Kansas State’s AJ Evasco added to his historic rookie season, as he was named a 2025 Freshman All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the organization announced Monday.

The NCBWA recognized 34 standout freshmen across the country, including four from the Big 12 Conference. In addition to Evasco, TCU’s Sawyer Strosnider (first team) and Noah Franco (second team), along with Arizona State’s Landon Hairston (second team), were also honored.

Evasco, who received second-team recognition, becomes just the second Wildcat to be named a Freshman All-American by the NCBWA, joining current Major Leaguer Will Brennan.

In his rookie season, the Big 12 All-Freshman Team selection appeared in 56 of K-State’s 58 games, making 51 starts. The 6-foot-6 outfielder closed his freshman campaign with a .311/.380/.554 slash line, collecting 12 doubles, one triple, and 11 home runs. He ranked third on the team with 52 RBI and scored 52 runs, second most on the squad.

Evasco delivered 14 multi-RBI performances and recorded 14 games with two or more hits, including a team-best 14-game hitting streak that spanned from March 1–23.

A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, Evasco set multiple freshman program records during the NCAA Austin Regional. With his second home run against Texas, he surpassed the previous freshman home run record of 10 held by Nick Goodwin (2021) and Dylan Phillips (2019). He also broke the freshman RBI record previously shared by Brett Reid (1999) and Nick Martini (2009).

Evasco is the fourth Wildcat to earn Freshman All-American honors under seventh-year head coach Pete Hughes, joining Jordan Wicks (2019), Connor McCullough (2020) and Nick Goodwin (2021).

The Wildcats concluded the 2025 season with a 32-26 overall record, including a 17-13 mark in Big 12 play, earning their second straight trip to the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship.

Wildcats lose 2 notable players to portal 

Two notable members from the 2025 K-State baseball team hit the transfer portal over the last week. 

Infielder Seth Dardar enter the portal on Thursday while pitcher Blake Dean announced his exit on Monday. 

A transfer from Columbia University, Dardar led K-State in multiple categories at the plate. Finishing the year with a team best .326 batting average, 18 doubles and a 1.065 OPS. He was also one of the top batters with 60 hits, 45 RBI and 13 home runs. The Wildcats set a new single-season home run record this year with 97.

With his 50 starts this season, Dardar was key in the Wildcats returning to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.

The Louisiana native committed to Louisiana State on Monday.

Dean was named to Big 12 All-Freshman Team after the 2024 season, leading the team with 29 appearances with three starts on the mound. He posted a 4-4 record with a 4.72 ERA (32 ER, 61 IP) and one save while striking out 64 and walking 28 while opponents hit .246 against him.

Dean took a step back in 2025, pitching 31.1 inning while allowing 23 earned runs in 19 appearances with no starts, a 2-1 record and a 6.61 ERA.

The Georgia native allowed 40 hits and struck out 36.