OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Senior Griffin Palfrey of Columbia baseball was named to the 2025 watch list for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, which was released Tuesday by the College Baseball Foundation.

The 35 players on this year's watch list features the best dual role players in the nation.

Palfrey has started all 30 games for the Lions in the field and has posted a .241 batting average with three homers, 24 RBI and 26 runs scored. He has 15 extra-base hits on the year, which make up for more than half of his hits. Palfrey is also just five doubles shy of tying Columbia's all-time record of 49. On the hill, the native of Vancouver has made six appearances out of the bullpen and struck out 13 batters in 12 innings of work.

"We are excited to shine a spotlight on the best two-way players in the nation with the release of our 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player Watch list," said George Watson, chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year selection committee. "This year's list features a 2024 finalist and many other talented two-way players within college baseball. These outstanding players are integral to their individual team's success on the mound and at the plate. We look forward to watching each of them as the 2025 season continues." 

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.

The winner of the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award will be announced on June 17.

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

2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List
Name, Positions, Class, School
• Chris Arroyo, UTL/LHP, Junior, Virginia
• Blaine Brown, LHP/OF, Freshman, Rice
• Jeremy Cheeseman, RHP/1B, Junior, Farleigh Dickinson
• Gio Colasante, IF/RHP, Junior, Harvard
• Carter Danz, LHP/OF, Freshman, Northwestern
• Michael Delph, 1B/RHP, Freshman, Army
• Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Sophomore, Florida Gulf Coast
• Kameron Douglas, RHP/OF, Junior, Alabama State
• Austin Eaton, RHP/IF, R-Senior, Texas State
• Noah Franco, LHP/1B, Freshman, TCU
• Connor Grotyohann, RHP/IF, Junior, Rutgers
• Tyler Guerin, RHP/1B, Freshman, Iowa
• Alex Hernandez, RHP/IF, Freshman, Georgia Tech
• Kyle Johnson, LHP/OF, Sophomore, Duke
• Gavyn Jones, LHP/OF, Sophomore, Oklahoma
• Max Knight, LHP/1B, Sophomore, Missouri State
• Justin Lehman, RHP/1B, Senior, Army
• Malachi Lott, OF/LHP, Senior, Houston
• Liam McCallum, LHP/1B, Senior, Winthrop
• Christian Mitchelle, IF/RHP, Junior, Cincinnati
• DJ Newman, RHP/OF, Junior, Bowling Green
• Griffin Palfrey, IF/RHP, Senior, Columbia
• Erik Paulsen, 1B/LHP, Sophomore, Stony Brook
• Logan Reddemann, IF/RHP, Sophomore, San Diego
• Will Rogers, RHP/DH, Senior, Michigan
• Austin Smith, LHP/OF, Senior, San Diego
• James Smith, OF/RHP, Junior, Memphis
• Ryan Sprock, RHP/IF, Junior, Elon
• Nolan Stevens, IF/OF/LHP, Sophomore, Mississippi State
• Trey Swygart, RHP/IF, Freshman, Portland
• Elijah Underhill, RHP/OF, Sophomore, Eastern Kentucky
• Josh Wakefield, OF/LHP, Junior, Grand Canyon
• T.P. Wentworth, OF/LHP, Freshman, Clemson
• Harrison Wilson, IF/RHP, Junior, Winthrop
• Landon Zaborowski, RHP/IF, Freshman, Utah Valley

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 National Pitcher of the Year, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year, the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence Award.

About the College Baseball Hall of Fame
Each year, more than 190 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, 165 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 early 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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