhardt, a senior left-hander, was selected to the Horizon League All-Academic Team for the third straight season to become just the sixth player in program history to earn academic all-conference honors at least three times. The Howland, Ohio, native maintained a 3.95 GPA as a marketing major at YSU. Gebhardt graduated from Youngstown State this spring with his bachelor's degree in business administration. He has also been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team each of the last two seasons.
Gebhardt has earned four wins on the mound in 2026 while leading the Horizon League with a 2.96 ERA, 90 strikeouts and 76 innings pitched. He has been the Under Armour Horizon League Pitcher of the Week five times during the season, and he was named as one of 43 semifinalists for the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award on April 22.
Kuriger, a senior outfielder, collects Horizon League All-Academic honors for the first time in his second season as a Penguin. The Gonzales, La., native maintained a 3.78 GPA as a general studies major at YSU, graduating with his bachelor's degree this spring. Kuriger started in the outfield in each of YSU's first 29 games this season before missing the last 21 games due to injury. He batted .301 and slugged .530 with 55 hits, 10 doubles, four triples, eight home runs and 43 RBIs over 50 games played and 48 starts as a junior in 2025. He was selected to the 2025 Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
Ruffner, a redshirt senior outfielder, also earns Horizon League All-Academic recognition for the first time in his third season as a Penguin. The Mars, Pa., native maintained a 4.00 GPA as a mechanical engineering major at YSU, graduating this spring with his bachelor's degree. He has recorded six doubles, one triple, three home runs, 16 RBIs, 18 walks and 20 runs scored over 44 games played and 36 starts in 2026.
Youngstown State will conclude its 2026 regular season schedule this week with a three-game Horizon League series at Wright State. First pitch for Thursday's series opener at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton is slated for 3 p.m.
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