Recognition For Joe Leonard Continues To Pour In
6/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 9, 2010
PITTSBURGH - Pitt junior third baseman/relief pitcher Joe Leonard has been named a semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and has been named as a Ping! Baseball Third Team All-American as both a utility fielder and pitcher.
Leonard (Dawson, Pa./Connellsville) has had quite a week as he was first named as a TPX Louisville Slugger Third-Team All-American, was drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, and has now been listed among the most versatile players in collegiate baseball in 2010 with his two honors received on Wednesday.
The 10 player list for the prestigious Olerud Award was selected by the College Baseball Foundation and sponsored by Washington State. The John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award will be announced on July 2 in Lubbock, Texas as the College Baseball Awards Show.
Leonard became Pitt's highest draft pick since 1985, when Chris Jelic was drafted in the second round by the Kansas City Royals. In 2010, he was named the Big East Player of the Year and has also been named as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which honors the top player in all of college baseball.
As a third baseman and relief pitcher, Leonard leaves Pitt with his name dominating the record books, breaking the single-season records for hits (104), runs batted in (71), doubles (23) at bats (240) and saves (8) in 2010. In addition, he also holds the school record for career saves with 11.