THE FLATS – Georgia Tech sophomore catcher Kevin Parada (Pasadena, Calif./Loyola) was named a semifinalist on Thursday for two of the nation’s most prestigious college baseball awards – the Dick Howser Trophy and the Buster Posey Award.
The Dick Howser Trophy is given to the top collegiate baseball player with criteria for consideration including performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage. Parada joins 39 total candidates and nine from the Atlantic Coast Conference. He is the sixth Yellow Jacket to be named a semifinalist overall and the fourth catcher (Jason Varitek, 1994; Zane Evans, 2013; Joey Bart, 2018; Kyle McCann, 2019). Varitek and Mark Teixeira (2000) both went on to win the award.
The Buster Posey Award is given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher. Parada is one of just 16 catchers named a semifinalist and one of three in the ACC. The Pasadena, Calif. native is the fourth Yellow Jacket to become a semifinalist for the award (Matt Wieters, 2007; Zane Evans, 2013; Joey Bart, 2017 and 2018). Bart won the award in 2018.
Parada has had a sensational sophomore campaign for Georgia Tech, ranking among the nation’s best in almost every offensive category. He currently ranks second nationally in home runs (24) and total bases (161), while ranking third in RBI (77). He ranks No. 10 in runs (65) and 22nd in hits with 78. His .732 slugging percentage is also good for 19th nationally. He leads the ACC in home runs, RBI, total bases and runs, while ranking second in hits to teammate Andrew Jenkins.
In addition to chasing the nation’s home run title, his 24 home runs are also good for second all-time in Georgia Tech program record for a single season behind only Anthony Maisano, who hit 25 in 1990. He’s recorded five multi-homer games this season and has struck out just 25 times in 220 at-bats, nearly averaging one home run per strikeout.
Parada has racked up accolades this year in his second year of collegiate action. A preseason All-American, he’s been named National Player of the Week three times (Feb. 28, April 11, May 2) and ACC Player of the Week once (April 11). He’s been on nearly every award’s watch list, including the Golden Spikes Award’s midseason selections, which were announced on April 5.
Finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy will be announced on June 9 with the winner unveiled on MLB Network on June 17. Finalists for the Buster Posey Award will be announced on June 7 with a final vote occurring during the College World Series and winner announced on June 29.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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