Tag: Rutgers baseball

Rutgers baseball – Josh Kuroda-Grauer was named Big Ten Player of the Year

Rutgers Josh Kuroda-Grauer was named Big Ten Player of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to receive this award.

On Tuesday, Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer was named the 2024 Big Ten Player of the Year.

The Rutgers shortstop is the first player in program history to receive Big Ten Player of the Year honors and is the first conference player of the year since Patrick Kivlehan was named Big East Player of the Year in 2012.

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).

Kuroda-Grauer put together an outstanding season for the Scarlet Knight, 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.

The 2024 USA Baseball Golden Spike Award Semifinalist ranked third in the country in batting average and stolen bases (24). Throughout the season, Kuroda-Grauer had 29 multi-hit games, 10 three-hit games, and logged five consecutive games with three-plus hits.

 

 

While playing shortstop, Kuroda-Grauer committed just seven errors, finishing with a .969 fielding percentage on the season. In 70 putouts, the 2023 Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist turned 30 double-plays.

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Kuroda-Grauer is one of 29 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, given annually to the top shortstop in the country. Also, he is one of 68 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s National Player of the Year award.

 

Rutgers baseball lost to the Buckeyes in extra-innings

Rutgers baseball lost to Ohio State in extra-innings after blowing a one-run lead in the ninth inning.

On Thursday, Rutgers baseball (27-23, 5-17 Big Ten) lost to Ohio State (27-23, 11-11 Big Ten) 6-3 in extra-innings. In the first of three games, the Scarlet Knights blew a one-run lead in the ninth inning, allowing the Buckeyes to capture the victory in extra-innings.

Sonny Fauci got the nod on the mound for the Scarlet Knights, recording 7.1 innings pitched, striking out five batters while allowing two earned runs on three hits and eight walks.

Ohio State grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the second inning, but Rutgers would battle back. The Scarlet Knights got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when center fielder Pete Durocher doubled down the left field line, scoring shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer, cutting the Buckeyes’ lead to one.

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Rutgers captured their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run home run by Tony Santa-Maria. After six scoreless innings by the Buckeyes, Ohio State tied the game in the top of the ninth by a fielding error on second baseman Cameron Love.

The Scarlet Knights went scoreless in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving Ohio State a chance to win the game in the tenth inning. With Joe Mazza on the mound, the Buckeyes produced a three-run home run to secure a 6-3 victory. Mazza (1-3) picked up his third loss in 2024, recording 2.1 innings pitched with four strikeouts and three earned runs.

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The Scarlet Knights return to action on Friday when Rutgers host the Buckeyes in game two.

 

How is former Rutgers baseball Dale Stanavich shaping up in the MiLB?

Former Rutgers baseball pitcher Dale Stanavich continues to develop in the Miami Marlins system.

After being drafted by Miami Marlins with the No. 232 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, former Rutgers pitcher Dale Stanavich has been outstanding with the Marlins’ High-A Organization, the Beloit Sky Carp.

In 12 innings pitched this season, Stanavich has a 2-2 record with a 3.00 ERA. The former Scarlet Knight has produced 18 strikeouts and one save throughout ten games, allowing nine hits, nine runs, and four earned runs.

On May 3, the product from New York earned his first save of the season, as the left-handed reliever tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, holding down a 2-1 win.

In his last outing on Saturday, Stanavich registered two scoreless innings against the Peoria Chiefs, recording three strikeouts and one walk in a losing effort.

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In three seasons in the minor league, the former All-Big Ten First Team honoree has a 5-10 record as a relief pitcher, producing 74 strikeouts and three saves. He has logged a 5.09 ERA and has appeared in 44 games. Stanavich has allowed 48 hits, two home runs, and 30 earned runs throughout his 53 innings pitched.

 

Rutgers baseball dropped Big Ten series against Penn State

After splitting the first two games against Penn State, Rutgers lost 11-10 in game three, giving the Nittany Lions the Big Ten series win. 

Rutgers baseball lost 11-10 on Sunday to Penn State, dropping the Big Ten series in dramatic fashion.

Rutgers lost the first game of the series on Friday night but bounced back on Saturday with a 7-1 win. With the loss on Sunday Rutgers is now 27-23 (5-16 Big Ten).

With Rutgers leading 10-7 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Penn State recorded two home runs, three singles, and a wild pitch to win and secure the one-run win.

