Graduate of the Year
The Graduate of the Year Award has been presented to an NBC Alumni member every year since 1975. The Award is based on MLB performance in the previous season.
See below for our past Graduates of the Year.
2024 Graduate of the Year: Josh Jung
Josh Jung made his mark in Major League Baseball in 2023 as a rookie with the Texas Rangers. He played in 122 games, hit .266 with 23 home runs, and was named to the 2023 All-Star Team as a rookie.
In 2017, Jung played in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita as a part of the Santa Barbara Foresters. At that tournament where the Foresters finished fifth, Jung batted .385 in four games, going 5-for-13 with a triple, five runs scored, and seven RBIs.
Jung played at Texas Tech University and was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2019 before being drafted 8th overall by the Texas Rangers.
Past Graduates of the Year
| Year | Graduate | MLB Team | NBC Team |
| 2024 | Josh Jung | Texas Rangers | Santa Barbara Foresters (2017) |
| 2023 | Ryan Helsley | St. Louis Cardinals | Santa Barbara Foresters (2014) |
| 2022 | CJ Cron | Anaheim Angels | Anchorage Glacier Pilots (2009) |
| 2021 | Jeff McNeil | New York Mets | Santa Barbara Foresters (2010 & 2011) |
| 2020 | Tim Anderson | Chicago White Sox | Dodge City A’s (2012) |
| 2019 | Jed Lowrie | New York Yankees | Anchorage Glacier Pilots (2011) |
| 2018 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | Anchorage Glacier Pilots (2011) |
| 2017 | Danny Valencia | Baltimore Orioles | Anchorage Glacier Pilots (2005) |
| 2016 | Ian Kinsler | Detroit Tigers | Liberal Bee Jays (2001) |
| 2015 | Hunter Pence | San Francisco Giants | Liberal Bee Jays (2003) |
| 2014 | Paul Goldschmidt | St. Louis Cardinals | Anchorage Bucs |
| 2013 | Alex Gordon | Kansas City Royals | Beatrice Bruins (2002) |
| 2012 | Michael Young | Texas Rangers | Alaska Goldpanners (1996) |
| 2011 | Heath Bell | San Diego Padres | El Dorado Broncos (1997) |
| 2010 | Mark Teixeira | New York Yankees | Maryland Battlecats (1998) |
| 2009 | Tim Lincecum | San Francisco Giants | Seattle Studs (2004) |
| 2008 | Joba Chamberlain | New York Yankees | Beatrice Bruins (2004 & 2005) |
| 2007 | Jeff Francis | Colorado Rockies | Anchorage Glacier Pilots (2001) |
| 2006 | B.J. Ryan | Toronto Blue Jays | Hays Larks (1996) |
| 2005 | Morgan Ensberg | Houston Astros | Santa Barbara Foresters (1996) |
| 2004 | Nate Robertson | Detroit Tigers | El Dorado Broncos (1996 & 1998) |
| 2003 | Albert Puljos | St. Louis Cardinals | Hays Larks (1999) |
| 2002 | Lance Berkman | Houston Astros | Hays Larks (1995) |
| 2001 | Luis Gonzalez | Arizona Diamondbacks | North Pole Nicks (1987) |
| 2000 | Eric Karros | Los Angeles Dodgers | North Pole Nicks (1987) |
| 1999 | Trevor Hoffman | San Diego Padres | Nevada Griffons (1987) |
| 1998 | Robin Ventura | Chicago White Sox | Santa Marian Indians (1986) |
| 1997 | Brett Butler | Los Angeles Dodgers | OK City Utility Towers (1977)/Hutchinson Broncos (1978) |
| 1996 | Chuck Knoblauch | Minnesota Twins | Clarinda A’s (1987) |
| 1995 | Mark Grace | Chicago Cubs | North Pole Nicks (1985) |
| 1994 | Jimmy Key | New York Yankees | Kenai Peninsula Oilers (1981) |
| 1993 | Barry Bonds | San Francisco Giants | Fairbanks Goldpanners (1983)/Hutchinson Broncos (1984) |
| 1992 | Andy Benes | San Diego Padres | Clarinda A’s |
| 1991 | Bob Welch | Oakland A’s | Boulder Collegians (1976) |
| 1990 | John Olerud | Toronto Blue Jays | Kenai Peninsula Oilers (1988) |
| 1989 | Rafael Palmeiro | Texas Rangers | Hutchinson Broncos (1984) |
| 1988 | Mark McGwire | Oakland A’s | Anchorage Glacier Pilots (1982) |
| 1987 | Joe Carter | Cleveland Indians | Boulder Collegians (1979) |
| 1986 | Roger Clemens | Boston Red Sox | Hutchinson Broncos (1982) |
| 1985 | Tony Gwynn | San Diego Padres | Boulder Collegians (1980) |
| 1984 | Ron Kittle | Chicago White Sox | Chicago AHEPA (1978) |
| 1983 | Dave Stieb | Toronto Blue Jays | Kenai Peninsula Oilers (1977 & 1978) |
| 1982 | Steve Rogers | Montreal Expos | Liberal Bee Jays (1980) |
| 1981 | Steve Kemp | Pittsburgh Pirates | Liberal Bee Jays (1973)/Fairbanks (1974) |
| 1980 | Bruce Bochte | Oakland A’s | Humboldt Crabs (1969)/Anchorage Glacier Pilots (1971) |
| 1979 | Dave Winfield | San Diego Padres | Fairbanks Goldpanners (1971 & 1972) |
| 1978 | Ron Guidry | New York Yankees | Liberal Bee Jays (1970) |
| 1977 | Chris Chambliss | Atlanta Braves | Anchorage Glacier Pilots (1969) |
| 1976 | Randy Jones | New York Mets | Anchorage Glacier Pilots (1971) |
| 1975 | Mike Hargrove | Cleveland Indians | Liberal Bee Jays (1972) |