Devish Signs Pro Contract
Jun 27 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers baseball alumnus R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) recently signed a professional contract with the Eastside Diamond Hoppers of the United Shore Professional League. The independent league is based in Utica, Mich., a suburb of Detroit.
Racking up numerous awards as a senior, including the top college player out of Connecticut, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and District of Columbia according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), Devish led the Big Ten with a .524 on-base percentage, a .375 batting average and 56 runs scored in 2016. He also ranked second with 24 stolen bases and fourth with 41 walks and 15 times being hit by pitch to garner Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
Devish previously earned a spot as a semifinalist for the Olson Award, which is granted to the breakout player of the year, and the Johnny Bench Award watch list, which is presented to the top catcher in the nation. He 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 to put both offense and defense together to spark RU as the leadoff hitter in 2016 that included a Big Ten Player of the Week accolade on Feb. 29.
Click here for more information on the USPBL.
Devish joins Howie Brey (Middletown, N.J.), a 31st round pick in the MLB Draft by the Houston Astros, as Scarlet Knights to turn pro on the diamond this summer.
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