Austin Smith and six additional weekly award winners headline 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award watch list

By College Baseball Foundation | April 15, 2025

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – 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 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 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 RBI 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

Feb. 25 – Blaine Brown, LHP/OF, Freshman, Rice
March 4 – Austin Smith, LHP/OF, Senior, San Diego
March 11 – Will Rogers, RHP/DH, Senior, Michigan
March 18 – DJ Newman, RHP/OF, Junior, Bowling Green State
March 25 – Malachi Lott, OF/LHP, Senior, Houston
April 1 – Austin Smith, LHP/OF, Senior, San Diego
April 8 – Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Senior, Florida Gulf Coast
April 15 – Ryan Sprock, RHP/IF, Junior, Elon

About the College Baseball Foundation

The purpose of the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) is to preserve, elevate and advance the game; to inspire the next generation; to teach those who love college baseball about its rich history and traditions; to celebrate those who make college baseball special; and to honor those who have come before us, and built the foundation upon which college baseball thrives today.

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