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.
Previous Winners
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2025 - Jake Knapp, North Carolina
After missing the entire 2024 season with a torn UCL, Knapp returned in 2025 to deliver one of the most remarkable seasons in college baseball, going a perfect 14–0 with a 2.02 ERA, 88 strikeouts, and a .196 opponent batting average over 102.1 innings. His 14 wins tied the UNC Tar Heels baseball program single-season record and stood as the most in the nation without a loss, capping a historic comeback for the two-time team captain. Read More.
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2024 - Hagen Smith, Arkansas
Allowing just 19 earned runs all season, Hagen Smith was a consistent force to help the Arkansas Razorbacks earn the No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament, making him a deserving winner for the 2024 Pitcher of the Year Award.
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2023 - Paul Skenes, LSU
After winning the 2022 Olerud Award as a two-way force at Air Force, Paul Skenes transferred and put together one of the best seasons in LSU baseball history en route to earning 2023 Pitcher of the Year honors.
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2022 - Cooper Hjerpe, Oregon State
Head of the class of 2022 hurlers, Cooper Hjerpe did a standout job for Oregon State, becoming the 2022 winner of the National Pitcher of the Year Award presented by the College Baseball Foundation.
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2021 - Kevin Kopps, Arkansas
As the closer for the No. 1-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks, redshirt senior Kevin Kopps helped lead his team to an SEC championship and earned himself the 2021 National Pitcher of the Year award in the process.
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2019 - Ethan Small, Mississippi State
Mississippi State left-hander Ethan Small was named the 2019 National Pitcher of the Year after a spectacular season in which he led the Bulldogs to their second straight trip to the College World Series.
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2018 - Luke Heimlich, Oregon State
Left-hander Luke Heimlich continued the recent tradition of elite pitching at Oregon State this season. After a season in which he finished 16-1 with a 2.32 ERA, the southpaw was named the 2018 National Pitcher of the Year.
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2017 - Steven Gingery, Texas Tech
Texas Tech southpaw Steven Gingery put together an impressive breakout campaign to earn the 2017 Pitcher of the Year Award. Gingery compiled a 10-1 record and 1.58 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings for the Red Raiders.
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2016 - Eric Lauer, Kent State
Kent State left-hander Eric Lauer finished the season with a remarkable 0.69 ERA, the lowest by a Division I starting pitcher in nearly 40 years. Lauer posted a 10-2 record and allowed just eight earned runs over 104 innings pitched.
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2015 - Carson Fulmer, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt junior Carson Fulmer captured the Southeastern Conference triple crown in 2015, finishing first in the league in wins (14), ERA (1.83) and strikeouts (167) while also leading the SEC in inning pitched (127 2/3).
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2014 - Aaron Nola, LSU
Aaron Nola earned the 2014 Pitcher of the Year Award with a remarkable 22-3 record and 1.47 ERA over 116 1/3 innings. He also tallied 134 strikeouts, yielded just four home runs and held opponents to a .172 batting average.
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2013 - Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma
Selected third overall in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, Oklahoma's Jonathan Gray earned the 2013 Pitcher of the Year Award after posting a 10-3 record with a 1.64 ERA over 126 1/3 innings pitched. Gray also led the Big 12 in strikeouts with 147 and held opponents to a .189 batting average.
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2012 - Mark Appel, Stanford
Selected eighth overall in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, Stanford's Mark Appel earned the 2012 Pitcher of the Year Award after posting a 10-2 record with a 2.56 ERA over 130 innings pitched. Appel also led the Pac-12 in strikeouts, striking out 10 or more hitters in eight of his 16 starts.
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2011 - Trevor Bauer, UCLA
Also named National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America, UCLA Bruin Trevor Bauer set a Pac-10 record for strikeouts in a season with 203, and compiled a 13-2 record with a 1.25 ERA on his way to being named Pitcher of the Year for the 2011 season. Bauer logged at least 10 strikeouts in 14 of his 16 starts.
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2010 - Alex Wimmers, Ohio State
Despite missing a month of the season due to injury, Wimmers posted a perfect 9-0 record in 2010, along with a 1.61 ERA in winning the 2010 Pitcher of the Year Award. In addition to the national recognition, Wimmers was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Year at the conclusion of the season, becoming the first back-to-back winner of that award in the history of the conference.
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2009 - Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State
In one of the finest collegiate seasons in history, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander won 13 consecutive decisions in posting a 13-1 record in 15 starts. For the season, Strasburg led the nation with a 1.32 ERA and 195 strikeouts, against 19 walks in 109 innings. He allowed only 65 hits and opponents hit just .172 with four home runs against him.