Tag: Josh Kuroda-Grauer

Rutgers baseball: Josh Kuroda-Grauer off to hot start at the plate

Josh Kuroda-Grauer has been strong for Rutgers baseball.

Through the first few weeks of the college baseball season, Rutgers offense has seemingly been unstoppable. That has partly been due to the play of Josh Kuroda-Grauer. Following a stellar sophomore campaign, the New Jersey native has taken his game to another level.

In 13 games, the Rutgers shortstop has posted a .411 batting average and driven in 17 runs. Kuroda-Grauer has also shown some power in that span, with six extra-base hits. However, that is not the only way he is making an impact.

The Franklin High School product has also been a threat on the bases, adding eight stolen bases to his resume. His career high is 13, which he should surpass in the next few weeks. For Rutgers, it has been a welcome sign to see him add another weapon to his game.

 

After entering the season with high expectations, Josh Kuroda-Grauer has not disappointed. In 2023, he was a Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist and earned an invite to the USA Baseball Collegiate National team training camp. He was also the Cape Cod League playoff MVP. Over the last few weeks, he has picked up where he left off.

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Although the 2024 campaign is far from over, Kuroda-Grauer has played like a man on a mission. He has already added eight multi-hit games to his resume and only committed two errors. Regardless of the opponent, the talented junior has shown why he is one of the best at his position.

As the games pile up, he will be one of the players to watch in the Big Ten.

Rutgers baseball: No Big Ten baseball teams ranked in this week’s top 25

The Big Ten is unranked in this week’s top 25.

Despite an impressive 9-2 start to the season, Rutgers baseball is still not ranked. In fact, for the first time this season, no Big Ten team is ranked in the updated top 25 list.

It is a small change from last week as Indiana was the only team in the Big Ten to make the D1 Baseball Top 25. Iowa had been ranked earlier in the season before not making the cut last week.

Although the latest update was disappointing for Rutgers, that should change quickly if they continue their impressive start. They were led by an explosive offensive that looked unstoppable against Charleston Southern last weekend.

In their sweep over the Buccaneers, Rutgers scored 25 runs. Josh Kuroda-Grauer continued to be a force offensively, with six RBI in the series. He also added eight hits to his resume.

 

 

While Rutgers fans have had plenty to celebrate, they are not the only team in the conference that has found success. Eight teams have at least six wins.

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As Rutgers looks to earn a national ranking, they will have a chance to prove themselves in five days when they take on North Carolina. The Tar Heels are currently ranked as the 16th-best team in the country. A series win would be a big statement for Rutgers.

Rutgers baseball starts the season with a sweep over Winthrop

On Sunday, Rutgers baseball (3-0) closed out a three-game sweep with a 7-6 victory against Winthrop (0-3) to start the 2024 season. 

On Sunday, Rutgers baseball (3-0) closed out a three-game sweep with a 7-6 extra-inning victory against Winthrop (0-3) to start the 2024 season.

The Scarlet Knights kicked off their season on Friday with a 14-5 victory in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to capture their first victory of the season. Rutgers carried that momentum into Saturday with a 3-1 win over the Eagles.

Sunday’s matchup wasn’t an easy one for the Scarlet Knights as they saw a 6-4 lead erased in the eighth inning but were able to push across a run and keep the Eagles off the scoreboard in the final three frames.

The Scarlet Knights jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning, but the Eagles climbed back with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Winthrop would tie the back in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Rutgers continued to rely on its bullpen depth to carry them. Rutgers grabbed the lead in the 11th inning with an RBI single by Johnny Volpe.

Making his Rutgers debut after not pitching in 2023, Rutgers called upon closer Gavin Stellpflug to lock down the victory. Stellpflug worked around a one-out error and got a strikeout and groundout to earn the save and finish off the sweep.

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Volpe and Rutgers infielder Josh Kuroda-Grauer carried the bats for the Scarlet Knights, combining for eight RBIs and seven hits throughout the series.

Rutgers baseball returns to action against Old Dominion with a three-game series starting on Friday in Norfolk, Virginia.

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Rutgers Josh Kuroda-Grauer is ranked the No. 11 shortstop in the country

Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer was ranked the No. 11 shortstop in the country, according to D1 Baseball’s Top 50 Shortstop rankings.

Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer was ranked the No. 11 shortstop in the country, according to D1 Baseball’s Top 50 Shortstop rankings on Tuesday. Also, the 6-foot, 190-pound junior infielder was ranked the No. 1 shortstop in the Big Ten Conference by D1 Baseball as he heads into the 2024 season.

According to Prospects Live, Kuroda-Grauer is beginning to get solid national attention while playing with the Scarlet Knights, as he is ranked the No. 86 college draft prospect in the country.

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In two seasons (2022-23) with the Scarlet Knights, Kuroda-Grauer has recorded a .299 batting average, 127 hits, 71 RBIs, and 11 home runs in 425 at-bats.

