Sukuzi 1 of 3 Finalists for Johnny Bench Award June 3, 2004 – Fullerton, Calif.
In his media guide bio, Cal State Fullerton junior catcher Kurt Suzuki
lists Johnny Bench as the person he'd most like to meet.
Now he'll get his chance.
Suzuki, a first-team All-American and the Big West Conference Player of
the Year, has been named one of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award,
presented annually at the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet to the nation's
top collegiate catcher, as voted on by a panel of sportswriters, sportscasters,
Division I coaches and scouts.
A final vote among the national selection committee will occur during
the College World Series. All three finalists will be invited to Wichita
for the 7th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 30, 2004 at
the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Wichita. Johnny Bench will present
the award to the recipient
Suzuki is fifth in the nation in batting (.438), ninth in RBI per game
(1.32) and 19th in slugging percentage (.726). On the Big West Conference
leaderboard, he ranks among the top three in 10 categories, including
first in batting, on-base and slugging percentage, RBI and sac flies.
He has driven in 74 runs, the most RBI by a Titan this decade and has
been walked 42 times – seven times intentionally.
The other finalists are South Carolina's Landon Powell and North Carolina's
Chris Iannetta.
