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Johnny Bench Awards 2023

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.

2023 TOP College Catchers of the year

Kinzie Hansen - Softball

Senior, University of Oklahoma 

As a sophomore, Kinzie was a Johnny Bench Awards finalist ranking fifth in the nation with 24 home runs and 21 Assists at catcher and first base. She has since gone to be a 2x All-American, 3x National Champion, maintained a .993 career fielding and .734 slugging percentages. She plans to return Oklahoma for her 5th year of eligibility.

Kyle Teel - Baseball

Junior, University of Virginia 

The spirit of the Johnny Bench Award is players who exemplify catching excellence on both sides of the plate. As a unanimous All-American, Kyle led all finalists with 69 RBIs and a .673 Slugging Percentage with 47 Assists and a .995 Fielding Percentage. This balanced proficiency has earned him the Atlantic Coast Conference of the Year. He was drafted in the First Round by the Boston Red Sox.

2023 High School Softball Catchers

Jordyn Wycuff - Ohio

Junior, Watkins Memorial High School

The Licking County League Player of the Year posted a 1.759 OPS and 39% caught stealing percentage. Jordyn returned to the All-Ohio roster as a 1st team catcher, earned a nomination for USA Today Central Ohio Female Athlete of the Year and is committed to Ohio University.

Amber Wolfe- West Virginia

Senior, Wahama High School

As a varsity catcher, she has accomplished 3x First Team All-State honors, 3x State Champion, maintained a flawless fielding percentage and was second in the home runs across the state. She will continue her career at Division 1 Radford University.

Nora Mack- Kentucky

Senior, Lafayette High School

Garnering a 1.000 fielding percentage through nearly 300 putouts on one side of the plate, Nora also provided an offensive presence for her team; slugging .753 and placing in the Top 10 of most offensive categories. She is continuing her education at Arizona State.

Ava Ratliff - Indiana

Sophomore, Bedford North Lawrence High School

Ava has already been a 2x First Team All-State catcher, All-American and wasnamed the National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School Catcher of the Year. With 22 home runs and perfect fielding percentage, Ava is representing Indiana as an All-American.

2023 High School Baseball Catchers

Grant Sawa- Indiana

Senior, Center Grove High School

Grant is a 2x All-County Catcher and 3x County Champion who helped lead his team to the state champion of Indiana’s highest division in 2023. Ranked among the Top 50 baseball players in the state by Prep Baseball Report, and Top 5 at catching, Grant will be continuing his student athletic pursuits at Purdue Ft. Wayne.

Jonathan Fitz - Kentucky

Senior, Covington Catholic High School

First Team All-State catcher, NKAC and NKBCA Player of the Year and Baseball Senior All-Star Game MVP. Jonathan Fitz was considered the #1 Ranked catcher in Kentucky’s class of 2023and will be playing for the University of San Diego.

Ty Galusky - West Virginia

Senior, Morgantown High School

The 2023 Class of Johnny Bench Award winners lost their freshman season to COVID, and Ty Galusky lost more time to a torn UCL. Despite those adversities, he helped lead his team to the postseason from both sides of the plate as the First Team All-State Catcher. He will be attending Fort Scott Community College.

Mason Eckelman - Ohio

Senior, Walsh Jesuit High School

The All-Crown Conference MVP and Northeast Ohio Coaches Association Player of the Year. Mason is a 2x First Team All-State catcher and will continue to represent his home state at the Ohio State University.

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

Patrick Bailey '20 - Pick Off Win

MLB Rookie

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

Kevin Parada, Georgia Tech University - 2022

College Softball

Dejah Mulipola, University of Arizona 2019

Morganne Flores, University of Washingston 2020

Kayla Kowalik, University of Kentucky, 2021

Jordyn Rudd, Northwestern University, 2022

Indiana Baseball

Nate Webb, Union County High School - 2019

Dalton Back, Columbus East High School - 2020

Austin Bode, Columbus North High School - 2021

Oscar Pegg, Shakamak High School - 2022

Indiana Softball

Grace Lorsung, Cathedral High School - 2019

Taryn Weddle, Floyd Central High School - 2020

Sarah Stone, Bedford North Lawrnce High School - 2021

Brenna Blume, Gibson Southern High School - 2022

Kentucky Baseball

Colin Bugress, Tates Creek High School - 2019

Grant Knipp, Louisville Male High School - 2020

Matt  Klein, Trinity High School - 2021

Brody Williams, Lyon County High School   - 2022

Kentucky Softball

Riley Hull, Pulaski County High School - 2019

Taylor Jackson, Oldham County High School - 2020

Sydney Melton, Lyon County High School - 2021

Kayley Batts, Oldham County High School   - 2022

Ohio Baseball

Joe Powell, Mason High School - 2019

Mason Sawyer, Bishop Hartley High School - 2020

Trey Pancake, South Range High School - 2021

Jimmy Nuggent, Badin High School - 2022

Ohio Softball

Samantha Hackenbracht, Massillon Washington High School - 2019

Zoie Smith, Pickerington Central High School, 2020

Madison Jellison, Watkins Memorial High School - 2021

Myiah Cloud, Delaware Hayes High School, 2022

West Virginia Baseball

Caleb Taylor, Morgantown High School - 2019

Eli Kirkendoll, Lincoln County High School -2020

Parker Redden, Shady Spring High School - 2021

Ethyn Barnitz, Wahama High School - 2022

West Virginia Softball

Sophia Mikula, Weir High School - 2019

Jess Canterbury, Herbert Hoover High School, 2020

Emily Faith Allen, Parkersburg High School - 2021

Josie Bird, Lincoln County High School - 2022

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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