|
Brian Hernandez Named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List 3/8/2005 WICHITA, Kans. – Vanderbilt junior catcher Brian Hernandez ( 6-0, 210, Wellington, Fla.) has been named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List released today by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. He is one of three Southeastern Conference team catchers named to the list. The award is given annually to the top National Collegiate Catcher. The list will be updated to include other candidates until May 2, 2005. Hernandez is in his first season with the Commodores after transferring from Duke University. He has played in every game including 10 at catcher and one as the designated hitter. He is 14-38 at the plate for a .368 batting average and leads the team, second in the SEC, with six doubles. He has scored a team-leading 11 runs and numbers eight RBI and one home run. Hernandez has recorded 98 putouts with four assists this season. Hernandez was also named to the 2004 Bench Award Watch List. The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semi-finalists, whom will be announced May 17, 2005. A comprehensive biography will be created on each of the semi-finalists and 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 1, 2005 prior to the NCAA Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft. 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 8 th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 29, 2005. Johnny Bench presented Cal State – Fullerton catcher, Kurt Suzuki, with the award last June in Wichita, Kansas. Chris Iannetta of the University of North Carolina and Landon Powell of the University of South Carolina were the other finalists for the award. “We are extremely appreciative of the Coleman Company being the title sponsor of this prestigious award,” stated Bob Hanson, President/CEO of the Sports Commission. “They are the ones who make all of this possible.” “We are grateful that Johnny Bench is the namesake for our award because he is, without a doubt, the greatest catcher to ever play the game,” Hanson said. “We are very excited to have someone of his caliber support our efforts in honoring the accomplishments of these college players. While Bench is remembered for his offense, he may have had the greatest impact behind the plate. He was the first receiver to use a protective helmet in the field, popularized catching one-handed and kept his throwing hand behind his back to protect it from foul tips.” Bench’s career honors include: National League Rookie of the Year (1968); National League Most Valuable Player (1970, 1972); World Series Most Valuable Player (1976); 14-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner. In 1980, he set an endurance record by catching 100+ games for 13 consecutive seasons. Bench was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989 with the fourth highest percentage of total votes cast. Previous winners are: 2004-Kurt Suzuki California State University – Fullerton; 2003-Ryan Garko Stanford University; 2002-Jeremy Brown University of Alabama; 2001-Kelly Shoppach Baylor University; 2000-Brad Cresse Louisiana State University. 2005 Johnny Bench Award Watch List Jordan Abruzzo So University of San Diego |