The Scarlet Knights grabbed a 3-1 lead in the second inning when Rutgers registered two walks, a hit-by-pitch and two stolen bases.

After Penn State cut Rutgers’ lead to one in the bottom of the second inning, the Scarlet Knights exploded for six runs in the fourth inning.

 

But from there, the Scarlet Knights’ bats went cold after the fourth inning and they wouldn’t cross the plate again until the ninth inning.

In the top of the ninth, second baseman Cameron Love produced a triple, scoring center fielder Pete Durocher. Love had a solid day for the Scarlet Knights with three RBIs on one hit in three at-bats.

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Rutgers relief pitcher Joe Mazza (1-2) picked up his second loss in 2024, registering four earned runs, five hits, two wild pitches, and three walks in one inning pitched.

The Scarlet Knights return to action on Friday when Rutgers hosts Ohio State in the final three-game set of the regular season.

 

Rutgers baseball Johnny Volpe reached a career milestone

Rutgers baseball Johnny Volpe reached a career milestone this weekend.

On Friday, Rutgers baseball Johnny Volpe reached 200 career hits in a losing effort against Penn State. The Scarlet Knights’ left fielder singled to right field in the fifth inning to capture his 200th career hit.

In 43 games this season, Volpe registered 46 hits and 31 RBIs in 151 at-bats for the Scarlet Knights. He produced four home runs and six doubles, striking out 24 times while logging a .305 batting average.

Before joining the Scarlet Knights, Volpe was selected to the MAAC All-Tournament Team while playing at Rider University. He help guide the Broncs to the MAAC Championship, appearing in the NCAA Conway Regional. In his last season with Rider, Volpe logged a .298 batting average, producing a team-high 70 hits, 12 doubles, two home runs, two triples, and 34 RBIs.

While playing for Rider, Volpe logged 155 hits and 75 RBIs in four seasons with the Broncs. As a sophomore, Volpe ranked second on the team with 18 multi-hit games, and fourth in the MAAC. Also, he ranked No. 68 in the country with four triples.

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Volpe finished ninth in the MAAC with 32 walks during his sophomore season. He finished the season with zero errors, playing shortstop, second base, and centerfield, totaling 192 putouts and assists. Also, Volpe led the NCAA with a 1.000 fielding percentage.

 

Former Rutgers baseball star Chris Brito is performing well in the Kansas City Royals’ system

Former Rutgers baseball star Chris Brito has performed at a high level for the Columbia Fireflies, recording a .333 batting average in May.

Former Rutgers baseball player Chris Brito has performed at a high level in the last five games for the Kansas City Royals Single-A Team, the Columbia Fireflies.

In May, Brito has so far recorded 12 at-bats in five games, logging four hits, two doubles, one home run, and two RBIs. He has walked four times and struck out twice, registering a .333 batting average.

On Thursday, Brito blasted a two-run home run to left field in a losing effort to the Salem Red Sox.

The former Scarlet Knight is coming off a strong start to the season, recording ten hits, four doubles, one home run, six RBIs, 11 walks, and five strikeouts in 11 games during April. In 33 at-bats, Brito logged a .303 batting average and a .467 on-base percentage.

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In 16 games this season, Columbia’s first baseman registered 14 hits, six doubles, and eight RBIs, recording a .311 batting average in his first season in the MiLB.

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Brito had one of the most accomplished hitters in Rutgers baseball history, wrapping up his career as the all-time leader in career home runs (46) and RBIs (200). Also, Brito set the program single-season record with 74 RBIs in 2022.

 

 

Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer to win the 2024 Brooks Wallace Award?

Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer is named to a national watch list.

Last week, the 2024 Brooks Wallace Award Watchlist was announced with Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer ranking in the top 100 shortstops in the country.

The Brooks Wallace Award is given out by the College Baseball Foundation to the best college baseball shortstop of the year and is named in honor of former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977 to 1980.

The Scarlet Knights junior shortstop has been on a tear for Rutgers all season, ranking No. 1 in hits (85), No. 1 in hits per game (1.81), No. 2 in batting average (.432), and No. 18 in fielding percentage. He started all 47 games at shortstop for the Scarlet Knights this season, recording only four errors in 162 chances.

 

The Rutgers star has 25 multi-hit games, 10 games with three hits, two games of four-hits, and one game where he had five hits. . He has registered a .400+ batting average for 31 straight games, recording streaks of five straight three-hit games.

