Dempsey one of five finalists for Olerud Award
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University's Evan Dempsey has been named one of five finalists nationally for the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, presented by the College Baseball Foundation. The finalists were announced Wednesday afternoon.
"Evan is a special kind of player that only comes around once or twice in a coach's career," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "I'm very happy for him that he's been selected as a finalist. He's a throwback player that can do everything. He truly deserves this recognition."
Dempsey just completed his sophomore season for the Eagles. Playing in the outfield for much of the first half of the campaign, injuries to FGCU's pitching staff forced Coach Tollett to turn to Dempsey as a starting pitcher option. It proved to be a role in which Dempsey would thrive. He would be named to the Atlantic Sun Conference's First Team as a starting pitcher, ranking second in NCAA Division I in ERA for the season. He would strike out over 70 batters in better than 63 innings of work. At the plate and in the field, Dempsey would earn Second Team All-ASUN recognition, finishing the season with a batting average over .300. He would hit three homers on the campaign, but none was more electric than his homer against Stetson during the ASUN Championship in which he connected against the ASUN First Team relief pitcher on a game-tying homer in the ninth inning.
THE FIRST TEAM STARTING PITCHER JUST HOMERED OFF THE FIRST TEAM RELIEF PITCHER TO TIE THE GAME #WINGSUP pic.twitter.com/ockxuweHYy
— FGCU Baseball ⚾️ (@FGCU_Baseball) May 23, 2025
Joining Dempsey as a finalist are Bryce Calloway from New Orleans, Ethan Hodges from USC, Max Knight from Missouri State and John Lehman from Army West Point.
"This year's finalist class represents what the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award is all about -- players who have made a tremendous impact both at the plate and on the mound," said Olerud Award chairman George Watson. "Additionally, they have proven to be leaders on their respective teams. Any one of these fine young men would be outstanding representatives of the John Olerud Award."
Players Mentioned
- OF/RHP
- 6' 2"
- Sophomore
- L/R
Players Mentioned
- 6' 2"
- Sophomore
- L/R
- OF/RHP
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