ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Joe Carter Baseball Player of the Year resides in Terre Haute as Indiana State outfielder Carter Beck was recognized as the Missouri Valley Baseball Player of the Year as announced by the conference office on Tuesday morning.
 
Beck received five first-place votes and 12 total points as voted on by the league's head coaches in becoming just the second player in Indiana State baseball history to receive the conference's award that goes to the top overall player in the conference. Beck joins Jeremy Lucas (2012) as the lone Sycamores to receive the award since its inception in 1980.
 
The junior outfielder put together a historic campaign for the Sycamores sitting among the Missouri Valley leaders in batting average (.348), hits (80), RBIs (56), runs scored (60), doubles (17), home runs (14), on-base percentage (.448), slugging percentage (.622), and stolen bases (12).
 
The Carnduff, Saskatchewan, Canada native recorded a team-high 27 multi-hit games and 15 multi-RBI contests over the 2026 season and has reached base safely in 54 of the team's 55 games played. Beck enters the postseason having reached base in 39 consecutive contests.
 
Beck highlighted his season with an 11-game stretch where he recorded a .510 batting average with three doubles, a triple, five home runs, and 16 RBIs, while posting 11 consecutive multi-hit games from March 15-April 2. He added a trio of grand slams to his name going deep with the bases loaded against Miami (Ohio) (Feb. 20), Bradley (Mar. 20), and UIC (Apr. 3).
 
Beck saved his best for conference play increasing his numbers to a .379 batting average with a team-high 39 hits and six doubles, while tying with teammate Mason Roell for the Valley lead with eight home runs. He added seven stolen bases in conference competition.
 
In addition to his prowess at the plate, Beck also shined in the outfield with multiple plays in center field. This was never more evident than in the series-clinching win at Murray State where he tracked down the final two outs against the Racers with a running catch in right center, while tracking down the final out at the warning track in the 10-8 win.

Beck and the Sycamores head to Murray, Ky. to take on the winner of No. 3 Murray State and No. 6 Illinois State on Thursday, May 21, in the second day of the 2026 Missouri Valley Baseball Tournament Championships.
 
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