Wichita, Kansas – The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced the official watch list for the 2017 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com. Eighty-five catchers were nominated for the award by their coaches, and among them is Fordham sophomore
Justin Bardwell.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced
May 17, 2017. Ballots will be 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 5, 2017. 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 20th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on
June 29, 2017.
"We are extremely appreciative to BaseballSavings.com and Mr. Johnny Bench for supporting this prestigious award," stated Bob Hanson, President/CEO of the Sports Commission. "They are the ones who make all of this possible."
Justin Bardwell
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.
Bardwell is in his second season as the Rams' starting catcher. Last season, Bardwell was one of two Rams to make the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, batting .266 with 19 runs scored, two triples, a home run, and 26 RBI. This season, Bardwell has been one of Fordham's top hitters through the first 12 games, ranking third with a .282 batting average with seven runs scored, four doubles, and four RBI. Defensively, he has thrown out six of 18 baserunners (33 %), and committed just two errors for a .971 fielding percentage.
Bardwell is one of six Atlantic 10 catchers on the list, joining Deon Stafford, Jr. (Saint Joseph's), Jake Sidwell (Davidson), James Morisano (Saint Louis), Brandon Chapman (GW), and Brandon Johnson (Richmond). Previous Fordham catchers to be on the watch list include John Mollicone (2007), Chris Walker (2011), and Charles Galiano (2015).
| 2017 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com Watch List |
| Hunter Allen |
JR |
Alabama State University |
| Bryndan Arredondo |
SR |
Lamar University |
| Justin Bardwell |
SO |
Fordham University |
| Jared Barnes |
JR |
University of South Alabama |
| Joey Bart |
SO |
Georgia Tech |
| Ellis Bitar |
JR |
Cornell University |
| Brett Bond |
JR |
University of Missouri |
| Ben Breazeale |
SR |
Wake Forest University |
| Kyle Brennan |
SR |
University of Buffalo |
| Matt Byars |
SR |
Michigan State University |
| Michael Cantu |
JR |
University of Texas |
| Phil Capra |
SO |
Wagner College |
| Brandon Chapman |
JR |
George Washington University |
| Brady Cox |
SR |
University of Texas, Arlington |
| Chris Cullen |
SO |
University of South Carolina |
| Michael Curry |
SO |
University of Georgia |
| Nick Dalesandro |
SO |
Purdue University |
| Jason Delay |
SR |
Vanderbilt University |
| Dominic DiCaprio |
SO |
Rice University |
| Troy Dixon |
SR |
St. John's University |
| Matt Duce |
JR |
Dallas Baptist University |
| Josh Ellis |
SR |
Harvard University |
| Michael Emodi |
SO |
Creighton University |
| Hunter Fain |
SO |
Morehead State University |
| Nick Feight |
JR |
UNC Wilmington |
| Justin Felix |
JR |
Arkansas State University |
| Sam Ferri |
FR |
Arizona State University |
| Ryan Fineman |
SO |
Indiana University |
| Colby Fitch |
JR |
University of Louisville |
| Ivan Gonzalez |
SO |
West Virginia University |
| Tim Graul |
SR |
University of Pennsylvania |
| Dempsey Grover |
JR |
UC Santa Barbara |
| Austin Hale |
JR |
Stetson University |
| Chris Hudgins |
JR |
Cal State Fullerton |
| Brandon Johnson |
JR |
University of Richmond |
| Cooper Johnson |
FR |
University of Mississippi |
| Clark Kahawaii |
SR |
Stephen F. Austin University |
| Scott Kapers |
SO |
Valparaiso University |
| Cameron Knight |
SR |
University of Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Justin Kunz |
SO |
Gardner-Webb University |
| Jake Kusz |
SR |
UNC Greensboro |
| Shea Langeliers |
FR |
Baylor University |
| Tyler Lawrence |
SR |
Murray State University |
| Brian Lees |
SR |
Southeast Missouri State |
| Spencer Levine |
JR |
Florida Gulf Coast |
| Ryan Lidge |
SR |
University of Notre Dame |
| Blake Logan |
SR |
Auburn University |
| Peyton Maddox |
JR |
Virginia Military Institute |
| Phil Madonna |
JR |
Siena College |
| Nick Meyer |
SO |
Cal Poly |
| Dominic Miroglio |
JR |
University of San Francisco |
| Joey Morgan |
JR |
University of Washington |
| James Morisano |
JR |
Saint Louis University |
| Hagen Owenby |
JR |
East Tennessee State University |
| Michael Papierski |
JR |
Lousiana State University |
| Clay Payne |
SR |
Belmont University |
| Fabian Pena |
SO |
Manhattan College |
| Chris Proctor |
SO |
Duke University |
| Kevin Radziewicz |
JR |
Fairfield University |
| Cal Raleigh |
SO |
Florida State University |
| Robie Rojas |
SR |
Sam Houston State University |
| Josh Rolette |
SO |
Kansas State University |
| Hayden Senger |
SO |
Miami University |
| Jake Sidwell |
SR |
Davidson College |
| Evan Skoug |
JR |
Texas Christian University |
| Ryan Sloniger |
SO |
Penn State |
| Chase Smartt |
SO |
Troy University |
| Nate Soria |
JR |
Xavier University |
| Deon Stafford Jr. |
JR |
Saint Joseph's University |
| Logan Starnes |
SR |
Eastern Kentucky University |
| Zac Susi |
SO |
University of Connecticut |
| Tim Susnara |
JR |
University of Oregon |
| Babe Thomas |
SR |
Winthrop University |
| Joey Thomas |
JR |
University of Cincinnati |
| Nick Tierno |
SR |
University of Delaware |
| Zach Tondi |
JR |
James Madison University |
| Gunnar Troutwine |
JR |
Wichita State University |
| Daulton Varsho |
JR |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
| Carson Waln |
SR |
Wofford College |
| Travis Watkins |
SR |
East Carolina University |
| Harrison Wenson |
SR |
University of Michigan |
| Matt Whatley |
JR |
Oral Roberts University |
| Jesse Wilkening |
SO |
University of Nebraska |
| Chris Williams |
JR |
Clemson University |
| Connor Wong |
JR |
University of Houston |
