Another honor for Nebraska infielder and pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach.
The dynamic player was named the 2021 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year by the College Baseball Foundation Wednesday morning. The award, which started in 2010, is named for the former Washington State standout who achieved success both as a first baseman and left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s.
Schwellenbach is the first Husker to win the award. Former Husker Jake Meyers was a finalist in 2017, but lost to Louisville’s Brendan McKay who won the award three times.
“Every year, the quality of athletes in college baseball makes it harder and harder to narrow down to a winner for this award,” said George Watson, chairman of the John Olerud Award selection committee.” Each of our five finalists was deserving of this award. In the end, what set Spencer apart was not only his ability to have an impact in every game for the Cornhuskers, but his leadership in helping guide Nebraska to the top of the Big Ten and a berth in the NCAA postseason. We are excited to see what the future holds for him and are proud to have him represent the John Olerud Award.”
The Big Ten Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, Schwellenbach dazzled primarily at shortstop when in the field as well as when pitching in relief. Against No. 1 Arkansas during the Fayetteville Regional, he pitched a season-high 4.2 innings, giving up zero earned runs and dropping his ERA to 0.57 for the season.