Midseason College Baseball Player Of The Year Award Predictions For 2025

Image credit: Alex Lodise (Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)

With the 2025 season at its half way point, Baseball America is recognizing the standout performers so far with our Midseason Awards as way for us to look back at preseason predictions and make alterations based on results.

Here are our picks for National Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year, along with selections for each award across the Power 4 conferences.

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National

Midseason Player of the Year: Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State
Preseason pick: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

Lodise has exploded onto the national stage in 2025, transforming from a solid contributor into one of college baseball’s most dangerous bats. After hitting .288 with nine homers as a sophomore, he’s slashing an eye-popping .448/.500/.821 with 12 home runs, 40 RBIs, 10 doubles and two triples—and even hit for the cycle. Lodise still chases out of the zone at a 34% clip, but he’s significantly cut his strikeout rate while nudging his walk rate upward. The result? A more complete hitter who’s more than doubled his ISO and become a cornerstone of the 13th-ranked Seminoles’ success.

Midseason Pitcher of the Year: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
Preseason pick: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

Anderson has emerged as one of the premier arms in college baseball, climbing draft boards with each dominant outing. After serving as a two-pitch reliever in 2024, he seized the Tigers’ ace role in 2025 and has since delivered a 2.85 ERA with 75 strikeouts to just 12 walks over 47.1 innings. Anderson now leans on a polished four-pitch mix, headlined by a changeup generating a 49% whiff rate. With consistent dominance and growing command, Anderson has made a strong case as the Pitcher of the Year frontrunner. There are surely a number of other candidates for this award, but Anderson’s complete game shutout with 14 strikeouts last week only solidified his rise as it came against then-No. 9 Oklahoma.

Midseason Freshman of the Year: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
Preseason pick: Rintaro Sasaki, 1B, Stanford

Though the depth of this year’s freshman class has been undeniable, Strosnider stands out as the clear midseason Freshman of the Year. In his first 31 collegiate games, the Horned Frogs’ everyday right fielder has slashed .390/.464/.732 with eight home runs, eight doubles, five triples, 37 RBIs and five stolen bases. The Brock, Texas native has hit safely in 24 games this season, showing advanced feel for the barrel and impacting TCU’s lineup in multiple ways. In a crowded field of breakout newcomers, his blend of power, speed and consistency has set him apart as one of the nation’s most dynamic first-year players.

SEC

Midseason Player of the Year: Ryland Zaborowski, DH, Georgia
Preseason pick: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

A clear contender for National Player of the Year as well, Zaborowski was the easy choice for SEC Player of the Year after powering his way to a .424/.562/.950 line with 15 home runs, seven doubles, 51 RBIs and more walks (24) than strikeouts (19). A transfer from Miami (Ohio), Zaborowski has become one of the nation’s most consistent and feared power hitters thanks to an exceptionally disciplined approach. His ability to pair patience with thunderous contact has made him the engine of Georgia’s offense and a nightmare for opposing pitchers.

Midseason Pitcher of the Year: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
Preseason Pick: Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arkansas

After he was tabbed as midseason National Pitcher of the Year, it was only natural that Anderson would stick in his conference’s top pitching spot. Tennessee’s Liam Doyle, Oklahoma’s Kyson Witherspoon and Arkansas’ Zach Root are among the other clear contenders for the honor.

Midseason Freshman of the Year: Derek Curiel, OF, LSU
Preseason pick: Brodie Johnston, 3B, Vanderbilt

Curiel gave Sawyer Strosnider a serious run in the national conversation, and while he narrowly missed out there, we’re naming him midseason SEC Freshman of the Year with little debate. The 6-foot-2 Baldwin Park, Calif. native has slashed .374/.522/.577 with three home runs, 12 doubles, three triples, 28 RBIs and more walks (33) than strikeouts (27). Curiel’s plate discipline and polished approach are rare for any player, let alone a true freshman. Florida’s Brendan Lawson, Vanderbilt’s Brodie Johnston and Tennessee’s Levi Clark are worthy challengers, but so far, Curiel has done enough to earn the nod.

ACC

Midseason Player of the Year: Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State
Preseason pick: Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson

As referenced in the National awards section, Lodise is in the midst of a career year. He’s well on his way to setting new career-highs in nearly every major statistical category and has been the centerpiece of Florida State’s lineup. As a cherry on top, Lodise has seen his draft stock ascend a considerable amount and is now in the top-two round discussion.

