Max Hartman is a name almost every Coug fan has heard. But, the record-breaking Canadian outfielder who is known to crush triples and is seen to be an MLB talent, is prepared to take up the family business in civil engineering when it is all said and done.
Hartman has spent all of his college career here at Washington State, and his time here has been full of excitement on the field. His progression in his career has now set him up for draft aspirations this coming July.
Hartman’s career stats are a .316 batting average, a .408 on-base percentage, 14 home runs, 33 stolen bases and a whopping nine triples. Eight of his triples are coming from this record season.
Max Hartman prepares to face a pitch for the WSU baseball team against Gardner-Webb on April 9 2026.
But besides his playing career, Hartman has also taken his academics seriously. Hartman is still pursuing his degree in civil engineering at the same time that the baseball season is heating up.
Hartman’s interest lies in fixing the roadways and waterways back home in Canada, attributing how the roads can be much more difficult to manage due to freezing temperatures creating large potholes all around. It also helps that it is exactly what his dad does. Hartman is following in his father Brian Hartman’s footsteps, by looking into careers back home near St. Albert, Alberta Canada.
Brian Hartman had nothing but pride for his son when asked about Max’s college path.
“Max’s mom and I are really proud of him. He’s worked really hard, and getting an engineering degree at the same time that you’re playing NCAA Division I baseball, that’s very difficult,” he said.
Max had some struggles throughout his college career, and for him the hardest journey was when he got injured last season.
“It was tough to not play. The season I had going that was really good kind of dwindled away because I missed a bunch of at bats,” he said. “I think the coaching staff and my family still believing in me and making me come back from injury was the most helpful there.”
Other positive relationships in Hartman’s life include many of his teammates, one of which being infielder Kyler Northrop. Northrop was attributed by Hartman to be the funniest teammate on the roster because of his ability to joke on the fly. Northrop is also a roommate of Hartman, so the jokes fly every day.
WSU infielder Max Hartman runs to first base against the University of Nevada baseball team, March 29, 2026.
The best memories Hartman has in his playing career are the trips the team gets to make. On these trips, Hartman also had the best food experiences in his college career. But rather than eating out at lavish restaurants, the best food to Hartman is a homecooked meal.
The Cougars baseball team when traveling to certain players’ hometowns will host some of the team to have a meal, and Hartman’s favorite meal came from one of those events. Earlier this year when the Cougars traveled to Long Beach, infielder Ryan Skjonsby and his family hosted the team. The meal served was a high layered lasagna served with a side salad. Out of all of the food served to Hartman since his freshman year, it was a home cooked lasagna that took the crown for the best.
As the regular season comes to a close, Hartman and the Cougars are preparing for postseason success. With one three-game series at Air Force, and a final home game against Seattle on May 12, time is running out on Hartman’s collegiate career.
“It’s exciting to get into the postseason, and to finally play in some really meaningful games down the stretch,” he said.
The next game the Cougars play is against Air Force on May 8.
