Roch Cholowsky
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Cholowsky Honored as Baseball America Player of the Year
June 24, 2025 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES - UCLA sophomore shortstop Roch Cholowsky has been named Baseball America's 2025 National Player of the Year, becoming just the sixth non-draft eligible player to receive the prestigious honor in the award's 44-year history.
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This recognition adds to a storied campaign for Cholowsky, who also earned ABCA/Rawlings Division I Player of the Year, as announced Monday by the American Baseball Coaches Association. He played a pivotal role in guiding UCLA back to the Men's College World Series for the first time since 2013, fueling a 48-18 season that saw the Bruins claim a share of the Big Ten regular-season crown in their debut year in the conference.
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Cholowsky's 2025 season has been one of the most decorated in program history. He became the first Bruin to be named both Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, and the first UCLA player since 1998 to take home conference player of the year honors. On a national level, he became the first Bruin and first sophomore to win the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the top shortstop in college baseball.
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His standout campaign also included First Team All-America honors from the ABCA, an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove, Perfect Game's National Player of the Year, and a finalist nod for the Dick Howser Trophy.
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Cholowsky led all Division I players in WAR (6.49) while slashing .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs. His 1.261 OPS and .761 slugging percentage topped the Big Ten charts, and his home run total was the highest by a Bruin since 2000. Cholowsky also scored 80 runsโjust one shy of Chase Utley's school recordโand his 179 total bases ranked second in program history during the Super Regional era. He briefly set a UCLA record with 21 hit-by-pitches before being edged by teammate Dean West (22), and was one of just two Bruins to start every game this season.
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This recognition adds to a storied campaign for Cholowsky, who also earned ABCA/Rawlings Division I Player of the Year, as announced Monday by the American Baseball Coaches Association. He played a pivotal role in guiding UCLA back to the Men's College World Series for the first time since 2013, fueling a 48-18 season that saw the Bruins claim a share of the Big Ten regular-season crown in their debut year in the conference.
ย
Cholowsky's 2025 season has been one of the most decorated in program history. He became the first Bruin to be named both Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season, and the first UCLA player since 1998 to take home conference player of the year honors. On a national level, he became the first Bruin and first sophomore to win the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the top shortstop in college baseball.
ย
His standout campaign also included First Team All-America honors from the ABCA, an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove, Perfect Game's National Player of the Year, and a finalist nod for the Dick Howser Trophy.
ย
Cholowsky led all Division I players in WAR (6.49) while slashing .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs and 74 RBIs. His 1.261 OPS and .761 slugging percentage topped the Big Ten charts, and his home run total was the highest by a Bruin since 2000. Cholowsky also scored 80 runsโjust one shy of Chase Utley's school recordโand his 179 total bases ranked second in program history during the Super Regional era. He briefly set a UCLA record with 21 hit-by-pitches before being edged by teammate Dean West (22), and was one of just two Bruins to start every game this season.
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Players Mentioned
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