Roch Cholowsky, Jon Embury, Evan Dempsey and Dax Whitney Earn National Recognition From College Baseball Foundation

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Roch Cholowsky (UCLA), Jon Embury (Florida Gulf Coast), Evan Dempsey (Florida Gulf Coast) and Dax Whitney (Oregon State) earned weekly honors from the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) for their respective performances last week, it was announced on Tuesday.

Cholowsky earned the Brooks Wallace Award Player of the Week while Embury was named the Buster Posey Award National Collegiate Catcher of the Week. Dempsey earned the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week. Whitney was selected as the National Pitcher of the Week.

Brooks Wallace Award Player of the Week (Nation’s Most Outstanding Shortstop)

Roch Cholowsky, SS, Junior, UCLA, Chandler, Arizona

Cholowsky, the 2025 Brooks Wallace Award winner and CBF All-American, was on fire for the Bruins last week, going 7-of-16 (.438) with eight runs scored and 10 RBIs in four victories for UCLA. He racked up a double, two walks and smacked five home runs in a win over Tulane and a series sweep of No. 7 TCU. In Friday’s 10-2 win over the Horned Frogs, the junior hit a grand slam in the second inning before hitting a solo shot in his next at bat in the fifth inning. He finished with five RBIs in the series opening victory. Cholowsky is hitting .393 on the season with six home runs and 12 RBIs.

Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Week

Jon Embury, C, Sophomore, Florida Gulf Coast University, Port Charlotte, Florida

Embury posted a .529 batting average (9-17), 1.471 slugging percentage and .550 on-base percentage to help lead the Eagles to four wins in as many tries. He tallied 10 RBIs and seven runs scored while launching five home runs in a single win over Minnesota and a three-game sweep of Stonehill. Embury had two home runs a piece in the Friday and Sunday games against Stonehill. Defensively, he was nearly flawless, earning one assist with no passed balls or errors. He also threw out two of five attempted base stealers on the week.

John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Week Award

Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Junior, Florida Gulf Coast University, Tampa, Florida

Dempsey was instrumental in leading the Eagles to a perfect 4-0 week with a mid-week win over Minnesota and a three-game weekend sweep of Stonehill. FGCU’s 7-0 start is the best in school history. The 2025 John Olerud Award winner was 6-for-15 (.400) at the plate in the leadoff spot with a home run, two doubles, two RBIs and six runs scored on the week. He also racked up a complete game shutout win on the mound going seven innings, allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out seven batters in a 10-0 series opening win against Stonehill.

National Pitcher of the Week

Dax Whitney, RHP, Sophomore, Oregon State University, Blackfoot, Idaho

Whitney scattered two hits and tallied a school record tying 17 strikeouts in seven shutout innings in Oregon State’s 3-1 victory over Baylor last Friday at the Round Rock Classic. His 17 strikeouts matched the Oregon State single-game record reached previously by Mason Smith (1994 vs. Portland) and Cooper Hjerpe (2022 vs. Stanford). It was the most strikeouts recorded by a pitcher in the history of Dell Diamond. Whitney logged 96 pitches, walking one and hitting one batter, in a masterful pitching performance against the Bears. He left the game with a 1-0 lead but did not earn a decision after Baylor rallied to tie the game after his departure.

College Baseball Foundation Weekly Honors

Each week the CBF recognizes weekly award winners in conjunction with the Brooks Wallace Award, Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and the National Pitcher of the Year Award.

2026 Brooks Wallace Award Weekly Honorees

Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown

2/17 - Dee Kennedy Jr., SS, Junior, Kansas State University, Fort Worth, Texas

2/24 - Roch Cholowsky, SS, Junior, UCLA, Chandler, Arizona

2026 Buster Posey Award Weekly Honorees

Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown

2/17 - Sergio Guerra, C, Senior, Tarleton State University, San Diego, Texas

2/24 – Jon Embury, C, Sophomore, Florida Gulf Coast University, Port Charlotte, Florida

2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player Weekly Award Honorees

Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown

2/17 - Max Knight, LHP/1B/OF, Junior, Missouri State University, Bixby, Oklahoma 2/24 - Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Junior, Florida Gulf Coast University, Tampa, Florida

2025 National Pitcher(s) of the Year Weekly Award Honorees

Date Honored - Player, Pos., Class, School, Player Hometown

2/17 – Grant Govel, RHP, Sophomore, USC, Rolling Hills Estates, California

2/24 – Dax Whitney, RHP, Sophomore, Oregon State University, Blackfoot, Idaho

Brooks Wallace Award

The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to honor the nation's most outstanding shortstop. It is a tribute to Brooks Wallace, a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977-80 who passed away at age 27 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Prior to 2009, the award recognized the national player of the year.

Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award

Established in 2000, by the Wichita Sports Commission, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award is presented annually to honor the nation's most outstanding catcher. Posey began his collegiate career as a shortstop, before moving to catcher where he won the 2008 Johnny Bench Award, Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award. In his MLB career with the San Francisco Giants, Posey earned three world series titles, seven All-Star Game selections, five Silver Slugger Awards, the 2010 National League Rookie of the Year, 2012 National League MVP and was a 2016 Gold Glove Award winner.

John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award

The John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award is presented annually by the College Baseball Foundation to honor the nation's top combo pitcher-position player. Olerud, who was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, was a standout pitcher and first baseman at Washington State University from 1987 through 1989.

National Pitcher of the Year Award

The Pitcher of the Year award, college baseball's version of the Cy Young Award which was created in 2009, is given annually to the nation's top collegiate pitcher.