News Summary
Caden Bodin of Coastal Carolina University has been awarded the prestigious Johnny Bench Award, recognizing him as the top NCAA Division I catcher. His excellent season includes accolades such as the Gold Glove and Buster Posey Awards. Bodin’s impressive statistics and leadership helped lead CCU to remarkable team success, including a berth in the College World Series. He will be honored at a luncheon and during a Cincinnati Reds game, reflecting his outstanding contributions to collegiate baseball.
Cincinnati, Ohio – Caden Bodin, a standout baseball player from Coastal Carolina University (CCU), has been awarded the 2025 Johnny Bench Award as the top catcher in NCAA baseball, as announced by the Cincinnati Reds on July 10, 2025. This prestigious award recognizes the best NCAA Division I male and female catchers, along with top high school catchers from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia.
The Johnny Bench Award is named after the Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, who played for the Cincinnati Reds. It emphasizes key qualities such as leadership and toughness that define a great catcher. Bodin will be formally honored at a luncheon on July 29 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, where he will also be recognized during ceremonies ahead of a Reds game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bodin’s accomplishments this season have been remarkable, as he is also the recipient of the Gold Glove Award and the Buster Posey Award. He has been named to four All-America teams, representing the College Baseball Foundation, D1Baseball, Perfect Game, and NCBWA. Furthermore, Bodin was selected as a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference player after starting 67 games for CCU, primarily as a catcher.
Exceptional Season Performance
Bodin played a critical role in CCU’s successful pitching staff, which ranked second nationally in both earned run average (ERA) and walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP). His offensive performance included a team-high batting average of .318, a .454 on-base percentage, and 42 RBIs. He managed to draw 47 walks and was hit by pitches 17 times, achieving a slugging percentage of .461 with 24 extra-base hits.
Defensive Excellence
Defensively, Bodin showcased his skills by throwing out 19 would-be base stealers out of 44 attempts, which ties him for CCU’s career record with 46 runners caught stealing. He completed the season with an impressive fielding percentage of .998.
Leadership and Team Success
Bodin’s leadership ability was instrumental in guiding CCU to win both the regular season and tournament championships of the Sun Belt Conference. His performance in the tournament earned him the title of Most Outstanding Player and a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
His contributions helped lead CCU to All-Tournament honors in the NCAA Conway Regional and facilitated the team’s advancement to the Super Regionals, ultimately resulting in a berth in the College World Series for the first time since 2016. The Chanticleers achieved a school record and ranked first in the nation with 56 wins throughout the season.
Historic Winning Streak
CCU enjoyed a remarkable 26-game winning streak during the last quarter of the season, which marked the fourth-longest in Division I baseball over the past five years. The team finished as the College World Series runner-up, narrowly losing to LSU. Their season was characterized by significant achievements, including championships in the Sun Belt Conference, the Sun Belt Tournament, the Conway Regional, and the Auburn Super Regional.
Johnny Bench Award Legacy
The Johnny Bench Award has a history of recognizing excellent talent in collegiate baseball, with notable past winners including Adley Rutschman, Dejah Mulipola, Matheu Nelson, and Jordyn Rudd. Caden Bodin’s recognition as this year’s awardee underscores his exceptional abilities and contributions to both his team and the sport as a whole.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Haddon Heights Catcher Caden Bodine Drafted 30th Overall by Orioles
Coastal Carolina Baseball Players Selected in MLB Draft
Caden Bodine Emerges as Top MLB Prospect in College World Series
Additional Resources
- Goccusports: Williams Named D1Baseball’s Assistant Coach of the Year
- Wikipedia: Johnny Bench Award
- Goccusports: No. 13 Baseball Gets 10-2 Win Over Fairfield in Conway Regional Opener
- Google Search: Johnny Bench Award
- Goccusports: Conway Selected as Host Site for NCAA Baseball Regionals
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College World Series
- Goccusports: Baseball America Tabs Schnall as College Coach of the Year
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
