On Thursday, the Big Ten announced their male and female athlete of the year, with Purdue Zach Edey and Iowa Caitlin Clark selected as the top athletes in the conference.
The Big Ten nominated 14 male athletes from 2023-24 with Rutgers’ Josh Kuroda-Grauer being named one of them. The Rutgers shortstop was named First Team All-American by Perfect Game and was the first Scarlet Knight since Todd Frazier in 2007 to receive First Team All-American honors.
Kuroda-Grauer had a stellar season for the Scarlet Knights, becoming the first player in program history to receive Big Ten Player of the Year honors. Also, Kuroda-Grauer is the first Scarlet Knight to receive a major award (Player/Pitcher/Freshman of the Year) from the Big Ten since joining the conference in 2014 (baseball’s first season in the Big Ten came in 2015).
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One of the greatest seasons of anyone to ever put on the Rutgers uniform.
🎥 Roll the JKG mixtape #TCDpic.twitter.com/V99cLZZv4F
— Rutgers Baseball (@RutgersBaseball) June 26, 2024
Kuroda-Grauer played three seasons with the Scarlet Knights, recording a .343 batting average, 222 hits, 116 RBIs, and 16 home runs in 647 career at-bats. The Third Team All-American (NCBWA) had his best season in 2024, passing his career season hit total by 39 hits.
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The 2024 NCBWA District 2 Player of the Year was a staple in the Rutgers lineup this season, starting all 53 games at shortstop for Rutgers. He led the country in hits (95) and hits per game (1.79), registering a .428 batting average.