FRESNO, Calif. — The future is bright for Azusa Pacific Baseball, and the present isn't too bad either.
Freshman first baseman Jacob Hayes was named the 2025 PacWest Freshman of the Year, headlining a trio of Cougars who earned All-PacWest recognition as announced Tuesday afternoon by the league office. Hayes was also named to the First Team All-PacWest, joined by senior Mikey Easter, who earned First Team honors for the second consecutive season. Junior outfielder Elijah Cook landed on the Second Team after a stellar all-around campaign.
Hayes Makes Immediate Impact
A product of Anacortes, Washington, Hayes made a loud entrance in his debut collegiate season. The Cougars' everyday first baseman started all 50 games and tied for the PacWest lead with 19 home runs, while hitting .332 with a .407 OBP and an impressive .689 slugging percentage. He tallied 46 RBIs, scored 47 runs, and posted 17 multi-hit games. His offensive firepower helped APU stay in the playoff mix all season and made him a clear choice as the conference's top rookie.
Easter Repeats as First Team Utility Pick
Senior Mikey Easter continued his reputation as one of the most versatile and productive bats in the PacWest, earning First Team honors for the second year in a row. In 2025, he played and started in all 50 games, finishing with a .350 batting average, a .440 OBP, and a .536 slugging percentage for an OPS of .976. Easter recorded 6 home runs, 14 doubles, and drove in 21 runs, while scoring 42 times and walking 24 times to just 31 strikeouts.
Behind the plate, Easter was a steady force for the Cougar pitching staff. He threw out 9 of 36 would-be base stealers for a 25% caught stealing rate, allowed just 7 passed balls, and posted a .983 fielding percentage with 294 total chances, 251 putouts, 38 assists, and only 5 errors.
Easter becomes just the second Cougar in the program's PacWest era to earn back-to-back First Team selections, cementing his legacy as one of APU's most complete and reliable performers.
Cook Shines in Complete Season
Junior outfielder Elijah Cook was a cornerstone on both sides of the ball for Azusa Pacific, playing and starting in all 49 games. Cook hit .345, slugged .467, and reached base at a .420 clip, finishing the season with a robust 1.087 OPS. He launched 15 home runs, drove in 43 runs, and added 7 doubles and 2 triples, while also scoring 40 times.
But it was his defense that truly stood out.
Cook patrolled the outfield with precision, recording 10 outfield assists, committing zero errors, and finishing the year with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 127 total chances (117 putouts, 10 assists). His combination of power, consistency, and defensive excellence earned him Second Team All-PacWest honors.
