UNM's Jordy Oriach Named NCBWA District 8 Player of the Year

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Junior designated hitter Jordy Oriach of New Mexico has been named the 2025 District 8 Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the organization announced Thursday.

Representing the district that includes New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, Oriach put together one of the most complete offensive seasons from a Lobo in recent memory. Oriach was a consistent force in the middle of the Lobo lineup, slugging .748 with a .470 on-base percentage, and committed no errors defensively.

The Haverhill, Mass. native finished the season with a .388 batting average, 83 hits, 25 doubles, 16 home runs, and 63 RBIs over 52 starts. He also led the Mountain West Conference in hits, total bases (160), doubles, runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging across the entire season, earning MW Player of the Week honors twice.

Upon the conclusion of the regular season, Oriach ranked No. 3 in the nation in doubles, No. 21 in total hits, No. 29 in batting average and No. 48 in RBI per game.

Oriach’s big bat helped New Mexico to a 30-23 overall record and a 17-13 mark in Mountain West play – the Lobos ranked among the nation’s most productive offenses in 2025, leading the nation in team batting (.339) and doubles (148) and doubles per game (2.85).

Among the previous recipients of NCBWA District Players of the Year since 1998 have been Florida State catcher Buster Posey, Florida all-purpose standout Jac Caglianone, Baylor pitcher-DH Jason Jennings, USC and Vanderbilt star pitcher Mark Prior, Vanderbilt lefty pitcher David Price, Arkansas OF Andrew Benintendi, Rice all-time 3B Anthony Rendon and San Diego State righty hurler Stephen Strasburg, among others.

NCBWA voting membership for the District Players of the Year includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport’s only college media-related organization, founded in 1962. These players have been awarded annually since 1998 except for 2020 due to the COVID-19-shortened season.

All honorees will be recognized during the news conference for the presentation of the Dick Howser Trophy presented by The Game Headwear at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., on Friday, June 14, at 10 a.m. (CDT) to the NCAA Division I baseball player of the year.