(Photo: Gabrielle Mercer/WCSN)
Junior catcher Brian Serven was named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list Tuesday, given to the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
Serven has caught 11 runners stealing so far this season, leading all power-five conference catchers. He also has a .325 batting average and .450 slugging percentage in ten games played this season.
The award was established in 2000 by the Greater Wichita Sports Commission and named Johnny Bench as the namesake for the award thanks to his reputation as the greatest defensive catcher of all-time.
Previous winners include major leaguers Buster Posey, Kurt Suzuki, and Kelly Shoppach. The only Sun Devil to be named a finalist for the award was Casey Myers in 2000 and 2001.
The watch list is compiled by nominations from coaches across Division I baseball. 74 catchers are on the initial list which will be updated on May 3rd. The ten semifinalists will be announced on May 18th, and the three finalists announced on June 6th.
The winner will be announced on June 30th, at the 19th Annunal Greater Wichita Sports Banquet in Wichita, KS.
The watch list includes ASU opponents Chris Hudgins (Cal State Fullerton), Logan Ice (Oregon State), Jeremy Martinez (USC), Joey Morgan (Washington), and Tim Susnara (Oregon). Former USC catcher Garrett Stubbs won the award as a senior in 2015.
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