Fifteen Semifinalists Named for the 2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The two-way player is integral to college baseball, and the 15 standouts named Thursday as semifinalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, represent the best dual role players in the nation. The semifinalists include players who have made significant contributions to their team’s success this season, while competing in 12 different conferences.
"We said at the beginning of the year that this was one of the deepest and most talented watch lists we've seen for the John Olerud Award, and that has certainly paid out over the course of the season," said George Watson, chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. "It's also been pleasing to see so many teams embrace the two-way talent when roster-building has become more and more challenging, and our semifinalists are thriving not only individually but in the team concept as well. It should be an exciting fight to the finish."
The award is named after 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.
Headlining the watch list this year are the 2025 John Olerud Award winner Evan Dempsey from Florida Gulf Coast and Max Knight, a 2025 finalist from Missouri State. Dempsey, Knight, Josiah Overbeek, Ryan Kroepel, Jeremy Cheeseman, Jayce Dobie, TP Wentworth, Drew Nelson and Curry Sutherland have all won Olerud Award weekly honors during the 2026 season.
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.
The CBF annually presents the Brooks Wallace Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Shortstop), the National Pitcher of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence.
For more information on the John Olerud Award or any of the CBF awards, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Semifinalists
Name, Positions, Class, School, Conference
• Kyle Alivo, IF/RHP, Sophomore, Iowa, Big Ten
• Jeremy Cheeseman, IF/RHP, Junior, Farleigh Dickinson, NEC
• Gio Colasante, IF/RHP, Senior, Harvard, Ivy League
• Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Junior, Florida Gulf Coast, ASUN
• Jayce Dobie, RHP/Util., Senior, Nevada, MWC
• Caylon Dygert, RHP/Util., Junior, UTA, WAC
• Max Knight, LHP/Util., Junior, Missouri State, CUSA
• Ryan Kroepel, RHP/3B, Junior, Utah Tech, WAC
• Jackson McKenzie, 1B/LHP, Junior, Florida A&M, SWAC
• Drew Nelson, LHP/Util., Senior, Troy, SBC
• Josiah Overbeek, RHP/1B, Freshman, Army, Patriot
• Jesse Rusinek, OF/LHP, Freshman, Texas Tech, Big 12
• Curry Sutherland, 3B/RHP, Junior, Missouri State, CUSA
• Trey Swygart, RHP/IF, Sophomore, Portland, WCC
• T.P. Wentworth, OF/LHP, Sophomore, Oklahoma State, Big 12
