Partida earns NCBWA Freshman All-American status

He played his part.

And he played it well.

On Monday, the National College Baseball Writers Association announced its Freshman All-Americans, and there is an Aggie among the nation’s best rookies.

Dating back to 2009, third baseman Nico Partida became Texas A&M’s seventh NCBWA Freshman All-American, joining a list that includes Michael Wacha (2010), Krey Bratsen (2011), Nick Banks (2014), Braden Shewmake (2017), Jace LaViolette (2023) and Gavin Grahovac (2024).

In 2026, Partida earned first-team recognition, joining Wacha and Shewmake as the only players in program history to do so.

Appearing in 49 games with 48 starts, the former Pearland Oiler slashed .306/.408/.550 with 55 hits, 45 runs scored, eight doubles, 12 home runs and 43 RBI in 180 at-bats...all while playing a premium defense at the all-important hot corner for Michael Earley’s Aggies.

Partida homered in his collegiate debut vs. Tennessee Tech on Feb. 13 and then clubbed a pair at Mizzou on March 28. Seven of his round-trippers came in conference play.

Arriving in Aggieland as a two-way player, the 6-foot, 195-pounder did not pitch but routinely showcased his all-world arm talent by firing bullets across the diamond. He fielded .944 with only six errors on 108 total chances.

His abilities, offensively and defensively, caught plenty of eyeballs, including Over Slot’s Joe Doyle, who has Partida near the top — if not at the top — of his way-too-early 2028 MLB Draft projections.

Of course, that’s in the distant future.

Partida’s present is leading A&M’s new core, which is tasked with picking up where the likes of Gavin Grahovac and Caden Sorrell (among others) left off.

This summer, he will participate with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, which is another honor in his trophy case to go along with Freshman All-SEC honors and Perfect Game’s Midseason Freshman of the Year award.

Partida has played his part, and played it exceptionally well.