LUBBOCK, Texas – The two-way player has stepped into the spotlight in recent years on the college baseball scene, and the 2024 watch list for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, which was released Tuesday by the College Baseball Foundation, reflects as much.

The 23 players on this year’s watch list reflect some of the biggest names in college baseball this season as well as a new crop of up-and-coming young players who are making an immediate impact on the game. As usual, the watch list represents a wide swath of schools from across the country with players who have already made significant contributions to their team’s success.

“While this year’s watch list might be smaller than some previous years, the impact these players are making for their respective teams has been tremendous,” said George Watson, chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year selection committee. “And no one person is really running away with the award at this point despite some big numbers being put up, so it should make for an interesting chase down the stretch.”

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 award will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year.

Headlining the list this year are eight players who already have distinguished themselves by earning Olerud Player of the Week honors.

After a magnificent season last year, Jac Caglianone has picked up where he left off for the Florida Gators. The hard-hitting left-handed junior is projected to be an early draft pick in June, and has helped his cause tremendously, hitting a whopping .401 with 23 home runs (second in NCAA this season) and 46 RBI while compiling a 5-0 record on the mound with a 3.86 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 44.1 innings.

Senior Lyle Miller-Green from Austin Peay also has put up impressive numbers. On the mound, he is 4-1 with a 5.06 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 32 innings, and at the plate, he is hitting .355 with 19 home runs and 51 RBI.

Louisiana Tech has had a resurgence thanks to the efforts of senior Ethan Bates, who has racked up 11 saves to go with a 1-1 record and 2.90 ERA, striking out 41 batters in 31 innings. Offensively he is hitting .320 with 10 home runs and 51 RBI. Bowling Green sophomore D.J. Newman has sparked the Falcons to a strong start by hitting .359 with nine home runs and 35 RBI, and has compiled a 4-2 record and 3.61 ERA, striking out 42 in 42.1 innings.

Caglianone and TCU left-hander Payton Tolle, who transferred from Wichita State in the off-season, were finalists for the award in 2023.

The semifinalists for the Olerud Award will be announced in mid-May, with the five finalists being announced during the NCAA tournament. The winner will be announced on June 17.

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

2024 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List

Name, Class, School, Conference

• Ethan Bates, Senior, Louisiana Tech, Conference USA
• Carson Benge, Junior, Oklahoma State, Big 12
• Jac Caglianone, Senior, Florida, SEC
• Connor Grotyohann, Junior, Rhode Island, Atlantic 10
• Tommy Hopfe, Junior, Fresno State, Mountain West
• Kyle Johnson, Freshman, Duke, ACC
• Cameron Jones, Sophomore, Georgia Tech, ACC
• Malachi Lott, Junior, Sam Houston State, Conference USA
• Lyle Miller-Green, Senior, Austin Peay, Atlantic Sun
• Christian Mitchelle, Sophomore, Cincinnati, Big 12
• Trey Morgan, Junior, Virginia Military, Southern
• Justin Murray, Senior, Houston, Big 12
• Brock Murtha, Junior, Navy, Patriot
• DJ Newman, Sophomore, Bowling Green, Mid-American
• Erik Paulsen, Freshman, Stony Brook, Coastal Athletic
• Will Rogers, Junior, Michigan, Big Ten
• Austin Smith, Junior, San Diego, West Coast
• Kade Snell, Junior, Alabama, SEC
• Ryan Sprock, Sophomore, Elon, Coastal Athletic
• Nolan Stevens, Freshman, Mississippi State, SEC
• Payton Tolle, Junior, TCU, Big 12
• Mitch Voit, Sophomore, Michigan, Big Ten