- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Stanford Slugger Breaks Out Early in 2026 Season
JJ Moran, a standout sophomore, is leading the Cardinal's offensive charge after a limited freshman campaign.
Published on Feb. 25, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
After a limited freshman season, Stanford baseball's JJ Moran has burst onto the scene in 2026, batting .367 with a home run and 7 RBIs through the first 8 games. Moran, who was the 23rd-ranked shortstop in California coming out of high school, has started every game so far and is second on the team in batting average and on-base percentage, trailing only teammate Charlie Bates. The Cardinal are off to a 4-4 start, but Moran's early production has been a bright spot as they look to turn their season around.
Why it matters
Moran's breakout performance as a sophomore is an encouraging sign for Stanford, who are looking to bounce back from an underwhelming start to the 2026 season. The Cardinal are hoping Moran can continue to provide a spark offensively and help lead the team to success in the highly competitive Pac-12 conference.
The details
As a freshman in 2025, Moran appeared in just 14 games and started 5, batting .259 with a .310 on-base percentage, 1 home run and 3 RBIs. This year, he has started all 8 games so far and is batting .367 with a .382 OBP, 1 home run and 7 RBIs. Moran had a hit in each of Stanford's first 8 games, including a 3-hit performance against ranked opponent Oregon State.
- Moran had a hit and scored 2 runs in Stanford's season-opening upset over Arizona.
- Through 8 games this season, Moran leads the Cardinal in RBIs (7) and is tied for the team lead in home runs (1).
The players
JJ Moran
A sophomore infielder for the Stanford Cardinal baseball team, Moran was the 23rd-ranked shortstop in California coming out of high school.
Charlie Bates
A standout shortstop for Stanford, Bates has also been a key contributor offensively, leading the team in batting average and on-base percentage.
What’s next
Stanford hosts Fresno State for a weekend series as they look to build on Moran's early success and turn their season around.
The takeaway
Moran's breakout start to the 2026 season is an encouraging sign for Stanford, who are hoping the sophomore can provide a consistent offensive spark and help lead the team to success in the highly competitive Pac-12 conference.
