SALT LAKE CITY — Utah baseball’s first season in the Big 12 produced more than just a postseason appearance. It also produced individual recognition across multiple parts of the roster.
The Big 12 announced its postseason baseball honors Tuesday, with four Utes recognized by the conference. Outfielder Jake Long was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, freshman infielder Cal Miller earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team, and Long, Miller, Jet Gilliam and Cameron Gurney all received postseason recognition from the league.
Congrats to our 4️⃣ guys who have earned Big 12 end of season awards‼️
🧵🧵🧵
𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝟏𝟐 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦@jakeplong pic.twitter.com/rKPWXOlhof
— Utah Baseball (@utahbaseball) May 19, 2026
Long Leads The Way
Long headlined Utah’s group of honorees after putting together one of the biggest year-to-year jumps in the conference.
After hitting .263 with a .329 slugging percentage, one home run and 21 RBIs in 2025, Long elevated his production across the board this season. He entered the Big 12 Tournament hitting .369 with a .617 slugging percentage, 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 56 RBIs. He also ranked ninth in the Big 12 in batting average and eighth in hits with 76.
His conference numbers were even stronger. During Big 12 play, Long hit .380, ranked second in the league with 49 hits and tied for third with 11 doubles.
Long also delivered one of Utah’s signature individual moments of the season when he hit for the cycle against Kansas State on March 29. It made him just the third player in Utah history to accomplish the feat and the first player outside the SEC to do it this season, according to Utah Athletics.
Miller Makes Immediate Freshman Impact
Miller’s recognition continued a strong first-year campaign for one of Utah’s most important young pieces.
The freshman second baseman/designated hitter was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team and also earned honorable mention honors. Miller finished the regular season among Utah’s team leaders in several key offensive categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, doubles, home runs and walks.
Miller hit .345 with a .539 slugging percentage, 14 doubles, six home runs and 25 walks during the regular season. He also put together a 26-game on-base streak late in the season, the longest by a Utah freshman since at least 2002.
Just as important, Miller handled a large workload in conference play. He played in all 30 Big 12 games, started 29 of them and played error-free defense at second base during league play.
For Utah, that matters beyond the award itself. Miller did not just flash as a freshman. He held up through the grind of a Big 12 schedule and looked like a player the program can build around moving forward.
Gilliam Brings Stability In Center Field
Gilliam, a transfer from NC State, was named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after giving Utah immediate production in center field.
He started all but one game in center and was one of Utah’s most consistent offensive players in conference play. During Big 12 action, Gilliam ranked third in the league with a .393 batting average, seventh with a .455 on-base percentage and tied for fifth with 46 hits.
His value also extended defensively. Gilliam finished the regular season with 136 putouts, no errors and several run-saving plays in center field, according to Utah Athletics.
Gilliam also produced in situational spots, hitting .387 with runners on base, .362 with runners in scoring position, .415 in two-out situations and .519 when leading off an inning.
Gurney Recognized For Complete Season
Gurney also earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after starting all 50 regular-season games at first base.
Now in his fourth season at Utah, Gurney was one of the Utes’ most reliable players on both sides of the ball. He hit .357, posted a .461 on-base percentage and slugged .539, ranking near the top of the team in each category. His 20 multi-hit games were third-most on the roster.
Defensively, Gurney helped anchor a Utah infield that turned 51 double plays, a mark that led the Big 12 and ranked seventh nationally entering the postseason. He also posted a .996 fielding percentage in conference play.
Recognition In A Bigger-Picture Season
The honors come as Utah prepares for Big 12 Tournament play as the No. 10 seed against No. 11 seed Kansas State in Surprise, Arizona.
For the Utes, the recognition reflects a roster that had several different types of contributors. Long became the breakout veteran. Miller became the freshman building block. Gilliam gave Utah an immediate-impact transfer in a premium defensive position. Gurney provided stability and production from a veteran corner infielder.
That is the encouraging part for Utah. The Utes were not carried by one profile or one class. Their Big 12 honorees came from a mix of returning development, transfer production, freshman upside and veteran consistency.
The Bottom Line
Utah’s first Big 12 baseball season came with growing pains, but Tuesday’s honors showed the program has real pieces to build around.
Long’s breakout season gave Utah a legitimate all-conference bat. Miller’s freshman year gave the Utes a young cornerstone. Gilliam and Gurney gave the lineup and defense steady, high-level production.
For a program trying to establish itself in a deeper league, that matters. Utah produced players who earned respect inside the conference.
Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.
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