Buster Posey Watch List Release | John Olerud Two-Way Award Watch List Release | National Pitcher of the Year Watch List Release
 
Bronx, N.Y. – (April 17, 2019) – With baseball season hitting its midway point, the National Award Watch Lists have come out and three Fordham Rams find their name among the nation's elite.
 
First, for the third consecutive season, senior catcher Justin Bardwell is on the Watch List for the National Catcher of the Year Award, presented by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.  Previously the Johnny Bench Award, the award is in its 20th year and has been renamed the Buster Posey Award in honor of the former All-American catcher at Florida State. 
 
Posey began his collegiate career as a shortstop, before moving to the catchers position his sophomore year. His junior season honors included the Johnny Bench Award, the Dick Howser Trophy, the Golden Spikes Award, and was the fifth overall draft pick by the Giants. Since his major league debut in 2010, Posey's honors include three World Series championships, six All-Star Game selections, four Silver Slugger Awards, 2010 National League Rookie of the Year, 2012 National League MVP and 2016 Gold Glove Award winner.
 
Bardwell has started 34 of the 36 games he has appeared in, leading the Rams with 23 RBI, while being third in doubles (6) and second in home runs (3).  He enters this week just two doubles shy of 50 for his career, which would make him the third Ram to reach that milestone, joining Greg Smith and Pete DeLuca.  Defensively, he has thrown out 41% of potential base stealers this season.
 
Second, junior Alvin Melendez is among 25 players listed for the ninth annual John Olerud Two-Way Player Award, presented by the College Baseball Foundation.
 
The award is named for the former Washington State University standout, who achieved success as both a first baseman and left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s. He was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.  To be eligible, the player must have at least 20 innings pitched or six saves on the mound, as well as making significant contributions at a position in the field.
 
Melendez, who serves as the Rams' starting right fielder and as a starting pitcher, has started 33 of 36 games he has appeared in, ranking second on the Rams in runs scored (20), triples (2), home runs (3), and stolen bases (20).  Nationally, he ranks 28^th in stolen bases, and recently reached 50 career stolen bases.  On the mound, he is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 13 appearances with 11 starts.  He has posted 33 strikeouts to just eight walks in 30.2 innings of work, holding opponents to a .233 batting average.
 
Lastly, sophomore pitcher John Stankiewicz is one of 69 hurlers on the National Pitcher of the Year Watch List, presented by the College Baseball Foundation and sponsored by Diamond.
 
Stankiewicz has been one of the top arms in the Atlantic 10 this season, leading the conference in wins and ERA this season, while ranking second in strikeouts.  Entering this weekend's action, he is 6-1 with a 0.90 ERA in 10 appearances, while having 62 strikeouts over 50.0 innings pitched.  He is also holding opponents to a .175 batting average.  Nationally, he ranks third in the country in ERA, 11^th in WHIP (0.80), and 18^th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.89).