The 2023 Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist played 26 games in the Cap Cod League this past summer, earning the 2023 Playoff MVP of the Cape Cod League with the Bourne Braves. He logged 16 hits, seven RBIs, and five doubles with the Braves throughout the summer. Also, Kuroda-Grauer posted a .444 batting average while recording 13 RBIs and six multi-hit games during the playoffs with the Braves.

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The Somerset, New Jersey native looks to continue his strong play in 2024 after recording a .298 batting average, 68 hits, 32 RBIs, six home runs, and 15 doubles in 228 at-bats last season.

 

Rutgers Josh Kuroda-Grauer is one of the top college draft prospects in the country

On Friday, Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer was ranked the No. 86 college draft prospect in the nation, according to Prospects Live.

Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer is beginning to get some strong national attention.

Kuroda-Grauer, an infielder, was ranked the No. 86 college draft prospect in the nation, according to Prospects Live.In two seasons (2022-23) with the Scarlet Knights, Kuroda-Grauer has recorded a .299 batting average, 127 hits, 71 RBIs, and 11 home runs in 425 at-bats.

The 6-foot, 195-pound infielder has been a force in Rutgers’ lineup for the past two years. He has solid power and contact rates with exceptional plate discipline. From Somerset, New Jersey, he can spray the ball all over the field, keeping the whiff numbers at a minimum.

He is a slick defender, moving smoothly to his left and right while showcasing his solid arm. Kuroda-Grauer has logged only seven errors in 109 games, recording a fielding percentage of .983.

The 2023 Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist played 26 games in the Cap Cod League this past summer, earning the 2023 Playoff MVP of the Cape Cod League with the Bourne Braves. He logged 16 hits, seven RBIs, and five doubles with the Braves throughout the summer.

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During the playoffs, Kuroda-Grauer posted a .444 batting average while driving in 13 runs. He was an on-base machine as the talented infielder recorded six multi-hit games in that span. As the Bourne Braves won their second straight title, Kuroda-Grauer was vital to their success.

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Josh Kuroda-Grauer named Cape Cod Playoff MVP

A Rutgers baseball player got a big honor this summer.

Over the last few years, Josh Kuroda-Grauer has become one of the best shortstops in college baseball. As a result, his list of accolades is lengthy and his potential limitless. On Tuesday, he continued to add to his list of accomplishments as the New Jersey native was named the 2023 Playoff MVP of the Cape Cod League.

In eight games, Kuroda-Grauer posted a .444 batting average while driving in 13 runs. He was an on-base machine as the talented infielder recorded six multi-hit games in that span. As the Bourne Braves won their second straight title, Kuroda-Grauer was vital to their success.

While the Franklin High School alum took the Cape Cod League by storm, he also showed a little power. During the Braves playoff run, he had six extra-base hits. With no room for error, Kuroda-Grauer sparked the offense and thrived in front of a packed crowd.

“It was awesome. Coming here to Orleans, playing in front of a packed crowd, it’s everything. It’s what you want to play for in the playoffs,” Kuroda-Grauer told Mojo Hill after Game One. “I think the team did a great job on the mound and hitting in situations. It was a great team win.”

With the Cape Cod League season in the books, Kuroda-Grauer will shift his focus to building on his success at Rutgers. During the 2023 campaign, he was a Brooks Wallace Award semifinalist. The award is given annually to the best shortstop in college baseball.

On a Scarlet Knights team full of talent, Kuroda-Grauer will be one of the leaders on offense in 2024. As he showed in the Cape Cod League, it is a situation he thrives in as the best days of his college career are on the horizon.

Rutgers baseball: Mike Garza promoted to hitting coach

Rutgers baseball made a move with their staff this week.

After a successful 2023 campaign, Rutgers baseball has already started preparing for next season. On Friday, the Scarlet Knights announced that Mike Garza will take over hitting coach duties. For the past two years, Garza has served as a volunteer assistant with the Scarlet Knights.

While Garza has filled various roles at Rutgers, he has proven invaluable, regardless of his position. That is one of the reasons head coach Steve Owens made the change.

“Mike will enter his third year in our program and will take over the primary hitting responsibilities with our team,” Owens said. “As he did with our infield, Mike will establish strong relationships with our hitters and develop specific plans to help them perform consistently. He is excited to get to work on evaluating our strengths and building our 2024 offense around them.”

This past season, Garza oversaw a defense that ranked fourth in the Big Ten with a .976 fielding percentage. The Scarlet Knights also turned 54 double plays, which was the most in the Big Ten. Under Garza’s guidance, infielders such as Josh Kuroda-Grauer and Danny DiGeorgio earned consideration for the Brooks Wallace Award. The award is given to the best shortstop in college baseball.

