Chris Taylor has been placed on the watch list for the Johnny Bench Watch List, among the nation's best catchers. |
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Charlotte Senior Catcher Chris Taylor Placed on Johnny Bench Watch List
April 29, 2008
Wichita, Kan. - Charlotte senior catcher Chris Taylor has been added to the watch list for the 2008 Coleman Company - Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation's top catcher. Taylor is among 48 backstops currently on the watch list announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
As of Monday's latest NCAA baseball statistics release, Taylor is eighth in the nation with 59 runs batted in, tenth in RBI per game, at 1.37, 14th in home runs (15), 15th in total bases (126) 22nd in home runs per game (0.35) and 42nd in slugging percentage at .716 this season.
Tuesday night, Taylor added his 16th home run and 60th RBI in Charlotte's 7-5 win at Winthrop. The 16 homers is fourth-most in a single season in Niners history.
He is ranked as the fourth-best catcher in the nation in the weekly by-position power rankings at rivals.com.
The watch list will be narrowed down to ten semi-finalists, whom will be announced May 14, 2008. Threee finalists will be announced June 3, 2008 prior to the NCAA Super Regionals and Major League Baseball Draft. 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 11th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 27, 2008.
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.
Last season, Charlotte advanced its first player to a finalist pool, as pitcher Adam Mills was among three finalists for the Roger Clemens Award, given to the nation's top pitcher.
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