CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard University baseball senior infielder/right-handed pitcher
Gio Colasante has earned recognition as one of 15 semifinalists for the 2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, the College Baseball Foundation announced on Thursday.
Colasante – a two-time selection to the award's watch list – stands as the only player from the Ivy League to appear as a semifinalist. A total of 12 different conferences are represented among the semifinalists
Colasante – a two-time Ivy League Player of the Week (Mar. 23 and Mar. 31) this season – has hit .298 on the year with seven home runs, 25 RBIs, 34 hits, 21 runs, and five doubles. As a pitcher, he has notched a 4.17 ERA over 45.1 innings. He ranks first in the Ivy League in home runs (seven), second in slugging (.544), and third in OPS (.940) as well as third in opposing average (.213) and ninth in ERA (4.17) as a pitcher.
In Ivy only play, he has posted a .386 average with five homers, 14 RBIs, 22 hits, five doubles, and 12 runs as a batter while posting a 2.27 ERA and 3-0 record over 31.2 innings as a pitcher. In conference only play, he stands first in the Ancient Eight in home runs (five), second in slugging (.772), second in OPS (1.242), fourth in hits (22), sixth in average (.386), sixth in OBP (.470), and sixth in doubles (five), while ranking fourth in opposing average (.170), fifth in wins (three), seventh in ERA (2.27), and seventh in innings pitched (31.2) as a pitcher.
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.
The CBF annually presents the Brooks Wallace Award (Nation's Most Outstanding Shortstop), the National Pitcher of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence.
Next, Harvard hosts Penn in a three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 25 at 11:30 a.m. (ESPN+) and a single game on Sunday, Apr. 26 at noon (ESPN+). The Crimson will celebrate Senior Day as part of Saturday's doubleheader.
2026 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Semifinalists
Kyle Alivo, IF/RHP, Sophomore, Iowa, Big Ten
Jeremy Cheeseman, IF/RHP, Junior, Farleigh Dickinson, NEC
Gio Colasante, IF/RHP, Senior, Harvard, Ivy League
Evan Dempsey, OF/RHP, Junior, Florida Gulf Coast, ASUN
Jayce Dobie, RHP/Util., Senior, Nevada, MWC
Caylon Dygert, RHP/Util., Junior, UTA, WAC
Max Knight, LHP/IF, Junior, Missouri State, CUSA
Ryan Kroepel, RHP/Util, Junior, Utah Tech, WAC
Jackson McKenzie, 1B/LHP, Junior, Florida A&M, SWAC
Drew Nelson, LHP/Util., Senior, Troy, SBC
Josiah Overbeek, RHP/1B, Freshman, Army, Patriot
Jesse Rusinek, OF/LHP, Freshman, Texas Tech, Big 12
Curry Sutherland, IF/RHP, Junior, Missouri State, CUSA
Trey Swygart, RHP/IF, Sophomore, Portland, WCC
T.P. Wentworth, OF/LHP, Sophomore, Oklahoma State, Big 12