Midseason Pitcher of the Year: Joey Volini, LHP, Florida State
Preseason pick: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

While Arnold is enjoying another strong season, it’s actually his teammate in Volini who has led the Seminoles’ pitching staff. After making just three starts last spring at South Florida, Volini has flourished thus far in Tallahassee to the tune of a 2.56 ERA with 66 strikeouts to just 11 walks across 45.2 innings. A polished strike-thrower, Volini is around the zone and generates whiffs with all four of his offerings.

Midseason Freshman of the Year: Alex Hernandez, INF, Georgia Tech
Preseason pick: Rintaro Sasaki, 1B, Stanford

In the wake of an impressive fall, Hernandez earned an every day spot in the Yellow Jackets’ starting nine and hasn’t looked back. Through 33 games, he’s posted a .331/.427/.622 line with six doubles, a pair of triples, nine home runs and 42 RBIs. Hernandez has shown the ability to drive the baseball with authority to all fields to go along with advanced swing decisions. He’s a draft-eligible sophomore in 2026 and is on track to be a potential early-round selection.

Big Ten

Midseason Player of the Year: Korbyn Dickerson, OF, Indiana
Preseason pick: Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana

If it wasn’t for his fellow Hoosier having one of the most impressive seasons of any position player in the country, Taylor would be in a good spot to take home conference player of the year honors. However, Dickerson thus far is hitting .370/.436/.760 with eight doubles, 15 home runs and 56 RBIs. Not only do his home run and RBI totals lead all Big Ten hitters, they also rank inside the top five nationally. In his first year receiving regular playing time, Dickerson has flashed his enticing toolset on a regular basis and has seen his draft stock soar.

Midseason Pitcher of the Year: Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State
Preseason pick: Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State

Dzierwa remains the pick to win the conference’s pitcher of the year award, as through eight starts (47.2 innings) the towering lefthander has posted a 5-1 record to go along with a 1.89 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 59-to-16 . Dzierwa’s fastball has been up to 95 mph with plenty of armside ride, though his bread-and-butter pitch is a plus changeup. While Dzierwa is still the pick, keep an eye on Iowa lefthander Cade Obermueller. Through eight starts (46.2 innings), he’s pitched his way to a 2.51 ERA with a conference-leading 65 strikeouts to 14 walks.

Midseason Freshman of the Year: Jake Hanley, 1B, Indiana
Preseason pick: Hogan Denny, OF, Indiana

Hanley has been one of the most impressive freshmen in the country and is hitting .382/.474/.595 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 32 RBIs. The 6-foot-6 first baseman has impressive plate coverage and has plus bat-to-ball skills to go along with an advanced approach. He has established himself as one of the most polished 2027-eligible hitters in the country and is well on his way to an illustrious career in Bloomington.

Big 12

Midseason Player of the Year: Brady Ballinger, 1B, Kansas
Preseason pick: Nolan Schubart, OF, Oklahoma State

Kansas has been one of the biggest breakout teams in the country this season. A transfer from College of Southern Nevada, it’s safe to say that Ballinger has assimilated well to the Division I level. Through 34 games, he’s hitting .411/.563/.791 with 11 doubles, 12 home runs and 39 RBIs. His advanced hit-power combination has been on display all season, and he hammers the baseball to all parts of the field.

Midseason Pitcher of the Year: Colter McAnelly, RHP, Utah
Preseason pick: Ben Abeldt, LHP, TCU

McAnelly showed flashes as a freshman last spring and collected 45 strikeouts across 51 innings, but he’s taken a step forward this spring and has cemented himself as one of the premier pitchers in the conference. He’s been a steady presence for the Utes, and through 53.2 innings, he’s compiled a 3.02 ERA with 60 strikeouts to 16 walks. McAnelly’s fastball has been up to 94 mph, though his best offerings are a mid-70s curveball and a low-80s changeup that have generated miss rates of 38% and 40%, respectively.

Midseason Freshman of the Year: Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU
Preseason pick: Mason Russell, LHP, Arizona

After a slow start in which he was hitting just .167 through March 3, Strosnider has since gone 42-for-87 (.483) with 32 RBIs and all 21 of his extra-base hits. Strosnider had plenty of draft buzz coming out of high school, and he’s flashed his loud toolset on a regular basis this spring. He’s a plus runner with plenty of bat speed to go along with plus raw power—especially to the pull side—and a plus arm. A draft-eligible sophomore next spring, Strosnider has first-round upside.