Texas freshman right-hander Sam Cozart added to his breakout season Tuesday, earning multiple national honors as one of the most dominant relief pitchers in college baseball.
Cozart was named the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and also shared Perfect Game’s Co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year award with North Carolina’s Caden Glauber. The recognition caps a debut campaign that has placed the 6-foot-6 right-hander among the most effective arms in the country heading into the Men’s College World Series.
Texas became the first program since the award’s inception in 2009 to produce back-to-back NCBWA Freshman Pitcher of the Year winners, with Cozart following Dylan Volantis (2025). He joins Corey Knebel (2011) and Volantis as the only Longhorns to earn the honor, giving Texas three all-time recipients, which is more than any other program.
Cozart’s numbers underscore his impact. Over 22 appearances, he has posted a 6-0 record with nine saves, tying for the most by a freshman nationally. Across 49 innings, he has struck out 71 batters while issuing just 12 walks, combining power with precision in high-leverage situations.
Among Division I pitchers with at least 45 innings, Cozart leads the nation in WHIP at 0.69 and opponent batting average at .132. His 1.64 ERA ranks second nationally, trailing only UC Santa Barbara’s Jackson Flora.
His dominance has been particularly evident against top competition. In SEC play, Cozart recorded a 1.01 ERA and 0.64 WHIP over a significant sample, while also tying for the conference lead with seven saves.
A Freshman All-American selection, Cozart has also been named a finalist for both National Freshman Pitcher of the Year and the Stopper of the Year Award, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s elite bullpen arms.
With Texas continuing its postseason run, Cozart’s emergence has provided the Longhorns with a reliable late-game presence and a cornerstone for the future.
