As the college baseball season winds down, regular-season awards are coming into focus. Players nationwide will be adding to their trophy cases, and that group could now include a few Longhorns. On Wednesday, Sam Cozart and Dylan Volantis were named semifinalists for the 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Award. They were among 43 players who earned the honor.
In his second season with the Longhorns, Volantis has remained a model of excellence. In nine starts this season, the talented lefty has posted a 2.13 ERA while holding opponents to a .196 batting average. The talented sophomore has also added 69 strikeouts to his resume and made the transition from a reliever to a starter look easy.
Like Volantis, Cozart has burst onto the scene as a freshman. During the 2026 campaign, the North Carolina native has posted a 1.83 ERA and struck out 49 batters. The Longhorns’ star has also shown he can handle multiple roles, recording six saves. Regardless of whether he is pitching out of the bullpen or rotation, Cozart has been one of the Longhorns’ most valuable pieces.
Although there are only a few weeks to go in the regular season, Volantis and Cozart still have plenty of time to improve their cases. They also put Texas in unique company, as it is one of only two Southeastern Conference programs with multiple honorees.
With Volantis and Cozart dealing, the Longhorns’ pitching staff has been one of the best in the nation. They rank top in the nation in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk ratio. If they can build on their recent success, they should be able to stay in the top ten.
While the Longhorns’ pitching duo is focused on bringing a national title to Austin, they will be keeping a close eye on how voting for the National Pitcher of the Year Award plays out.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns duo named National Pitcher of the Year semifinalists
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
