College Baseball Foundation Announces Finalists For 2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – Five of the nation’s best two-way players were named as 2026 finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award on Wednesday by the College Baseball Foundation.

This year’s finalists include some of the most versatile players in college baseball, including junior Jeremy Cheeseman, 1B/RHP, Fairleigh Dickinson; junior Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Florida Gulf Coast; sophomore Braydon Kersey, INF/RHP, Mercer; junior Ryan Kroepel, 3B/RHP, Utah Tech and sophomore Jett Music, OF/RHP, Campbell. Dempsey was the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year.

Five different conferences are represented by a finalist, including the ASUN, CAA, NEC, SoCon and WAC.

"These five finalists represent not only what the John Olerud Award is all about, but also some of the finest young talent in college baseball today," Chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year selection committee George Watson said. "Each one has had an outstanding season both individually and well as helping lead their team to great success. We are proud to have these five individuals represent the Olerud Award, its 2026 finalists and know each one would be more than deserving of this award."

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 2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award will be announced at a press conference scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, June 13, in the media room at Charles Schwab Field, prior to the start of the second day of action at the MCWS.

In addition to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, the winners of the Brooks Wallace Award, the Buster Posey Award, presented by Hasty Awards (nation’s top catcher), the Pitcher of the Year Award, the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award, the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence and the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, presented by Marucci, will also be announced.

Cheeseman was a dynamic two-way player for the Knights all season. He started in 53 of 54 games, hitting .328 with 43 hits, including six doubles, one triple and 15 home runs. Cheeseman scored 51 runs, racked up 45 RBI and was a perfect 18-of-18 on stolen base attempts. Offensively, he ranked among NEC leaders, including second in slugging percentage (.733), on-base percentage (.516) and OPS (1.249), while ranking third in home runs (15) and fifth in HBP (21). His 15 home runs were third-best by an FDU Knight in team history. The first-team All-NEC first baseman was even more impressive in conference play, leading the league in slugging percentage (.914), on-base percentage (.596) and OPS (1.510). He ranked fourth in home runs (10) and seventh in batting average (.400) against NEC opponents. On the mound, he made 14 appearances, earning four wins while striking out 46 batters in 68.0 innings pitched.  

The reigning John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, Dempsey turned in another spectacular campaign in 2026. The ASUN Pitcher of the Year also earned first-team all-conference honors as a pitcher and an outfielder. In addition to being a finalist for the Olerud Award, Dempsey is a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. He started all 57 of his team’s games, sporting a .333 batting average, 79 hits, including 18 doubles and 10 home runs, scored 57 runs and tallied 46 RBI. His OPS (.948), on base percentage (.412) and slugging percentage (.512) ranked among his squad’s best. He led his squad with 15 stolen bases on 17 attempts. On the mound he was simply outstanding. In 15 starts, he posted a 7-2 record with a 3.15 ERA, a league-leading 126 strikeouts while only walking 26. He netted a 1.06 WHIP and allowed opposing hitters to hit only .209. 

Kersey was a game-changer at the plate and on the mound in an outstanding season for the Mercer Bears. He started all 56 games on the way to earning first-team SoCon honors as a designated hitter after hitting .325 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI. Both totals ranked second on the team and among all league players. He totaled 67 hits, including 11 doubles, and tallied a .684 slugging percentage. He scored 50 runs and earned 37 walks. He earned a .438 on-base percentage. As a pitcher, Kersey was 2-0 in 20 appearances, with all but three of those appearances coming in relief. His six saves led the team and ranked second in the SoCon. He earned 26 strikeouts in 20.0 innings of work. 

A first-team All-WAC selection for the second-consecutive season, Kroepel started all 59 games for Utah Tech helping lead his squad at the plate and on the mound. The Trailblazers’ third baseman sported a .312 batting average, he tallied 67 hits, including four doubles, one triple and six home runs, while scoring 57 runs and racking up 47 RBI this season. His 51 walks led the WAC and set a single-season school record. The Trailblazers’ third-baseman hit safely in 47 of 59 starts with 18 multi-hit outings and enjoyed a career long 37-game on-base streak, which Kroepel saw end in the penultimate game of the regular season. On the mound, Kroepel made 19 appearances, all in relief, earning a WAC-leading 10 saves. He tallied 31 strikeouts in 35.1 innings of work. He had a 1.22 WHIP and a 3.82 ERA.

Music starred for the Campbell Camels offensively and on the mound in 2026. The CAA first-team performer started 44 of the 48 games in which he played. He hit .297 with a league-leading 22 home runs and 56 RBI. His 56 RBI ranked fourth in the league. He led the CAA in slugging percentage (.787) and OPS (1.218). Music racked up 46 hits, including 10 doubles, and 46 runs. He collected five multi-homer and 18 multi-RBI performances. He made 17 appearances on the mound, with all coming in relief. He earned a 3-1 record, earning 34 strikeouts in 24.2 innings of work. He picked up a team-leading four saves on the season. Opponents were limited to a .228 batting average.

Previous winners of the award are Mike McGee, RHP/OF, Florida State, 2010; Danny Hultzen, LHP/1B/OF, Virginia, 2011; Brian Johnson, LHP/DH, Florida, 2012; Marco Gonzales, LHP/1B, Gonzaga, 2013; A.J. Reed, 1B/LHP, Kentucky, 2014; Brendan McKay, 1B/LHP, Louisville; 2015-17; Brooks Wilson, RHP/DH/1B, Stetson; 2018; Aaron Schunk, 3B/RHP, Georgia, 2019; Not Awarded (Season Suspended), 2020; Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP/SS, Nebraska, 2021; Paul Skenes, RHP/C, Air Force, 2022; Caden Grice, LHP/1B/DH, Clemson, 2023; Jac Caglianone, LHP/1B, Florida, 2024; and Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Florida Gulf Coast, 2025.

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

2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Finalists

Name, Class, School, Hometown, Conference

• Jeremy Cheeseman, 1B/RHP, Junior, Fairleigh Dickinson, Marlton, New Jersey, NEC

• Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Junior, Florida Gulf Coast, Tampa, Florida, ASUN

• Braydon Kersey, INF/RHP, Sophomore, Mercer, Alpharetta, Georgia, SoCon

• Ryan Kroepel, 3B/RHP, Junior, Utah Tech, Poway, California, WAC

• Jett Music, OF/RHP, Sophomore, Campbell, Clayton, North Carolina, CAA