PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer is the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year, the conference announced as part of its annual awards on Tuesday. 

Kuroda-Grauer is the first player in program history to receive Big Ten Player of the Year honors and is the first conference player of the year since Patrick Kivlehan was named Big East Player of the Year in 2012. It also marks the first time a Scarlet Knight has received a major award (Player/Pitcher/Freshman of the Year) from the Big Ten since joining the conference for the 2015 season. 

"We are very excited to see Josh be recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Year," head coach Steve Owens said. "He is a tremendous all-around player and impacted every game with his hitting, defense and baserunning. We are proud of his many accomplishments on the field this year and equally impressed with how great of a person he is to be around every day."

A junior from Somerset, New Jersey, Kuroda-Grauer put together one of the finest seasons in Rutgers history in 2024, emerging as one of the top shortstops in the country. "JKG" started all 53 games at shortstop for the Scarlet Knights, led the country in hits (95) and hits/game (1.79), ranked third with a .428 batting average, stole 24 bases and committed just seven errors all season. Kuroda-Grauer also had 29 multi-hit games, 10 three-hit games and had a streak of five straight games with three-plus hits.

In the national awards circuit, Kuroda-Grauer was named one of 25 semifinalists for the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award, awarded annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. He is one of 29 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the top shortstop in the country and is one of 68 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, the NCBWA's National Player of the Year award. 

For the Scarlet Knights, senior LHP Justin Sinibaldi was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team. Sinibaldi emerged as the team's ace in 2024 and led RU on the mound with a 3.47 ERA in 13 starts, throwing 83.0 innings with 65 strikeouts, 22 walks and a .225 batting average against. 

Graduate student RHP Sonny Fauci received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award on behalf of Rutgers. 

2024 Big Ten Honors
First Team: SS Josh Kuroda-Grauer
Third Team: SP Justin Sinibaldi
Sportsmanship Award: Sonny Fauci

Rutgers Conference Player of the Year Honors
Doug Alongi: 1993 (A-10)
Darren Fenster: 2000 (Big East)
Todd Frazier: 2007 (Big East)
Patrick Kivlehan: 2012 (Big East)
Josh Kuroda-Grauer: 2024 (Big Ten)