This is the third consecutive year that Iowa has had the Perfect Game Preseason Pitcher of the Year, with Brody Brecht earning the honor in 2024 and Ty Langenberg in 2023.

The Iowa City, Iowa, native went 4-3 with a 3.93 ERA in 13 starts in 2024, striking out the second-most batters on the team with 73 over 59.2 innings (1.23 strikeouts per inning).

Obermueller allowed 26 earned runs on 39 hits and held opponents to a .187 batting average during last season’s Iowa campaign, which unfortunately ended with an early exit in the Big Ten Tournament.

© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

With the 19th round (585th pick) 2024 MLB draft selection from the Texas Rangers entering his junior season with the Hawkeyes, Obermueller will be expected to become the team’s top starting rotation arm as the conference becomes more competitive following the additions of the four West Coast programs.

Iowa will open its 2025 campaign with a three-game set vs. South Florida from USF Baseball Stadium at Red McEwen Field on February 14 at 5:00 p.m. CT with radio coverage provided by the Hawkeyes Radio Network.