Putz Named Among Top 25 for NFCA National Freshman of the Year
4/25/2025 12:42:00 PM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- University of Michigan softball freshman Lauren Putz has been named to the top 25 list for the 2025 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year, the organization announced on Friday (April 25).
This year's finalists hail from 24 different universities and represent 10 NCAA Division I conferences from across the nation. The Big Ten ranks second with five representatives.
Putz, who has started every game this season at first base or designated player, ranks second on the team with a .404 batting average and boasts a .757 slugging percentage -- with 13 doubles, one triple and 11 home runs -- and .490 on-base percentage. She ranks among the top 10 nationally in numerous freshman offensive statistics and leads all Big Ten freshmen in runs per game (.96), total hits (55) and doubles (13).
The NFCA Freshman of the Year award was first presented in 2014. Wolverine alum Lexie Blair was named a top 10 finalist in 2019, while Meghan Beaubien made the final top-three cut in 2018.
The NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award was created in 2014 to honor outstanding athletic achievement among Division I freshmen softball student-athletes. The NFCA selected the top 25 list, while the top 10, top three and winner are voted by the NFCA Division I All-America Committee. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach and in their first year of NCAA Division I collegiate competition as a true freshman or redshirt freshman.
On May 8, the list will be trimmed to the top 10, and the three finalists will be released on May 22. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, May 27, prior to the start of the 2025 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
