Austin Smith And Six Additional Weekly Award Winners Headline The 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player Of The Year Award Watch List

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – The two-way player is integral to college baseball, and the 2025 watch list for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, which was released Tuesday by the College Baseball Foundation, features the best dual role players in the nation.

The 35 players on this year’s watch list reflect some of the biggest names in college baseball this season as well as a new crop of up-and-coming young players who are making an immediate impact on the game. As usual, the watch list represents a wide swath of schools from across the country with players who have already made significant contributions to their team’s success.

“We are excited to shine a spotlight on the best two-way players in the nation with the release of our 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player Watch list,” said George Watson, chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year selection committee. “This year’s list features a 2024 finalist and many other talented two-way players within college baseball “These outstanding players are integral to their individual team’s success on the mound and at the plate. We look forward to watching each of them as the 2025 season continues.”

The award is named for former Washington State University standout John Olerud, who achieved success both as a first baseman and left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s. He was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. The award will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year.

Headlining the list this year is 2024 finalist and two-time 2025 weekly award winner Austin Smith of San Diego. Smith, the only returning finalist from last season, is hitting .357 with six home runs and 37 RBIs in 2025. On the mound, the senior has earned two wins and a save, while striking out 39 batters in 30.1 innings of work for the Toreros. Smith is the only two-time Olerud Award weekly winner this season, earning the honor on March 4 and April 1.

Six other players who also have already distinguished themselves by earning Olerud Player of the Week honors this season. Freshman Blaine Brown (Rice), senior Will Rogers (Michigan), junior DJ Newman (Bowling Green), senior Malachi Lott (Houston), senior Evan Dempsey (Florida Gulf Coast) and junior Ryan Sprock (Elon) have all been recognized as the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week this season.

The winner of the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award will be announced on June 17.

For more information on the Olerud Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.

2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List

Name, Positions, Class, School

• Chris Arroyo, UTL/LHP, Junior, Virginia

• Blaine Brown, LHP/OF, Freshman, Rice

• Jeremy Cheeseman, RHP/1B, Junior, Farleigh Dickinson

• Gio Colasante, IF/RHP, Junior, Harvard

• Carter Danz, LHP/OF, Freshman, Northwestern

• Michael Delph, 1B/RHP, Freshman, Army

• Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Sophomore, Florida Gulf Coast

• Kameron Douglas, RHP/OF, Junior, Alabama State

• Austin Eaton, RHP/IF, R-Senior, Texas State

• Noah Franco, LHP/1B, Freshman, TCU

• Connor Grotyohann, RHP/IF, Junior, Rutgers

• Tyler Guerin, RHP/1B, Freshman, Iowa

• Alex Hernandez, RHP/IF, Freshman, Georgia Tech

• Kyle Johnson, LHP/OF, Sophomore, Duke

• Gavyn Jones, LHP/OF, Sophomore, Oklahoma

• Max Knight, LHP/1B, Sophomore, Missouri State

• Justin Lehman, RHP/1B, Senior, Army

• Malachi Lott, OF/LHP, Senior, Houston

• Liam McCallum, LHP/1B, Senior, Winthrop

• Christian Mitchelle, IF/RHP, Junior, Cincinnati

• DJ Newman, RHP/OF, Junior, Bowling Green

• Griffin Palfrey, IF/RHP, Senior, Columbia

• Erik Paulsen, 1B/LHP, Sophomore, Stony Brook

• Logan Reddemann, IF/RHP, Sophomore, San Diego

• Will Rogers, RHP/DH, Senior, Michigan

• Austin Smith, LHP/OF, Senior, San Diego

• James Smith IV, OF/RHP, Junior, Memphis

• Ryan Sprock, RHP/IF, Junior, Elon

• Nolan Stevens, IF/OF/LHP, Sophomore, Mississippi State

• Trey Swygart, RHP/IF, Freshman, Portland

• Elijah Underhill, RHP/OF, Sophomore, Eastern Kentucky

• Josh Wakefield, OF/LHP, Junior, Grand Canyon

• T.P. Wentworth, OF/LHP, Freshman, Clemson

• Harrison Wilson, IF/RHP, Junior, Winthrop

• Landon Zaborowski, RHP/IF, Freshman, Utah Valley

2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player Weekly Award Honorees

2/25 - Blaine Brown, LHP/OF, Freshman, Rice University, Pearland, Texas

3/4 - Austin Smith, OF/LHP, Senior, University of San Diego, El Cajon, California

3/11 – Will Rogers, RHP/DH, Senior, University of Michigan, Shoreview, Minnesota

3/18 – DJ Newman, RHP/OF, Junior, Bowling Green University, Archbold, Ohio

3/25 – Malachi Lott, OF/LHP, Senior, University of Houston, Portland, Texas

4/1 – Austin Smith, LHP/OF, Senior, University of San Diego, El Cajon, California

4/8 – Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Senior, Florida Gulf Coast University, Tampa, Florida

4/15 – Ryan Sprock, 3B/RHP, Junior, Elon University, Morristown, New Jersey