Devish Named National Semifinalist for Olson Award
May 20 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Senior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) of the Rutgers baseball team was named a national semifinalist for the 2016 Gregg Olson Award, it was announced Friday. The award, presented by Toolshed Sports, honors the breakout player of the year in college baseball.
Previously on the Johnny Bench Award watch list as one of the top catchers in the nation, Devish has elevated his play as senior to rank seventh in the nation with a .535 on-base percentage in the most recent national listing. Only three Scarlet Knights since 1984 have recorded an OBP of .500 or better for a season: .529 for Kevin James in 1994, .502 for Graig Badger in 2004 and .502 for Todd Frazier in 2007.
Devish also entered the final series of the season leading the Big Ten with 54 runs scored, second with 23 stolen bases, tied for third with a .382 batting average and 14 hit by pitches and fourth with 40 walks. The stolen base total leads all catchers nationally. In addition, he has a team-high 19 multiple-hit games.
Devish started his collegiate career as an infielder and moved behind the plate due to the team necessity for a backup catcher as a freshman. Continuing to learn the craft to improve defensively, Devish elevated his play to throw out 15 base stealers as a junior. Then this season, he put both offense and defense together to spark RU as the leadoff hitter that included a Big Ten Player of the Week accolade on Feb. 29. Click here for a recent feature.
The Olson Award has been developed to honor college baseball's success stories and showcase players who have raised the level of their game through hard work, strength of mind and determination. Eligible players will be those who are omitted from major publication's preseason All American prognostications; however by the end of the season their on the field performance will demonstrate that they are among the top amateur baseball players in the nation. Finalists will be announced during Super Regional action. The winner of the 2016 Gregg Olson Award will be named in Omaha, Nebraska during the College World Series which is to be held this season at TD Ameritrade Park.
Click here for the full release.
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