Gators’ two-way star Caglianone a finalist for John Olerud Award

Florida star baseball player Jac Caglianone is one of the five finalists for the 2023 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.

The award signifies the highest excellence of a pitcher-position player in college baseball. The other nominees, announced Tuesday, are left-hander/ first baseman T.J. Fondtain (San Diego State), right-hander/infielder Ryan Ignoffo (Eastern Illinois), left-hander/infielder Payton Tolle (Wichita State) and right-hander/ first baseman Caden Grice (Clemson).

Caglianone is the only Southeastern Conference player nominated for the award, and the College Baseball Foundation will announce the winner later this summer.

Winning would signify more than just another bullet-point accolade in Caglianone’s bio or trophy in his display case. This award could solidify a top spot on the 2024 MLB Draft prospects list. After he completes one more year of college play, Caglianone will be eligible for the draft.

As a left-handed pitcher and first baseman, Caglianone made a name for himself in the SEC. His 28 home runs lead the conference and rank second in the nation. The sophomore’s 76 RBI rank second in the SEC and tie him for 12th in the country.

The Tampa native also had a stellar performance on the mound, pitching to a 4.14 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 63 innings. As the weekend starter for the Gators all season long, Caglianone held opposing teams to a .184 batting average. He is the only Gator to start every game.

D1Baseball already projects Caglianone as the 11th pick in the 2024 draft. This award, with continued success, could bolster that projection.

It is not only Caglianone’s statistics on the field that stand out. His leadership off the field is what really sets him apart. “The finalists have differentiated themselves not only through the statistics they’ve racked up, but by being leaders of their respective teams,” Olerud Award co-chairman George Watson said in a statement. “Each one of them is more than deserving of this award.”

The award is named after Olerud, a standout player for Washington State in the late 1980s. Olerud found tremendous achievements as a lefthanded pitcher and first baseman. His two-way capabilities granted him induction into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 and a long, successful career in MLB.

Caglianone may follow closely in his footsteps.