For Jimmy Janicki, one unforgettable season has led to another once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Fresh off helping lead Troy University to its first Men’s College World Series appearance in program history, the sophomore catcher has traded black and cardinal for red, white, and blue as he competes at USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team Training Camp.

“It means a lot to be a part of the first Troy team to ever make it to Omaha,” Janicki said. “That was truly a great experience. Representing Team USA is another incredible opportunity, and I’m super excited to be here.”

Janicki arrives in Cary following one of the most decorated individual seasons in Troy baseball history. The Sun Belt Player of the Year earned Second Team All-America honors from Perfect Game and Third Team All-America recognition from the National College Baseball Writers Association after batting .343 with 21 home runs, 26 doubles, and a program-record 87 RBIs.

His 87 RBIs and 188 total bases both established new Troy single-season records, while he became the first player in program history to record at least 20 doubles and 20 home runs in the same season. He was also one of just four Division I players to accomplish the feat in 2026 and one of two competing at this year’s Collegiate National Team Training Camp, alongside Arizona State’s Landon Hairston.

As memorable as the accolades were, it’s the moments from Troy’s historic postseason run that Janicki remembers most.

“The regional was probably one of the best,” Janicki said. “And obviously our super regional at home. We’d never had 7,000 fans in the crowd. When you look back at everything we went through, the rain delays and everything else, the fact that we made it to Omaha, I couldn’t say any other team could have done it.”

The Trojans found their rhythm late in the season, but once they did, Janicki never doubted what the group was capable of accomplishing.

“I always knew we could,” Janicki said. “Our talent was through the roof. We really didn’t get clicking until the month of May, which is fine. May baseball is important. Once we got hot, we completely flipped our season around.”

That turnaround fueled one of the most remarkable postseason runs in the country. After dropping its opening game of the Gainesville Regional, Troy won four consecutive elimination games, including victories over Miami and host Florida, to capture the regional title and earn the program’s first Super Regional berth. Janicki homered twice in the Trojans’ 16-11 win over Florida and was named to the NCAA Gainesville Regional All-Tournament Team.

For the first time in program history, Troy hosted an NCAA Super Regional, sweeping Little Rock to advance to the Men’s College World Series for the first time. After an opening-round loss to West Virginia in Omaha, the Trojans stayed alive by eliminating Ole Miss before a second loss to the Mountaineers brought the most successful season in program history to a close.

Janicki continued to produce on college baseball’s biggest stage, homering twice during Troy’s Men’s College World Series run while finishing with five hits, four runs scored, and two RBIs.

“It was a lot of fun,” Janicki said of Omaha. “The atmosphere was awesome, and all the people there treated you really well.”

Looking back, Janicki is most proud of what his team accomplished together.

“I’m most proud of all the guys, especially the older guys who left a mark on the program,” Janicki said. “Everybody played a part. We never gave up, and we were always going to work hard.”

The postseason also reinforced lessons that extended beyond wins and losses. As one of Troy’s leaders behind the plate, Janicki learned the importance of supporting his teammates through every moment of a long season.

“There are always going to be ups and downs,” Janicki said. “It taught me that even through the downs, you’ve got to pick your guys up. Especially for the pitchers, if something doesn’t go their way, you’ve got to be there for them no matter what happens.”

After emerging as one of the nation's top non-draft-eligible sophomores, Janicki recently announced he will return to Troy for his junior season, hoping to continue building on what the Trojans accomplished while proving that elite talent can come from anywhere.

“A lot of people think you can’t be a first-round pick out of a mid-major, but that’s just not true,” Janicki said. “We’re a serious mid-major, and I want to prove that.”

Before returning to Troy, however, Janicki has another opportunity in front of him. Surrounded by many of the nation’s top collegiate players, he hopes to earn the chance to represent the United States this summer.

“It’s up there with winning a game in Omaha, but it’s different because not a lot of people get the chance to represent their country,” Janicki said. “It’s a great feeling and I’m super proud to be doing it.”

From making history at Troy to the opportunity to wear U-S-A across his chest, Janicki’s remarkable 2026 season continues to add new chapters.