(MARSHALL, Minn.) Jakob Christian was announced as the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Ron Lenz National Player of the Year on Thursday morning, becoming the first-ever West Region player to earn the honor.
 
The first baseman was also selected to the D2CCA All-America First Team, marking the second-straight year PLNU Baseball has had at least one All-American honoree.
 
"I'm beyond excited and proud of Jakob," Head Coach Justin James said. "Few work harder than him behind the scenes. Jakob is also a great teammate and someone that's easy to root for."
 

🚨 Jakob Christian is named the 2023 @d2cca Ron Lenz Player of the Year. 🚨

The @PLNUBaseball first baseman is the first player in the West Region to ever receive the National Player of the Year award. pic.twitter.com/ogfR4L3Rls

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) June 1, 2023

 
Christian put together a historic sophomore season, hitting .408 with 28 home runs and 70 RBIs, to go along with a 1.407 OPS.
 
He led all of NCAA Division II in home runs per game (0.54), while ranking second in both home runs and slugging % (.901), as well as 15th in RBIs.
 
"He continues to master his mental game and in-game adjustability, which has really taken his game to the next level," James said. "Ultimately Jakob is humble in his success which helps him play well under pressure."
 
This year, Christian set the single-season program records for home runs and RBIs, while becoming Point Loma's all-time home run king despite it being just his second season on The Point. He also broke the previous single-season PacWest Conference record for homers.
 

A few of the many highlights this season for Jakob Christian, the @d2cca Ron Lenz National Player of the Year.

The first baseman hit two walk-off homers within a week of each other, in a stretch that he tied and then broke the single-season @PLNUBaseball HR record. pic.twitter.com/vJnCOm7Q1O

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) June 2, 2023

 
Christian previously earned four other Player of the Year awards, three regional (NCBWA, D2CCA, ABCA/Rawlings) and from the PacWest Conference.
 
"Point Loma has been a great fit for him and has allowed him to develop organically and mature into the player he is today in a comfortable environment," James said. "I have no doubt he's going to accomplish more."