JOHNNY BENCH AWARDS
Presented by MSA SportTuesday, July 30, 2024
For two decades, the Johnny Bench Award was presented to college baseball’s top NCAA Division I catcher. The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission created the award in 2000 and dedicated it to Hall of Fame and Reds Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench.
In 2019, the award was expanded and permanently relocated to the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Reds Scouting Department provides input on the baseball categories. The awards committee determines each winner with support from local media from each state.
The Bench Awards will honor:
- Top male NCAA baseball catcher
- Top female NCAA softball catcher
- Top baseball and softball catchers from Ohio high schools
- Top baseball and softball catchers from Kentucky high schools
- Top baseball and softball catchers from Indiana high schools
- Top baseball and softball catchers from West Virginia high schools
2024 AWARD WINNERS
Top male NCAA baseball catcher
- Cole Messina – University of South Carolina
Top female NCAA softball catcher
- Jocelyn Erickson – University of Florida
Top high school catchers from Ohio
- Macy Chamberlin – Evergreen High School (softball)
- Caden Sheridan – Sheridan High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from Kentucky
- Reaghan Oney – Montgomery County High School (softball)
- Chance Furnish – Rowan County High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from Indiana
- Riley Zache – South Bend St. Joseph High School (softball)
- Hogan Denny – Mooresville High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from West Virginia
- Lauren Guthrie – Sherman High School (softball)
- Luke Samuel – Cabell Midland High School (baseball)
2023 AWARD WINNERS
Top NCAA baseball catcher
- Kyle Teel – University of Virginia
Top female NCAA softball catcher
- Kinzie Hansen – University of Oklahoma
Top high school catchers from Ohio
- Jordyn Wycuff – Watkins Memorial High School (softball)
- Mason Eckelman – Walsh Jesuit High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from Kentucky
- Nora Mack – Lafayette High School (softball)
- Jonathan Fitz – Covington Catholic High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from Indiana
- Ava Ratliff – Bedford North High School (softball)
- Grant Sawa – Center Grove High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from West Virginia
- Amber Wolfe – Wahama High School (softball)
- Ty Galusky – Morgantown High School (baseball)
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2022 DRAFT NOTE: Kevin Parada was selected by the New York Mets with the No. 11 overall pick
| 2022 Winners | School | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Parada | Georgia Tech | Baseball |
| Jordyn Rudd | Northwestern University | Softball |
| Myaih Cloud | Hayes High School | Softball |
| Jimmy Nugent | Badin High School | Baseball |
| Kayley Batts | Oldham County High School | Softball |
| Brody Williams | Lyon County High School | Baseball |
| Brenna Blume | Gibson Southern High School | Softball |
| Oscar Pegg | Shakamak High School | Baseball |
| Josie Bird | Lincoln County High School | Softball |
| Ethyn Barnitz | Wahama High School | Baseball |
2021 DRAFT NOTE: Matheu Nelson was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the No. 35 overall pick.
| 2021 Winners | School | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Matheu Nelson | Florida State University | Baseball |
| Kayla Kowalik | University of Kentucky | Softball |
| Trey Pancake III | South Range High School (OH) | Baseball |
| Madison Jellison | Watkins Memorial High School(OH) | Softball |
| Matt Klein | Trinity High School (KY) | Baseball |
| Sydney Melton | Lyon County High School (KY) | Softball |
| Austin Bode | Columbus North High School (IN) | Baseball |
| Sarah Stone | Bedford North Lawrence High School (IN) | Softball |
| Parker Redden | Shady Spring High School (WV) | Baseball |
| Emily Faith Allen | Parkersburg High School (WV) | Softball |
2020 DRAFT NOTE: Patrick Bailey was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the No. 13 overall pick in the first round.
| 2020 Winners | School | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Bailey | NC State University | Baseball |
| Morganne Flores | University of Washington | Softball |
| Mason Sawyer | Bishop Hartley High School (OH) | Baseball |
| Zoie Smith | Pickerington High School Central (OH) | Softball |
| Grant Knipp | Louisville Male High School (KY) | Baseball |
| Taylor Jackson | Oldham County High School (KY) | Softball |
| Dalton Back | Columbus East High School (IN) | Baseball |
| Taryn Weddle | Floyd Central High School (IN) | Softball |
| Eli Kirkendoll | Lincoln County High School (WV) | Baseball |
| Jess Canterbury | Herbert Hoover High School (WV) | Softball |
2019 DRAFT NOTE: Adley Rutschman was selected by the Baltimore Orioles with the No. 1 overall pick in the first round.
| 2019 Winners | School | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Adley Rutschman | Oregon State University | Baseball |
| Dejah Mulipola | University of Arizona | Softball |
| Joe Powell | Mason High School (OH) | Baseball |
| Samantha Hackenbracht | Massillion Washington High School (OH) | Softball |
| Colin Burgess | Tates Creek High School (KY) | Baseball |
| Riley Hull | Pulaski County High School (KY) | Softball |
| Nate Webb | Union County High School (IN) | Baseball |
| Grace Lorsung | Cathedral High School (IN) | Softball |
| Caleb Taylor | Morgantown High School (WV) | Baseball |
| Sofia Mikula | Weir High School (WV) | Softball |
| Year | Name | College | Drafted By |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Joey Bart | Georgia Institute of Technology | San Francisco Giants |
| 2017 | Matt Whatley | Oral Roberts University | Texas Rangers |
| 2016 | Zack Collins | University of Miami | Chicago White Sox |
| 2015 | Garrett Stubbs | University of Sothern California | Houston Astros |
| 2014 | Max Pentecost | Kennesaw State University | Toronto Blue Jays |
| 2013 | Stuart Turner | University of Mississippi | Minnesota Twins |
| 2012 | Mike Zunino | University of Florida | Seattle Mariners |
| 2011 | Jake Lowery | James Madison University | Cleveland Indians |
| 2010 | Bryan Holaday | Texas Christian University | Detroit Tigers |
| 2009 | J.T. Wise | University of Oklahoma | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 2008 | Buster Posey | Florida State University | San Francisco Giants |
| 2007 | Ed Easley | Mississippi State University | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 2006 | Jake Smith | East Carolina University | Oakland Athletics |
| 2005 | Jeff Clement | University of Southern California | Seattle Mariners |
| 2004 | Kurt Suzuki | Cal State Fullerton | Oakland Athletics |
| 2003 | Ryan Garko | Stanford University | Cleveland Indians |
| 2002 | Jeremy Brown | University of Alabama | Oakland Athletics |
| 2001 | Kelly Shoppach | Baylor University | Boston Red Sox |
| 2000 | Brad Cresse | Louisiana State University | Arizona Diamondbacks |