Liberty University right-handed pitchers Ben Blair and Bradley Zayac were announced as two of the 43 semifinalists for the 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Award by the College Baseball Foundation on April 22.
The recognition highlights both players’ performances during the current college baseball season. The award is given annually to one of college baseball’s top pitchers, making their selection among semifinalists a notable achievement for Liberty’s program.
Blair, appearing on the National Pitcher of the Year Watchlist for a second time this season, has compiled a 6-2 record with a 2.54 earned run average over more than sixty innings pitched. He has struck out seventy-eight batters while issuing only seven walks in ten starts, holding opponents to a .194 batting average and maintaining an 11.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Blair ranks second nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio and fourth in WHIP at 0.83, while also placing among national leaders in total strikeouts and fewest walks allowed per nine innings. Within Conference USA (CUSA), he leads in wins and opponent batting average, while ranking second in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and fewest walks issued.
Earlier this month, Blair was named to USA Baseball’s midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award—an honor given to one of amateur baseball’s top players—making him only the second Liberty player ever included after D.J. Artis was recognized in 2017.
Zayac has also contributed significantly as a sophomore this year with a perfect 5-0 record and a 2.65 ERA over more than fifty-four innings pitched across ten games (nine starts). He has recorded forty-eight strikeouts against nine walks with opponents hitting .230 against him; his strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 5.33. Zayac is currently ranked thirty-second nationally with a WHIP of just under one (0.99) and appears among conference leaders across several pitching categories including ERA (third), wins (fourth), innings pitched (fifth), strikeouts (eighth), opponent batting average (seventh), runs allowed (tied-fifth), and fewest walks issued (third).
Both pitchers are set to play alongside their teammates when Liberty faces No.10 Virginia Cavaliers at Disharoon Park later this evening.
