OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – For the second consecutive season, Florida Gulf Coast star Evan Dempsey has been named the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, it was announced Saturday by the College Baseball Foundation.
 
Dempsey, who also won the award in 2025, becomes only the second player to win the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year multiple times, joining Louisville's Brendan McKay, who won the award in three-straight seasons from 2015-17.
 
The reigning John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, Dempsey turned in another spectacular campaign in 2026. The ASUN Pitcher of the Year also earned first-team all-conference honors as a pitcher and an outfielder. In addition to winning the Olerud Award, Dempsey was a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award.
 
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 are elated to once again have Evan representing the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award as its 2026 winner," Chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year selection committee George Watson said. "Evan established himself as one of the top talents in the entire nation last year and followed up a stellar sophomore season with an outstanding junior campaign, and in the process became just the second back-to-back winner of the award. We want to congratulate Evan on this monumental achievement and know that whatever the future holds next for him he will be a great success."
 
The Tampa, Florida, native started all 57 of his team's games, sporting a .333 batting average, 79 hits, including 18 doubles and 10 home runs, scored 57 runs and tallied 46 RBI. His OPS (.948), on base percentage (.412) and slugging percentage (.512) ranked among his squad's best. He led his squad with 15 stolen bases on 17 attempts. On the mound he was simply outstanding. In 15 starts, he posted a 7-2 record with a 3.15 ERA, a league-leading 126 strikeouts while only walking 26. He netted a 1.06 WHIP and allowed opposing hitters to hit only .209.
 
"It is a great honor to not only be in the same breath as the other great players that have won this award, but to be one of only two players to win it back-to-back," Dempsey said. "Coach Tollett didn't just allow me to be a two-way player; he architected the path that few coaches would even consider. For that, I am grateful. This would not have been possible without the 
sacrifice made by my teammates, making it possible every day to make the two-way player possible every day with position changes, schedule adjustments and more. This award truly means a lot to me."
 
Other finalists for the 2026 Olerud Award included junior Jeremy Cheeseman, 1B/RHP, Fairleigh Dickinson, sophomore Braydon Kersey, INF/RHP, Mercer, junior Ryan Kroepel, 3B/RHP, Utah Tech and sophomore Jett Music, OF/RHP, Campbell.
 
The 2026 Pitcher of the Year Award was announced at a press conference on Saturday, June 13, in the media room at Charles Schwab Field, prior to the start of the second day of action at the MCWS.
 
"To win this prestigious award once is a tremendous accomplishment," FGCU Head Baseball Coach Dave Tollett said. "To win it in back-to-back seasons speaks volumes about the type of player and competitor Evan is. Beyond his performance, Evan's work ethic, leadership and commitment to his teammates set him apart. He prepares the right way, competes with confidence and represents our program with class. His consistency and dedication have earned the respect of everyone around him. As his head coach, I am incredibly proud of Evan and all he has accomplished."
 
Other winners of 2026 College Baseball Foundation affiliated awards include Dylan Carey, Nebraska (Brooks Wallace Award), Daniel Jackson, Georgia (Buster Posey Award, Dick Howser Trophy, Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award), Jackson Flora, UCSB (Pitcher of the Year), John Savage, UCLA (Skip Bertman Coach of the Year) and Gene Stephenson, Wichita State (Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence).
 
As part of CBF's new partnership with Lamar Advertising, Dempsey and all 2026 award winners will be recognized with custom congratulatory digital signage near the location of the award winner's institution and hometown as well as other markets throughout the nation. The digital recognition will run for two weeks, beginning on Sunday, June 14.
 
For more information on the Olerud Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
 
John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Recipients
Year - Name, Positions, Class, School
2026 - Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Junior, Florida Gulf Coast
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
 
About the College Baseball Foundation
The purpose of the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) is to preserve, elevate, and advance the game; to inspire the next generation; to teach those who love college baseball about its rich history and traditions; to celebrate those who make college baseball special; and to honor those who have come before us, and built the foundation upon which college baseball thrives today.
 
The College Baseball Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Support for the College Baseball Hall of Fame will help preserve the rich history of the sport for future generations. All donations to the College Baseball Hall of Fame are tax deductible and can be made via this link on the organization's website.
 
The CBF presents the Brooks Wallace Award (Nation's Most Outstanding Shortstop), the Pitcher of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, presented by Marucci, the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence, and the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented by Rawlings. The CBF also works in collaboration with the Dick Howser Trophy, the Buster Posey Award, presented by Hasty Awards (nation's top catcher) and the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award.
 
About the College Baseball Hall of Fame
Each year, more than 200 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee. The College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006. Since that time, 175 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and contributors have been selected for induction. Click here for a full list of College Baseball Hall of Fame classes.
 
The College Baseball Hall of Fame will establish a physical location in Overland Park, Kansas in 2026. Located within the iconic Museum at Prairiefire, the College Baseball Hall of Fame will serve as a shared community asset, deepening connections to the nation's favorite pastime through a dynamic and ever-evolving space for college baseball enthusiasts to celebrate the sport's rich past, present, and future.
 
 
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