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Kuroda-Grauer has three more regular-season games to showcase his talents against Penn State as the Brooks Wallace Award winner will be announced the week of June 17, 2024.

 

Former Rutgers baseball star Chris Brito continues his strong play in the MiLB

Since signing with Kansas City in December, former Rutgers baseball Chris Brito has performed at a high level for the Royals Single-A Team.

This past December, former Rutgers baseball player Chris Brito signed with the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has performed at a high level for the Royals Single-A Team, the Columbia Fireflies, to start the 2024 season.

In 49 plate appearances, the Fireflies’ first baseman has recorded 11 hits and six RBIs while logging a .306 batting average and a .469r on-base percentage. Brito has been outstanding while playing first baseman, recording zero errors throughout 96 innings.

Before signing with the Royals organization, Brito earned the MLB Draft League Hitter of the Month for June while playing for the Trenton Thunder. The MLB Draft League was established in 2021 for collegiate baseball players to showcase their talents leading up to the MLB Draft and Brito did just that.

Brito recorded a batting average of .367 (22-for-60) with three home runs, four doubles, and 16 RBIs in 22 games for the Thunder. He led the MLB Draft League in on-base percentage (.500) and ranked second in both slugging (.617) and OPS (1.117). His batting average, recorded hits (22), and runs scored were ranked third in the league. Also, he tied for second in total bases (37), home runs (3), and RBIs (16).

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Brito had one of the most accomplished hitters in Rutgers baseball history, wrapping up his career as the all-time leader in career home runs (46) and RBIs (200). Also, Brito set the program single-season record with 74 RBIs in 2022.

 

Josh Kuroda-Grauer of Rutgers baseball leads the country in hits

Rutgers baseball Josh Kuroda-Grauer is preparing for a three-game set against Maryland as he enters the series leading the country in hits.

On Friday, Rutgers baseball gets ready to host Maryland in a three-game set as shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer enters the series leading the country in hits. Kuroda-Grauer leads the nation with 79 hits and is the Big Ten Conference leader in batting average (.432 AVG) and doubles (18).

In 153 games played with Rutgers baseball, he has registered 206 hits, 41 doubles, six triples, and 16 home runs throughout his 608 at-bats. Also, Kuroda-Grauer has logged 113 RBIs and 68 walks, recording a 41.8 percent on-base percentage.

The 2023 Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist is not only a strong offensive player as he has registered solid fielding statistics throughout his career. This season, Kuroda-Grauer has logged 52 putouts, 127 assists, and four errors at the shortstop position, recording a .978 fielding percentage.

According to FSS Plus Senior Analyst Joe Doyle, JKG is ranked No. 157 in the recently updated Top 300 board for the 2024 MLB Draft.

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Kuroda-Grauer is on pace to have a career season for the Scarlet Knights, surpassing his previous season’s hit and RBI totals with 9 games remaining in the regular season.

 

Rutgers baseball defeated their in-state rival the Princeton Tigers in mid-week action

The Scarlet Knights started off slow, but rallied in the later innings to defeat their in-state rival the Princeton Tigers 8-4.

After a slow start, Rutgers baseball (25-19, 3-12 Big Ten) battled back in the later innings to defeat their in-state rival the Princeton Tigers (16-22, 11-7 Ivy League) by an 8-4 scoreline.

Princeton started strong, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Rutgers pitcher Jordan Falco got the nod for the Scarlet Knights on the mound, allowing four earned runs on three hits in one inning pitched.

The Scarlet Knights cut the Tigers’ lead in half in the bottom frame when center fielder Pete Durocher singled to left field and right fielder Trevor Cohen grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring two runs for Rutgers.

After the first inning, the Rutgers pitching staff held the Tigers scoreless, allowing their offense to rally back.

After recording a run in the second and fourth innings, the Scarlet Knights tied the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Rutgers grabbed the lead with an RBI sac fly by third baseman Tony Santa Maria, giving Rutgers a 5-4 lead.

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Back in the win column with an in-state W over Princeton!!#TCD pic.twitter.com/nfFVSy4JnI

The Scarlet Knights blew the game open in the bottom of the seventh inning when Rutgers recorded three runs to extend their lead. Left fielder Johnny Volpe blasted a two-run home run over the right-center wall to secure Rutgers’ 8-4 victory.

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Rutgers returns to action on Friday when they host Maryland in a three-game set.