Before arriving in Piscataway, Garza spent three years at the University of Virginia as the program’s coordinator of video and scouting. In his final season with the Cavaliers, they advanced to the College World Series. Garza was also an assistant coach at Navy in 2018.

While Garza has had plenty of success as a coach, he also has an impressive resume as a player. The Texas native was drafted in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. After posting a .283 batting average in 260 minor league games, he spent two years in the Independent League.

As Rutgers looks to build on their success next season, their offense is in good hands with Garza leading the way.

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Josh Kuroda-Grauer Receives invite to 2023 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp

Josh Kuroda-Grauer is invited to the USA Baseball Collegiate camp.

During the 2023 season, Josh Kuroda-Grauer was one of the best shortstops in college baseball. He gave opposing pitchers headaches due to his unique combination of power and speed. On Thursday, he was recognized for his play as the New Jersey native received an invite to the 2023 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp this summer.

The Franklin High School product will now spend the summer in Garry, North Carolina, competing for a spot on the 26-man Collegiate National team. The camp consists of a four-game intrasquad series from June 25-28. After the series ends, the final roster will be announced. They will then compete against Chinese Taipei and Japan from June 30-July 12.

In 56 games for the Scarlet Knights during his sophomore season, Kuroda-Grauer posted a .298 batting average while driving in 32 runs. He set career highs in steals with 13, doubles with 15, and home runs with six. Due to his stellar play, Kuroda-Grauer was named one of 25 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award.

This is the second straight summer a Scarlet Knight has been invited to the Collegiate National Team Training Camp. Last summer Ryan Lasko competed for a spot. Bobby Brownlee and Todd Frazier are the only two Rutgers players who have played for the Team USA Collegiate National Team.

For Rutgers coach Steve Owens, Kuroda-Grauer’s news came as no surprise.

“Josh has put together two excellent seasons in our program in all aspects of the game,” Owens told Rutgers athletics.”His talent and consistency have earned him a great opportunity to compete against the nation’s best.”

Rutgers baseball: Josh Kuroda-Grauer named semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award

Rutgers baseball’s Josh Kuroda-Grauer named semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award.

With only three games left in the regular season, Rutgers baseball is turning its attention to the Big Ten tournament. The Scarlet Knights are currently the fourth-best team in the Big Ten, partly due to the play of Josh Kuroda-Grauer. On Thursday, he earned national recognition for his impressive season.

The New Jersey native was named one of the 25 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, which is given annually to the top shortstop in the country. In just his second year as a Scarlet Knight, Kuroda-Grauer has become one of the best shortstops in college baseball.

In 51 games this year, the Franklin High School product has posted a .301 batting average while driving in 32 runs. He has shown more power than he did as a freshman, as 22 of his 62 hits have gone for extra bases. His ability to add pressure with his speed makes Kuroda-Grauer a matchup nightmare for pitchers.

While the talented sophomore has excelled at the plate, he has been just as good defensively. He has only committed six errors while appearing in every game. Over the last two years, his durability has been crucial to his game.

Although Kuroda-Grauer is focused on helping Rutgers make a deep playoff run, he could soon join unique company. The list of past winners of the Brooks Wallace Award includes Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson, and Alex Bregman. All three have gone on to be very productive players in the majors.

If Kuroda-Grauer were to win the award this year, he would become the second player to do so in their sophomore season in the last 18 years. Regardless of how the next few weeks play out, Kuroda-Grauer is finally receiving national recognition for his skills.

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Josh Kuroda-Grauer has built on his freshman year success

Josh Kuroda-Grauer is building on a strong freshman season.

Coming into the 2023 season, Josh Kuroda-Grauer had high expectations. The Rutgers baseball infielder hit .299 as a freshman in 53 games while making a great first impression. During the 2023 campaign, he has built his success and continued to be a hits machine for the Rutgers offense.

Through 149 at-bats, the New Jersey native has posted a .295 batting average and set a career-high in stolen bases with seven. While he also has 14 extra-base hits, Grauer has continued to get on base at a high rate, providing a spark to the offense. That has made it hard to keep his bat out of the lineup.

Additionally, Grauer has continued to add to an already stacked resume. Last season the Franklin High School product was named to the 2022 All-Big Ten Third Team and 2022 Big Ten All-Freshman Team. The 2023 campaign is far from over, but those accomplishments may have some company in the coming months.

While Grauer has been a reliable bat, his durability has also been displayed this season. He is one of six Rutgers players who have appeared in every game this season. Doing that and maintaining an average close to .300 is no easy task.

Part of his success can be tied to Grauer’s improved plate discipline. He has tied his walks total from last year with 20 and has gotten on base five times via a hit-by-pitch. Being able to adjust to advanced competition is encouraging when thinking about what his future holds.

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Over the next few weeks, Grauer will be a player to watch. He has been crucial to Rutgers success this season and has shown no signs of slowing down.

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