OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Ten of the nation’s best two-way players were named as semifinalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award by the College Baseball Foundation.
This year’s semifinalists include some of the biggest names and most versatile players in college baseball. A total of nine conferences are represented by at least one player in the semifinalist class, including the ASUN, CAA, Big 10, Missouri Valley, Patriot League, SEC, Southland, Sun Belt and West Coast conferences. The Big 10 features two semifinalists.
"This may be the most competitive semifinal list we've had since the award was created as there is no clear-cut favorite yet to win the award in 2025," Olerud Award chairman George Watson said. "The next two weeks are going to be vital in determining not only who our finalists will be, but also to see whether someone puts on a late-season surge to rise to the top."
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.
Austin Smith (San Diego) is the only returning award semifinalist and finalist from last season. Smith is hitting .365 with six home runs and 44 RBI in 2025. He has four wins and four saves on the mound and has struck out 50 batters in 39.2 innings of work.
Bryce Calloway (New Orleans) leads all semifinalists in batting average (.390), home runs (18) and RBI (62). Ryan Sprock (Elon) is hitting .332 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI. Max Knight (Missouri State) has 13 home runs and 46 RBI, while Noah Sullivan (Mississippi State) has posted a .341 batting average with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. Ethan Hedges (USC) is hitting .346 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI this season.
Knight (Missouri State), Justin Lehman (Army) and Will Rogers (Michigan) lead all semifinalists in pitching victories (5). Rogers and Knight have also tallied seven and three saves, respectively.
Calloway (New Orleans) leads all semifinalists with 11 saves. Hedges (USC) has earned nine saves and has a 2.57 ERA in 14 appearances.
Evan Dempsey (Florida Gulf Coast) paces all semifinalists with a microscopic 1.56 ERA. Dempsey also has tallied four victories on the mound. Sprock (Elon) and Sullivan (Mississippi State) also feature sub-2.00 ERAs with Sprock checking in with a 1.69 ERA and Sullivan a 1.96 ERA.
Finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award will be announced on June 4, with the 2025 winner to be announced at a date to be finalized later that month. Jac Caglianone of the University of Florida was the 2024 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year.
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 Semifinalists
Name, Positions, Class, School
- Bryce Calloway, RHP/OF, Senior, New Orleans
- Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Sophomore, Florida Gulf Coast
- Austin Eaton, RHP/IF, R-Senior, Texas State
- Ethan Hedges, IF/RHP, Junior, USC
- Max Knight, LHP/1B, Sophomore, Missouri State
- Justin Lehman, RHP/1B, Senior, Army West Point
- Will Rogers, RHP/DH, Senior, Michigan
- Austin Smith, LHP/OF, Senior, San Diego
- Ryan Sprock, RHP/IF, Junior, Elon
- Noah Sullivan, DH/RHP, Junior, Mississippi State
Throughout the 2025 season, a John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week has been selected. Seven of the 10 semifinalists have won the weekly award, with Smith capturing the honor twice this season.
2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player Weekly Award Honorees
Feb. 25 – Blaine Brown, LHP/OF, Freshman, Rice
March 4 – Austin Smith, OF/LHP, Senior, San Diego
March 11 – Will Rogers, RHP/DH, Senior, Michigan
March 18 – DJ Newman, OF/RHP, Junior, Bowling Green State
March 25 – Malachi Lott, OF/LHP, Senior, Houston
April 1 – Austin Smith, OF/LHP, Senior, San Diego
April 8 – Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Senior, Florida Gulf Coast
April 15 – Ryan Sprock, 3B/RHP, Junior, Elon
April 22 – Griffin Palfrey, IF/RHP, Senior, Columbia
April 29 – Max Knight, LHP/1B, Sophomore, Missouri State
May 6 – Noah Sullivan, DH/RHP, Junior, Mississippi State
May 13 – Justin Lehman, 1B/RHP, Senior, Army
May 20 – Bryce Calloway, RHP/OF, Senior, New Orleans
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.
The College Baseball Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Support for the College Baseball Hall of Fame will help preserve the rich history of the sport for future generations. All donations to the College Baseball Hall of Fame are tax deductible and can be made via this link on the organization’s website.
The CBF presents the Brooks Wallace Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Shortstop), the National Pitcher of the Year, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year, the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence Award.
About the College Baseball Hall of Fame
Each year, more than 190 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee. The College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006. Since that time, 165 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and contributors have been selected for induction. Click here for a full list of College Baseball Hall of Fame classes.
The College Baseball Hall of Fame will establish a physical location in Overland Park, Kan., in early 2026. Located within the iconic Museum at Prairiefire, the College Baseball Hall of Fame will serve as a shared community asset, deepening connections to the nation's favorite pastime through a dynamic and ever-evolving space for college baseball enthusiasts to celebrate the sport's rich past, present and future.