Elander Named To Johnny Bench Award Watch List

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FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU junior catcher Josh Elander has been named to the Johnny Bench Award watch list. He is one of 43 members on the first list of the season.

Elander has gotten off to a solid start in 2012 with a .278 batting average. He has a triple and a double as part of 10 hits on the season. Elander has started all 11 games and has a .972 fielding percentage behind the plate.

The initial watch list featured 43 catchers. More could be added as the season progresses and a group of semifinalists will be announced May 16. Three finalists will be unveiled June 4 and the winner is scheduled to be announced June 28 at a banquet in Wichita, Kansas.

The Johnny Bench Award winner is selected by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission and is sponsored by the Coleman Company and Papa John’s Pizza. Twelve former winners are currently playing in Major League Baseball, including Buster Posey (2008), Kurt Suzuki (2004), Ryan Garko (2003) and Kelly Shoppach (2001). James Madison’s Jake Lowery was the 2011 winner. TCU’s Bryan Holaday was the award recipient in 2010.