University of Pittsburgh Athletics
MacLaren Named to 2018 Johnny Bench Award Watch List
3/6/2018 7:27:00 PM | Baseball
Junior Has Started All 12 Games for Pitt This Season
WICHITA, Kan. – University of Pittsburgh junior catcher Cole MacLaren has been named to the 2018 Johnny Bench Award Watch List, as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Tuesday afternoon.
The award, which is given annually to the nation's top NCAA Division I catcher, features 97 backstops and will be updated to include other candidates until April 30, 2018. MacLaren is one of 10 ACC catchers to make the initial list.
"This is obviously a good stepping stone in where I want be," said MacLaren. "There are a lot of great catchers on this list and it is a privilege to be amongst them and compete with them along the way."
MacLaren is in his first season with the Panthers after transferring from Colby Community College. He was a two year starter at Colby, boasting a .995 fielding percentage and 27 caught runners in two years. He hit .268 in two seasons with the Trojans.
The Morell, Prince Edward Island, Canada native has started all 12 of Pitt's games to open the year with a .993 fielding percentage and two runners caught stealing. At the plate he has tallied three RBI and leads the team with 14 walks, carrying a .460 on base percentage.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 16, 2018. 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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The award, which is given annually to the nation's top NCAA Division I catcher, features 97 backstops and will be updated to include other candidates until April 30, 2018. MacLaren is one of 10 ACC catchers to make the initial list.
"This is obviously a good stepping stone in where I want be," said MacLaren. "There are a lot of great catchers on this list and it is a privilege to be amongst them and compete with them along the way."
MacLaren is in his first season with the Panthers after transferring from Colby Community College. He was a two year starter at Colby, boasting a .995 fielding percentage and 27 caught runners in two years. He hit .268 in two seasons with the Trojans.
The Morell, Prince Edward Island, Canada native has started all 12 of Pitt's games to open the year with a .993 fielding percentage and two runners caught stealing. At the plate he has tallied three RBI and leads the team with 14 walks, carrying a .460 on base percentage.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 16, 2018. 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.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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