University of Texas student-athletes Sam Cozart and Dylan Volantis were named among the 43 semifinalists for the 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Award, according to an April 22 announcement from the College Baseball Foundation.
The recognition highlights both players’ strong performances this season and underscores their importance to the Texas Longhorns baseball program. The Longhorns are one of only two Southeastern Conference teams with more than one player on this year’s list, joining Auburn.
Cozart is one of just three rookies selected as a semifinalist. In his first 13 career appearances, he has achieved a record of five wins and no losses, posting a 1.83 earned run average (ERA), a 0.55 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), and six saves. Over those games, he has struck out 49 batters in just over 34 innings while holding opponents to a .104 batting average. Cozart is tied for most saves among Power Four true freshmen.
Volantis was also recognized as a finalist for this award last year. This season, he holds an undefeated record with five wins in nine starts and maintains a 2.13 ERA across more than fifty innings pitched. He has tallied sixty-nine strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .196 average. As of April 22, Volantis ranks sixth in ERA and eighth in WHIP within the Southeastern Conference.
Together, Cozart and Volantis have contributed significantly to Texas’s pitching staff performance this year. The team currently ranks third nationally in WHIP at 1.16, fifth in lowest ERA at 3.41, and sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 3.36.
