Baseball | 3/5/2026 2:45:00 PM

Utah Tech junior Ryan Kroepel was one of 49 players in the country to be named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award watch list, the College Baseball Foundation announced on Wednesday.

The 2026 watch list for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award features the best dual role players in the nation. The award is named after 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.

Wednesday's announcement is another feather in the cap for Kroepel, who was voted as the 2026 Western Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, tabbed as the 18^th-rated third baseman by D1Baseball.com, and listed on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year preseason watch list.
 
Kroepel, who is the lone WAC representative on the 49-player list, has started in all 12 games this season, including 11 at third base. He is currently batting .311 (14-for-45) with two home runs, 14 RBI and 11 runs scored. He also has drawn six walks and is 3-for-3 in stolen bases.
 
Meanwhile, the junior closer is currently the Division I leader in saves with five, including two saves in last week's home sweep of Northern Colorado. 
 
Kroepel, who was named WAC Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 16, has retired 20 of the 22 batters he has faced, including five on strikes, over 6.2 innings in five appearances this season.  
 
Utah Tech (11-1) wraps up its eight-game homestand with a four-game series vs. Austin Peay this upcoming Thursday-through-Saturday at Bruce Hurst Field.