Wenson Named Johnny Bench Award Semifinalist
5/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2016
WICHITA, Kan. -- University of Michigan baseball junior catcher Harrison Wenson has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2016 Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com, as announced on Wednesday (May 18) by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
A native of Farmington Hills, Michigan, Wenson currently leads the Big Ten Conference with 54 RBI and 10 sacrifice flies on the season, boasting a .313 batting average through 51 games. Additionally, Wenson is tied for second in the Big Ten with 17 doubles and leads Michigan with seven homers on the year, including a grand slam against Rutgers on May 6.
Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 6, 2016. 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 19th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30, 2016.
Wenson is the only player from the Big Ten Conference to be named a semifinalist for the prestigious Johnny Bench Award. Additionally, he is the only player from the Midwest.
2016 Johnny Bench Award Semifinalists
Riley Adams, University of San Diego SO
Zack Collins, University of Miami JR
Brady Cox, University of Texas, Arlington JR
Brett Cumberland, University of California, Berkeley SO
Logan Ice, Oregon State University JR
Henri Lartigue, University of Mississippi JR
Jeremy Martinez, University of Southern California JR
Chris Okey, Clemson University JR
Joey Roach, Georgia State University SR
Keith Skinner, University of North Florida SR
Evan Skoug, Texas Christian University SO
Deon Stafford, Jr., Saint Joseph's University SO
Matt Thaiss, University of Virginia JR
Michael Tinsley, University of Kansas JR
Harrison Wenson, University of Michigan JR
Armed with a 34-17 overall record and 12-8 record in Big Ten Conference play, Michigan will travel to Illinois (26-22, 10-11 Big Ten) for the final games of the 2016 regular season. The first game of the Big Ten series is slated for Thursday (May 19, 6 p.m. CDT) in Champaign, Illinois.
Communications Contact: Katie Gwinn Hewitt
