Fort Worth, Texas – (February 15, 2021) - The Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award (BBCSA) presented by SR Bats announced the initial group of players on its watch list for the 2021 college baseball season. The award, created by the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation, was open to nominations from all Division I baseball programs in the country. The BBCSA is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity.
This year's watch list consists of 48 players representing 17 conferences around the country, and among them was Fordham outfielder
Jason Coules (Bellmore, N.Y./Bellmore JFK).
"The Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List presented by SR Bats is not only loaded this year but has a somewhat unique look," said Tracy Taylor, Executive Director of the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award and the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation. "The abrupt ending of the 2020 season, the shortened MLB Draft, and an extra season of eligibility have all changed some of the dynamics of the watch list from previous years. The watch list has traditionally been dominated by juniors, but this year we have more seniors than ever before and they headline an outstanding list for 2021 that has garnered more than 80 All-American and All-Conference honors."
Jason Coules
In his third season at Fordham, Coules has a phenomenal start to the 2020 season before the pandemic halted the year. He batted .453 with 15 runs scored, five doubles, two home runs, 18 RBI, and six stolen bases. He posted a 13-game hitting streak, earning Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors once, as well as the team MVP award.
As a freshman in 2019, Coules was a key player in the Rams' Atlantic 10 Championship run, scoring the game-winning run in the title game. During the season, he hit .271 with 20 runs scored, 10 doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI, and 15 stolen bases and was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.
"Jason has been a great leader and plays the game the right way. He is always someone who his teammates and coaches can rely on when it comes to working hard, being on time, playing hard, and doing extra" said head coach
Kevin Leighton. "He is one of the hardest working players on our team. He spends numerous hours of his own time working on his hitting. Jason also plays the game with a high level of intensity. He had an incredible start last year, only to be stopped by the pandemic. He was a key to our successful start to 2020."
The BBCSA originally started out in 2017 as an honor going to the top college hitter in Texas. In 2019, the BBCSA expanded becoming a regional award covering Division I programs in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Last year, the BBCSA became a national award; however, no winner was announced due to the Covid-19 virus which cut the college baseball season short.
The winner of the BBCSA will be announced in June and honored at a gala in the fall at the Fort Worth Club. Texas Tech's Hunter Hargrove won the initial BBCSA in 2017. Dallas Baptist's Devlin Granberg took home the honor in 2018 with Texas Tech's Josh Jung winning the award in 2019.
Fans can follow news about the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats and its Player of the Week honorees during the season at
www.braganslugger.com.
