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Johnny Bench Awards 2022

About

For two decades, the Johnny Bench Award was presented to college baseball’s top NCAA Division I catcher. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission created the award in 2000, and in 2019 was brought by Johnny to the Cincinnati Reds for an expanded program.  


The award now includes a top college softball winner, as well as regional, "Reds Country", high school baseball and softball honorees from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. All winner are recognized in the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.  


Candidates are assembled from direct online submissions, All-State rosters, other award nominations and state athletic association recommendations. An awards committee determines a group of finalists based on statistics and support from local sources from each state. Johnny hand picks the winner.



Nominate a Catcher

To nominate a high school catcher for the 2023 Johnny Bench Awards, click the link below. All nominated catchers will be asked for their complete statistics at the end of the season in May 2023.

Submit a Catcher

In Partnership with the Cincinnati Reds

Bench Awards

About the award

2022 Awards Presented by MSA Sport

Thank you to our presenting sponsor, MSA Sport. 


MSA Design's passion for sports blends with thier love of architecture. The result: they've never missed an Opening Day-not a client’s, nor their favorite teams’. As avid sports fans, MSA’s passion for sports is what fuels their designs and overall growth within the MSA Sport division. The focus: enhancing the player and the fan experience. Since 1997, MSA Sport specializes in sports facilities design, stadium enhancement and fan engagement, while remaining a national leader in planning and designing of athletic facilities. Through novelty and technology they craft unique brand identities at the professional, collegiate, community recreation, and high school level.

2022 TOP College Catchers of the year

Jordyn Rudd, Northwestern - Softball

  Jordyn Rudd lead her team in batting average, became the first player in conference history to be named First Team All-Big Ten for 3 years in a row and was named National Defensive Player of the Year by Softball America. Among her accomplished career, she especially caught the attention for Johnny Bench’s award program as a fellow Rawlings Gold Glove Award catcher, the first recipient of the award, with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage out of 459 chances and 16 runners caught stealing.

Kevin Parada, Georgia Tech - Baseball

  Following his Freshman All-American season, Parada started all 60 games in his sophomore campaign on his way to being a Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy finalist. As the All-ACC First Team catcher, he led the league in home runs, RBIS, runs and total bases, which also ranked in the TOP 10 across college baseball. Parada joins 2018 Johnny Bench Award winner, Joey Bart, as the second catcher from Georgia Tech to be named to this college catcher of the year program.

2022 High School Softball Catchers

Myaih Cloud - Ohio

Delaware Hayes High School

Myaih excelled on both sides of the plate with a .605 batting average, 1.767 OPS and 1.000 field percentage. She was named to First Team All-State, Central Ohio Sports Awards’ Super 12 Team and is recognized as the OCC Player of the Year. She will attend Fairmont State University.

Josie Bird- West Virginia

Lincoln County High School

Only the second high school sophomore to win the Johnny Bench Award, Josie Bird is already a 2x First Team All-State softball player and was named this past school year’s Gatorade Player of the Year for West Virginia Softball. She threw out half of stolen base attempts and had 7 pickoffs.

Kayley Batts- Kentucky

 Oldham County High School  

Kayley named to the Kentucky’s All-State team after 3x All-Conference and 3x All-Academic. She finished Top 10 in the state for doubles and RBIs while maintaining at .996 fielding percentage. “The best catcher in the state”, says Coach Leanhart, will be playing for the University of Evansville.

Brenna Blume - Indiana

Gibson Southern High School

Brenna has twice been named an Indiana’s Miss Softball Finalist, 2x First Team All-State, 2x High School Heisman winner. She graduates with zero stolen bases allowed in her final season with a 27-4 record and a 3.9+ GPA. Brenna will attend Belmont University. 

2022 High School Baseball Catchers

Oscar Pegg- Indiana

Shakamak High School

Oscar maintains a reputation amongst both coaches and teachers for his character and work ethic. A 3x All-Conference baseball player, he received an All-State nod during his final season with 48 RBIs and 1.412 OPS to go with 12 runners caught stealing. He will be attending Lincoln Trail College.

Brody Williams - Kentucky

Lyon County High School  

A 3x All-District, 2x All-Conference and finally a First Team All-State catcher. Brody Williams is considered “a pitcher’s best friend” for holding his school’s record for assists and fielding percentage as a catcher. The second player from Lyon County HS to win this award, Brody is committed to play at Kent State.

