Cal Poly's Naess Named to College Baseball Pitcher of the Year Watch List

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Griffin Naess, a junior right-handed pitcher for the Cal Poly Mustangs, has been named to the College Baseball Foundation's National Pitcher of the Year Watch List. Naess has already earned several accolades, including Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, two-time Big West Pitcher of the Week, and NCBWA Freshman All-American.

Why it matters

This recognition highlights Naess as one of the top pitchers in college baseball this season and puts him in the running for the prestigious National Pitcher of the Year award, which has been won by several MLB stars in the past.

The details

So far this season, Naess leads the Big West Conference in opponent batting average (.124) and ranks second in innings pitched (25.0), strikeouts (30), and ERA (1.44). He has not allowed more than three runs in any of his last six starts dating back to May 2025. Naess recently delivered a career-best 14-strikeout performance against Washington State, earning him National Team of the Week honors.

• Naess was named Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year in 2024.
• Naess has been named Big West Pitcher of the Week twice, in 2024 and 2026.
• Naess was named an NCBWA Freshman All-American in 2024.
• Naess was named to the All-Big West First Team in 2025 and Honorable Mention in 2024.
• Naess was named to the Baseball America National Team of the Week in 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Naess will look to continue his dominant performance as he competes for the National Pitcher of the Year award, which will be announced at the end of the season.