2015 GREGG OLSON AWARD FINALISTS NAMED

OMAHA, NE - The finalists for the 2015 Gregg Olson Award presented by Toolshed Sports, have been determined. The award honors college baseball’s breakout player of the year. The annual award is given to a top amateur baseball player who elevates his game to an elite level throughout the season.

After a freshman season at Auburn filled with only mixed success, Gregg Olson became one of the top collegiate players in the nation during an outstanding, unprecedented sophomore season. Despite being omitted from any preseason All American lists, Olson went on to lead the entire nation in ERA with a 1.26 mark and compiled an incredible 11-1 record with 10 saves for the Tigers.

Ohio's Logan Cozart was the MAC Pitcher of Year this season despite posting a 6.21 ERA in '14 and a 7.32 mark the year before.

Following a summer pitching for the USA National Team where he lead the club in strikeouts, Olson returned to Auburn for another spectacular season. He led the SEC with a 2.00 ERA and amassed a triple-digit strikeout total, issuing 113 K’s in only 72 innings with only 27 walks. He finished his collegiate career with back-to-back First Team All American honors, a 25-7 record, 3.03 ERA, 20 saves, 271 strikeouts and redefined the way college coaches used their top pitcher.

The Olson Award has been developed to honor college baseball’s success stories and showcase players like Olson who have raised the level of their game through hard work, strength of mind and determination. Eligible players will be those who are omitted from major publication’s preseason All American prognostications; however by the end of the season their on the field performance will demonstrate that they are among the top amateur baseball players in the nation.

The winner of the 2015 Gregg Olson Award will be named in Omaha, Nebraska during the College World Series which will be held this season at TD Ameritrade Park from June 13-23/24.

2015 Gregg Olson Award Finalists

Andrew Benintendi, Arkansas
Benintendi batted a respectable.278 as a freshman, but didn't have much clout powerwise with only one homer and 10 extra-base hits. He added weight in the off season and recovered from some health issues that had been plaguing him to have one of college baseball most sensational seasons. Benintendi has hit .380 so far this season and is currently tied for the division lead with 19 homers. He also added 23 stolen bases and was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year.

Logan Cozart, Ohio
Cozart finished his sophomore season with a 6.21 ERA and his junior year with 7.42 ERA. This season Cozart earned All-American honors and won Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year recognition after going 7-1 with 13 saves in 31 appearances. In 71 innings pitched Cozart only allowed 38 hits while striking out 80.

Michael Freeman, Oklahoma State
Freeman threw just 14 2/3 innings and had a 6.28 ERA as a junior, but after changing his mechanics he became one of the most dominating starting pitchers in college baseball. He finished 2015 with a 10-3 record and a 1.31 ERA to become an All American and win the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.

Zach George, Arkansas State
George's last two seasons were marred by injury as he played in only 10 games as a junior and only nine games as a sophomore. Finally getting an opportunity to play healthy, George batted .399 with 52 walks and 16 HBPs to post the highest on-base percentage in the nation at .548. Combined with past seasons he strung together the longest on-base streak in college baseball at 74 games.

Matt Hall, Missouri State
As a sophomore Hall had decent numbers as he went 2-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 16 appearances for the Bears. His numbers absolutely exploded this year as he went 12-2 with a 2.02 ERA. He currently leads college baseball with 171 strikeouts and got his team within a game of the College World Series when he threw a one-hitter against Arkansas in the Super Regionals.

Cody Jones, TCU
Jones hit a respectable.269 as a sophomore and .265 a junior, but was primarily a stolen base and defensive threat than full-fledged all-around weapon. This season raised his average over .1000 points by hitting a team leading .374 as he lead the Frogs to another deep postseason run. He was named the Big 12 Player of the Year after leading the conference in batting average, runs scored, on-base percentage and stolen bases.

Andrew Lee, Tennessee
Lee had some decent appearances as a pitcher in 2014, going 4-4 with a 3.90 ERA but had been a liability as a hitter, only mustering a .185 batting average his first two seasons. This year Lee gained confidence and blossomed both on the mound and at the plate. He had nine saves with a 2.67 ERA in 21 appearances out of the bullpen and batted .306 with nine home runs while playing first base and DH. For his effort Lee also earned recognition as a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year.

Kyle Lewis, Mercer
Lewis contributed to the Bears' success in 2014 in a limited role, earning only 24 starts with a number of late inning appearances. For the year he hit .281 in 89 at bats with a pair of home runs. This season he easily earned SoCon Player of the Year honors and nearly won the league's triple crown by posting a league-leading .373 batting average with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs.

James McMahon, Southern Mississippi
McMahon spent his first three seasons at USM as a reliever and didn't have a ton of success. In 13 games last season he had a 6.97 ERA which was an improvement from his '13 numbers when he had a 9.95 ERA. After converting to a starter this season he posted a 11-2 record with a 1.72 ERA and won the C. Spire Ferriss Trophy for best collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi and C-USA Pitcher of the Year.

David Thompson, Miami
Thompson was a Freshman All American in 2013, but his numbers dipped last season as he missed half the year due to a thoracic disorder which required surgery; he batted .278 in 30 games with no home runs and 15 RBI. This season Thompson led the 'Canes back to Omaha as he is currently batting .333 and is tied for tops in the nation with 19 home runs and is the DI outright leader in RBI with 87.