Ethyn Barnitz - West Virginia

Wahama High School

In his senior season, Ethyn defended the top catching position as the captain of All-State First Team for West Virginia. As the 3x All-Conference field commander for Wahama, he fielded 235 Putouts, 33 assists and a 33% caught stealing percentage. He will be attending Salem University.

Jimmy Nuggent - Ohio

Badin High School  

“Jimmy was the unquestioned leader of our team this year”, says Coach Treadway, as he helped his team to back-to-back state semifinals in his time on the varsity team. Nugent capped off his high school career being named First Team All-State and will continue playing at Penn State.

Local Media Coverage

Hamilton Jounral News

Hamilton Jounral News

Hamilton Jounral News

Badin catcher one of the winners of Johnny Bench Award

Journal-news.com

Sports Illustrated

Hamilton Jounral News

Hamilton Jounral News

Georgia Tech's Kevin Parada Wins 2022 Johnny Bench Award

SI.com

The Paduchah Sun

Hamilton Jounral News

Gallipolis Daily Tribune

Lyon County's Williams receives prestigious Johnny Bench Award

paducahsun.com

Gallipolis Daily Tribune

Gallipolis Daily Tribune

Gallipolis Daily Tribune

Ethyn Barnitz Receives Johnny Bench Award

mydailytribune.com

WLKY

Gallipolis Daily Tribune

Times Mail

Oldham County softball player named best catcher in Kentucky

WLKY.com

Times Mail

Gallipolis Daily Tribune

Times Mail

Stone cautions players about the pleasure, pressure and pain of recruiting process

TMNews.com

Matheu Nelson '21 - Reds Prospect

MiLB Profile

Previous Winners

College Baseball

Brad Cresse, Louisiana State University - 2000

Kelly Shoppach, Baylor University - 2001

Jeremy Brown, University of Alabama - 2002

Ryan Garko, Stanford University - 2003

Kurt Suzuki, Cal State Fullerton, 2004

Jeff Clement, University of Southern California - 2005

Jake Smith, East Carolina University - 2006

Ed Easley, Mississippi State University - 2007

Buster Posey, Florida State University - 2008

J.T. Wise, University of Oklahoma - 2009

Bryan Holaday, Texas Christian University - 2010

Jake Lowery, James Madison University - 2011

Mike Zunino, University of Florida - 2012

Stuart Turner, University of Mississippi - 2013

Max Pentecost, Kennesaw State University - 2014

Garrett Stubbs, University of Southern California - 2015

Zack Collins, University of Miami - 2016

Matt Whatley, Oral Roberts University , 2017

Joey Bart, Georgia Tech University - 2018

Adley Rutschman, Oregon State University - 2019

Patrick Bailey, North Carolina State - 2020

Matheu Nelson, Florida State University - 2021

College Softball

Dejah Mulipola, University of Arizona 2019

Morganne Flores, University of Washingston 2020

Kayla Kowalik, University of Kentucky, 2021

Indiana Baseball

Nate Webb, Union County High School - 2019

Dalton Back, Columbus East High School - 2020

Austin Bode, Columbus North High School - 2021

Indiana Softball

Grace Lorsung, Cathedral High School - 2019

Taryn Weddle, Floyd Central High School - 2020

Sarah Stone, Bedford North Lawrnce High School - 2021

Kentucky Baseball

Colin Bugress, Tates Creek High School - 2019

Grant Knipp, Louisville Male High School - 2020

Matt  Klein, Trinity High School - 2021

Kentucky Softball

Riley Hull, Pulaski County High School - 2019

Taylor Jackson, Oldham County High School - 2020

Sydney Melton, Lyon County High School - 2021

Ohio Baseball

Joe Powell, Mason High School - 2019

Mason Sawyer, Bishop Hartley High School - 2020

Trey Pancake, South Range High School - 2021

Ohio Softball

Samantha Hackenbracht, Massillon Washington High School - 2019

Zoie Smith, Pickerington Central High School, 2020

Madison Jellison, Watkins Memorial High School - 2021

West Virginia Baseball

Caleb Taylor, Morgantown High School - 2019

Eli Kirkendoll, Lincoln County High School -2020

Parker Redden, Shady Spring High School - 2021

West Virginia Softball

Sophia Mikula, Weir High School - 2019

Jess Canterbury, Herbert Hoover High School, 2020

Emily Faith Allen, Parkersburg High School - 2021

In 2019, the Johnny Bench Awards moved to partnering with the Cincinnati Reds and expanded their program beyond collegiate baseball.

*Italics represents players with MLB service time.

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75th Birthday Party Bat

Commemorative birthday items available for sale benefiting Oklahoma initiatives.

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