Senior JJ Schwarz (22) is among the nation's best catchers in 2018. (Photo: Tim Casey)
Schwarz Named Semifinalist for Johnny Bench Award
Monday, May 21, 2018 | Baseball
WICHITA, KANSAS – Senior JJ Schwarz has been selected as one of 16 semifinalists for the 2018 Johnny Bench Award, presented by BaseballSavings.com.
The award is given annually to the top collegiate catcher in the nation.
Schwarz has started 45 of 56 games behind the plate for the Gators and ranks second on the team with a .325 average and 46 home runs. He's already equaled his home run total from last season with 12 so far in 2018.
The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced the semifinalists late last week:
Catchers on the list were nominated by their schools. Statistics to compare them were pulled on May 9, 2018. One key criteria in determining the semifinalists is that they must be the starting catcher for their team in 70% of the games. This year there were several strong nominees that did not meet the criteria to move forward in the selection process.
Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 4, 2018. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 21st Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 28, 2018.
The award is given annually to the top collegiate catcher in the nation.
Schwarz has started 45 of 56 games behind the plate for the Gators and ranks second on the team with a .325 average and 46 home runs. He's already equaled his home run total from last season with 12 so far in 2018.
The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced the semifinalists late last week:
- Joey Bart, Georgia Tech Institute of Technology JR
- Carter Bins, California State University, Fresno SO
- Trevor Casanova, California State University, Northridge JR
- Tyler Cropley, University of Iowa SR
- Tim DalPorto, Kent State University SR
- Logan Driscoll, George Mason University SO
- Michael Emodi, Creighton University JR
- Nick Fortes, University of Mississippi JR
- Alex Holderbach, Eastern Kentucky University JR
- Reynaldo Pastrana, Marshall University JR
- Cal Raleigh, Florida State University JR
- Adley Rutschman, Oregon State University SO
- Cesar Salazar, University of Arizona JR
- JJ Schwarz, University of Florida SR
- Jake Washer, East Carolina University SO
- Harris Yett, University of North Carolina at Charlotte JR
Catchers on the list were nominated by their schools. Statistics to compare them were pulled on May 9, 2018. One key criteria in determining the semifinalists is that they must be the starting catcher for their team in 70% of the games. This year there were several strong nominees that did not meet the criteria to move forward in the selection process.
Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 4, 2018. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 21st Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 28, 2018.
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