Texas Baseball Star Dylan Volantis Named SEC Freshman of the Year

In a remarkable debut season, Texas Longhorns freshman pitcher Dylan Volantis has been named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year, solidifying his status as one of college baseball’s brightest emerging talents.

Volantis, a 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher from Thousand Oaks, California, has been a revelation for the Longhorns. Appearing in 33⅓ innings across 18 games, he posted a 1.08 ERA with 12 saves—11 of which came in SEC play, setting a new conference record for freshman pitchers. His dominance on the mound was instrumental in Texas securing its first SEC baseball championship.

• Series Sweep Against Georgia: Volantis earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors after recording a save and a win against No. 3 Georgia. He struck out nine batters over 5⅓ scoreless innings, including a career-high eight strikeouts in a 4-3 victory.
• Series Win Over LSU: In a pivotal series against LSU, Volantis delivered a career-high five strikeouts in three innings of relief, securing a 6-2 victory and aiding in Texas’ first home conference series win in the SEC.
• Clutch Performance Against Florida: With the Longhorns trailing in a crucial SEC matchup, Volantis entered in the sixth inning and retired 12 of the 14 batters he faced, recording his 12th save and setting a new SEC freshman record for conference saves.

Volantis’ exceptional freshman season has not only earned him SEC Freshman of the Year honors but also placed him on the National Pitcher of the Year Award watch list. With his combination of size, poise, and pitching prowess, he is poised to become a cornerstone of Texas’ pitching staff in the years to come.

Dylan Volantis’ ascent from a promising freshman to one of the nation’s premier closers underscores the depth of talent within the Texas Longhorns baseball program and highlights the bright future ahead for both Volantis and the team.