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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.
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.