SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 28, 2026) – Western New England baseball's Tyler Waterbury has been named D3baseball.com Region II Rookie of the Year following an impressive first season in Blue and Gold, adding to his postseason accolades. 

Waterbury has been named the Conference of New England (CNE) Player of the Year, CNE Rookie of the Year, All-CNE First Team, D3baseball.com All-Region Third Team, and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Region Third Team, and now adds D3baseball.com Region II Rookie of the Year honors. 

Waterbury had a breakout season for the Golden Bears, helping lead the Blue and Gold to the Conference of New England championship series for the third time over the last five seasons. Waterbury played in and made starts in 38 games during the year, batting .342 at the plate over 146 at-bats, collecting 50 hits in his first season. The Danbury, Connecticut, native picked up 22 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles, six home runs, and two triples, while driving in 34 RBIs on the year. Waterbury led the Golden Bears with a .589 slugging percentage and 86 total bases on the year. The WNE first-year was a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen bases this past season. 

Waterbury becomes just the second player in program history to be named D3baseball.com Rookie of the Year, joining CJ Willis (2022). The Golden Bears finished the 2026 season with a 24-20 overall record, while going 12-6 in Conference of New England action.