OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Five of the nation’s top hurlers have been named finalists for the National Pitcher of the Year it was announced by the College Baseball Foundation.
Finalists include Gabe Craig (RHP, Baylor), Jake Knapp (RHP, North Carolina), Jacob Morrison (RHP, Coastal Carolina), Zane Taylor (RHP, UNCW) and Dylan Volantis (LHP, Texas). The distinguished group of pitchers include players from five different conferences.
Three finalists claimed their respective conference pitcher of the year awards: Knapp (ACC), Morrison (Sun Belt) and Taylor (CAA). Craig (Big 12) and Volantis (SEC) joined the other finalists earning first-team all-conference honors. Volantis was also named the SEC Freshman of the Year.
Three of the five finalists (Knapp, Morrison and Taylor) are traditionally used as starting pitchers, while two (Craig and Volantis) are used primarily as relievers.
"With a class of finalists this strong, whomever emerges as the winner will definitely have left their mark on college baseball," Pitcher of the Year Award co-chair Brian Melakian said.
Craig was dominant as the Baylor closer this season, making 24 appearances and earning three wins and 10 saves out of the bullpen. The right-hander sported a 0.56 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP. Craig racked up 51 strikeouts in 32 innings of work. He issued only three walks all season and held batters to a .124 batting average.
Knapp is a perfect 13-0 this season, after leading the Tar Heels to an NCAA Regional opening round win over Holy Cross. His 13 wins are tops among all finalists. Of his 15 appearances this season, he has logged 14 starts with two complete games and was part of two combined shutouts. Knapp has an ERA of 1.98 and has recorded 85 strikeouts in 95.1 innings pitched. The ACC Pitcher of the Year has a 0.83 WHIP and has walked only 16 batters. North Carolina will host Arizona in an NCAA Super Regional.
The Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year, Morrison has posted a perfect 11-0 record this season with a 2.19 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 16 appearances. Morrison has earned 89 strikeouts and has only issued 19 walks in 90.1 innings of work. He was part of two combined shutouts and held opposing batters to a .191 batting average. Coastal Carolina won its home regional and will play at Auburn in the NCAA Super Regional round.
Taylor has been masterful for the Seahawks this season. The CAA Pitcher of the Year is 11-2 with a 1.98 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. He has two complete games and has logged 95.2 innings in 15 starts this season, racking up 105 strikeouts and walking only 11 batters. He owns one complete game shutout and has combined for another. Taylor held opposing batters to a .181 batting average.
One of the nation’s top closers, Volantis anchored the Texas bullpen and helped lead the Longhorns to an SEC Championship in their first year in the conference. The southpaw made 23 appearances, with all but one coming out of the bullpen. He had a record 4-1 and racked up 12 saves. Volantis has a 1.94 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. Volantis struck out 74 and walked only 12 batters in 51.0 innings of work.
The 2025 winner will be announced Friday, June 13. Hagen Smith of the University of Arkansas was the 2024 National Pitcher of the Year.
The National Pitcher of the Year Award was first awarded in 2009. Previous winners of the award are Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State, 2009; Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State, 2010; Trevor Bauer, UCLA, RHP, 2011; Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford, 2012; Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma, 2013; Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU, 2014; Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt, 2015; Eric Lauer, LHP, Kent State, 2016; Steven Gingery, LHP, Texas Tech, 2017; Luke Heimlich, LHP, Oregon State, 2018; Ethan Small, LHP, Mississippi State, 2019; Kevin Kopps, RHP, Arkansas, 2021; Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State, 2022; Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU, 2023 and Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas, 2024.
For more information on the Pitcher of the Year Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
2025 National Pitcher of the Year Award Finalists
Name, Position, Class, School, Hometown, Conference
- Gabe Craig, RHP, RS-Senior, Baylor, Tyler, Texas, Big 12
- Jake Knapp, RHP, Graduate, North Carolina, Greensboro, N.C., ACC
- Jacob Morrison, RHP, RS-Sophomore, Coastal Carolina, Flushing, Mich., Sun Belt
- Zane Taylor, RHP, Senior, UNCW, Franklinton, N.C., CAA
- Dylan Volantis, LHP, Freshman, Texas, Thousand Oaks, Calif., SEC
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