FGCU Star Evan Dempsey Named 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player Of The Year

OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – Florida Gulf Coast star Evan Dempsey has been named the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, it was announced Friday by the College Baseball Foundation.

Dempsey was selected for the award after a standout season for the Eagles as both a right-handed pitcher and an outfielder. The Tampa, Fla., native earned first-team Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) honors for his work on the mound and second-team ASUN honors as an outfielder.

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 College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

"We could not be more pleased to name Evan Dempsey as our winner of the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award,” Olerud Award chairman George Watson said. “Evan’s selflessness to help his team in whatever capacity he can, and his competitive spirit to put his teammates on his back, when needed, exemplify all the qualities we look for in our winners. Not only that, Evan is a leader both on and off the field and will be a key contributor as the Eagles look to build on the momentum gained from a tremendous run in 2025. We are honored to have Evan join our distinguished list of Olerud Award honorees.”

Dempsey was 5-1 this season with a 1.97 ERA. He pitched in 15 games, including making 10 starts. Dempsey logged 68.2 innings, striking out 75 and walking 20. Of the 57 hits he allowed this season only six of them went for extra-bases (3 doubles, 3 home runs). He held opposing batters to a .225 batting average.

As an outfielder, Dempsey played in all 60 of FGCU’s games, starting in 59 of those. He posted a .309 batting average, tallying 71 hits, including 18 doubles and three home runs, for a .435 slugging percentage. Dempsey scored 41 runs and racked up 30 RBIs. He was also a perfect 14-for-14 on stolen bases on the season.

In the field, Dempsey committed only one error on 99 chances, earning 86 putouts and two assists. His fielding percentage was .990.

“Evan is a special kind of player that only comes around once or twice in a coach’s career,” FGCU Head Coach Dave Tollett said. “I am incredibly proud of him for being named the winner of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year award. He is a true throwback. He would rather play this game 365 days a year. That’s how much he loves it. He’s the kind of player that can do it all – pitching, hitting and defense – and more importantly, he does it all with grit.”

“He has a team first mentality. When we needed him the most, he didn’t flinch. He just said, ‘Whatever you need, coach,’ and he delivered in all aspects. I truly feel he’s the best player in the country and he deserves every bit of this recognition. He has earned it with his talent, his work ethic and his loyalty. We are fortunate to have him here at FGCU. I truly believe the best is ahead of him.”

As a freshman, Dempsey pitched in just six games but was intended to be a big piece of their bullpen this season as a sophomore. However, through the course of non-conference and into ASUN play, FGCU lost all three starting pitchers to injury, Coach Tollett went to Dempsey to ask him to move into the starting rotation, He was more than happy to do so. FGCU started 1-7 in the ASUN, but once they moved Dempsey to the starting role, Coach Tollett said their turnaround began. Starting with Dempsey's win over North Florida in his first start on March 29, FGCU went 15-7 in conference play and earned the No. 3 seed from the Graphite Division for the ASUN tournament. There, FGCU went 5-1 to finish tied with Stetson for the ASUN Tournament title. Unfortunately, because Stetson and FGCU finished with 1-1 records against each other in the tournament, Stetson was awarded the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA tournament per ASUN policy after weather cancelled the championship game between the two schools.

Dempsey will be playing for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League this summer and also will be participating in Team USA tryouts later this summer. Coach Tollett said his competitiveness and determination have drawn the interest from scouts. According to Tollett, the spin rate on his slider is at 3,200, believed to be among the nation’s best in that category.

Other finalists for the 2025 Olerud Award included senior Bryce Calloway, RHP/OF, New Orleans, junior Ethan Hedges, IF/RHP, USC, sophomore Max Knight, LHP/1B, Missouri State and senior Justin Lehman, RHP/1B, Army West Point.

Jac Caglianone of the University of Florida was the 2024 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year. Caglianone made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals earlier this month.

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 Recipients

Year - Name, Positions, Class, School

2025 - Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Sophomore, Florida Gulf Coast

2024 – Jac Caglianone, LHP/1B, Junior, Florida

2023 – Caden Grice, LHP/1B/DH, Junior, Clemson

2022 – Paul Skenes, RHP/C, Sophomore, Air Force

2021 – Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP/SS, Junior, Nebraska

2020 – Not Awarded (Season Suspended)

2019 – Aaron Schunk, 3B/RHP, Junior, Georgia

2018 – Brooks Wilson, RHP/DH/1B, Senior, Stetson

2017 – Brendan McKay, 1B/LHP, Junior, Louisville

2016 – Brendan McKay, 1B/LHP, Sophomore, Louisville

2015 – Brendan McKay, 1B/LHP, Freshman, Louisville

2014 – A.J. Reed, 1B/LHP, Junior, Kentucky

2013 – Marco Gonzales, LHP/1B, Junior Gonzaga

2012 – Brian Johnson, LHP/DH, Junior, Florida

2011 – Danny Hultzen, LHP/1B/OF, Junior, Virginia

2010 – Mike McGee, RHP/OF, Junior, Florida State