Valincius Named Semifinalist For National Pitcher Of The Year

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State ace Tomas Valincius was selected as a semifinalist for the National Pitcher of the Year Award by the College Baseball Foundation and the College Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

Valincius has made 10 starts in his first season with the Diamond Dawgs and compiled a 7-1 record on the mound. The sophomore left-hander sports a 1.81 earned run average with 83 strikeouts and 13 walks across 59 2/3 innings and opposing hitters are batting just .195 against him.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder from Lockport, Illinois currently has the second-lowest ERA in the SEC among qualified pitchers and is also tied for second in the conference in strikeouts.

Valincius is one of 43 semifinalists selected for the honor. Former MSU hurler Ethan Small was named the National Pitcher of the Year by the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019 and Chris Stratton was also tabbed as a semifinalist for the honor in 2012.

2026 NATIONAL PITCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD SEMIFINALISTS
Name, Position, Classification, School, Conference
• Hunter Alexander, RHP, Senior, UCA, ASUN
• Cooper Allen, RHP, Junior, UNCW, CAA
• Andreas Alvares, RHP, Sophomore, Auburn, SEC
• Max Bayles, RHP, Junior, Santa Clara, WCC
• Ben Blair, RHP, Junior, Liberty, CUSA
• Chansen Cole, RHP, Sophomore, West Virginia, Big 12
• Sam Cozart, RHP, Freshman, Texas, SEC
• John Damozonio, RHP, Senior, Saint Mary's, WCC
• Jason DeCaro, RHP, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
• Mason Edwards, LHP, Junior, USC, Big Ten
• Andrew Evans, RHP, RS-Junior, Southern Illinois, MVC
• Jackson Flora, RHP, Junior, UC Santa Barbara, Big West
• Braden Gebhardt, LHP, Senior, Youngstown State, Horizon
• Caden Glauber, RHP, Freshman, North Carolina, ACC
• Lucas Hartman, RHP, Graduate, Virginia, ACC
• Aidan King, RHP, Sophomore, Florida, SEC
• Will Labonte, RHP, Freshman, Portland, WCC
• Ethan Lay, RHP, Senior, Sacramento State, WAC
• Nathan Leininger, RHP, Senior, Toledo, MAC
• Chris Levonas, RHP, Sophomore, Wake Forest, ACC
• Isaiah Magdaleno, RHP, Junior, Hawaii, Big West
• Micheal Malki, RHP, Sophomore, Cal Baptist, WAC
• Jake Marciano, LHP, Sophomore, Auburn, SEC
• Walter McDuffie, RHP, Sophomore, North Carolina, ACC
• Wes Mendes, LHP, Junior, Florida State, ACC
• Wylan Moss, RHP, Sophomore, UCLA, Big Ten
• Mikiah Negrete, LHP, Senior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
• Chris Olivier, RHP, Senior, Lamar, Southland
• Ryan Peterson, RHP, Junior, Sam Houston, CUSA
• Eli Pillsbury, LHP, RS-Junior, Jacksonville State, CUSA
• Logan Reddemann, RHP, Junior, UCLA, Big Ten
• Bryce Riggs, RHP, Junior, Eastern Illinois, OVC
• Albert Roblez, RHP, Senior, Oregon State, Independent
• Michael Sharman, LHP, Senior, Clemson, ACC
• Patrick Steitz, RHP, RS-Senior, VCU, A-10
• Dakota Stone, LHP, RS-Junior, North Florida, ASUN
• Cayden Suchy, LHP, Sophomore, UConn, BIG EAST
• Max Vaisvila, LHP, Senior, Northern Illinois, MAC
• Tomas Valincius, LHP, Sophomore, Mississippi State, SEC
• Dylan Volantis, LHP, Sophomore, Texas, SEC
• Dax Whitney, RHP, Sophomore, Oregon State, Independent
• Maxx Yehl, LHP, RS-Junior, West Virginia, Big 12
• Bradley Zayac, RHP, Sophomore, Liberty, CUSA

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