Kersey Named Finalist For John Olerud Two-Way Player Of The Year Award
6/3/2026 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
MACON – Braydon Kersey was named as one of five finalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year award by the College Baseball Foundation on Wednesday afternoon.
The award is named after former Washington State standout John Olerud, who achieved success both as a first baseman and as a left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s. Olerud was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.
"These five finalists represent not only what the John Olerud Award is all about, but also some of the finest young talent in college baseball today," Chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year selection committee George Watson said. "Each one has had an outstanding season both individually as well as helping their team to great success. We are proud to have these five individuals represent the Olerud Award."
Kersey joins Farleigh Dickinson's Jeremy Cheeseman (Junior 1B/RHP), Florida Gulf Coast's Evan Dempsey (Junior OF/RHP), Campbell's Jett Music (OF/RHP) and Utah Tech's Ryan Kroepel (Junior 3B/RHP) as the five best two-way players In the country. Dempsey was the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year.
A sophomore from Alpharetta, Georgia, Kersey stepped into a much larger role in Mercer's offense while becoming the Bears' closer for the 2026 season. Kersey served as Mercer's everyday DH and slashed .325/.438/.684 with a 1.122 OPS, 21 home runs, 67 RBI, 11 doubles and 141 total bases in 206 total at-bats. On the mound, Kersey was 2-0 with a team-leading six saves (second-most in the Southern Conference) and a 26-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 20.0 innings of work.
The 2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award will be announced at a press conference scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, in the media room at Charles Schwab Field prior to the start of the second day of action at the Men's College World Series.
Â
The award is named after former Washington State standout John Olerud, who achieved success both as a first baseman and as a left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s. Olerud was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.
"These five finalists represent not only what the John Olerud Award is all about, but also some of the finest young talent in college baseball today," Chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year selection committee George Watson said. "Each one has had an outstanding season both individually as well as helping their team to great success. We are proud to have these five individuals represent the Olerud Award."
Kersey joins Farleigh Dickinson's Jeremy Cheeseman (Junior 1B/RHP), Florida Gulf Coast's Evan Dempsey (Junior OF/RHP), Campbell's Jett Music (OF/RHP) and Utah Tech's Ryan Kroepel (Junior 3B/RHP) as the five best two-way players In the country. Dempsey was the 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year.
A sophomore from Alpharetta, Georgia, Kersey stepped into a much larger role in Mercer's offense while becoming the Bears' closer for the 2026 season. Kersey served as Mercer's everyday DH and slashed .325/.438/.684 with a 1.122 OPS, 21 home runs, 67 RBI, 11 doubles and 141 total bases in 206 total at-bats. On the mound, Kersey was 2-0 with a team-leading six saves (second-most in the Southern Conference) and a 26-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 20.0 innings of work.
The 2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award will be announced at a press conference scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, in the media room at Charles Schwab Field prior to the start of the second day of action at the Men's College World Series.
Â
Players Mentioned
INF/RHP
/ BaseballMercer Vs VMI Game 3 Baseball Melt 5 10
Sunday, May 10
Mercer v. VMI | Baseball Highlight Reel: 5/9/26
Saturday, May 09
Mercer v. VMI | Baseball Highlight Reel: 5/8/26
Saturday, May 09
Mercer Women's Lacrosse 2026 | vs. High Point | Big South Championship | Full Game Highlights
Sunday, May 03
