RICHMOND, Ky. – Catcher Will King was chosen to the watch list for the 2023 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats.
 
The award, created by the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation, was open to nominations from all NCAA Division I baseball programs in the country.  The BBCSA is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity.  This year's watch list consists of 51 players representing 19 conferences around the country.
 
King, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound junior, was a First Team All-ASUN Conference pick in 2022 and earned a spot on the ASUN All-Tournament Team.  He was also on the watch list for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award.  Prior to the start of the 2023 season, King was chosen to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team by league head coaches.
 
The New York, New York native batted .313 with 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 60 RBIs and 31 runs last season.  He tied for seventh in the ASUN in RBIs, was sixth in doubles, 13th in slugging, tied for 15th in home runs, tied for 18th in hits (68) and was 21st in average.  Through five games this season, he is tied for the team lead in runs, doubles, home runs and RBIs.
 
King has a 3.51 grade-point average, was a member of the ASUN Conference Honor Roll and received the EKU Outstanding First-Year Student Award as a freshman.  He has volunteered for non-profit youth baseball organizations in New York, including helping run multiple hitting and catching clinics.
 
"Will's impact on our program will be felt long after he leaves us," EKU Head Coach Chris Prothro said.  "While he certainly will be remembered as one of the best players to come through the program, the toughness, leadership, integrity, and character he has demonstrated since he showed up on campus as a 17 year old has been a program changer."
 
The Colonels will host UNC Asheville for a three-game series this weekend at Earle Combs Stadium.  Friday's series-opener will start at 4 p.m.
 
The BBCSA originally started out in 2017 as an honor going to the top college hitter in Texas.  In 2019, the BBCSA expanded becoming a regional award covering Division I programs in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma.  In 2020, the BBCSA became a national award.
 
The winner of the BBCSA will be announced in June and honored at a gala in the fall at the Fort Worth Club.  Texas Tech's Hunter Hargrove won the initial BBCSA in 2017.  Dallas Baptist's Devlin Granberg took home the honor in 2018 with Texas Tech's Josh Jung winning the award in 2019.  Connor Norby from East Carolina won the BBNCSA in 2021.  Last year's winner was Ivan Melendez from Texas.
 
Fans can follow news about the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats and its Player of the Week honorees during the season at www.braganslugger.com.