2018 Johnny Bench Award Semifinalists
WICHITA, Kansas – For the second-straight year, Georgia Tech’s Joey Bartwas named a Johnny Bench Award semifinalist, The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced today. Bart is one of just 16 semifinalists for the 2018 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com, which is presented to the nation’s most outstanding collegiate catcher.
Named to the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list for the second-straight season on April 10, the consensus preseason all-American has continued to produce for the Jackets this season, hitting .371 (75-for-202) with 15 home runs, 11 doubles, 37 walks, 36 RBIs and a team-high 51 runs scored.
The Buford, Georgia native leads the ACC in hitting (.371), slugging percentage (.649) and on-base percentage (.480), while also ranking second in hits (75), home runs (15) and runs scored (51).
Behind the plate, he has thrown out 12-of-30 would-be base stealers and has three pickoffs.
In ACC play this season, Bart is hitting .346 (37-for-107) with nine home runs, five doubles and 22 RBIs.
The junior catcher is ranked as the No. 1 catcher in all of Division I baseball by Baseball America and No. 2 by D1Baseball.com and is a potential top-10 pick in June’s MLB First-Year Player Draft.
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 4, 2018. 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 21st Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 28, 2018.
