Kentucky shortstop Grant Smith was recently named a finalist for the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings gold glove award.
The award recognizes college baseball’s top defensive shortstop.
Smith made just three errors in 244 chances this season. He finished with a .988 fielding percentage.
Here are more details from UK Athletics:
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Grant Smith is one of Division I college baseball’s top three defensive shortstops, the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings announced on Tuesday. The winner will be announced on June 21.
Should Smith be named the winner it would mark the second consecutive year a Kentucky shortstop can claim being the best defensive player at shortstop, an almost unheard of testament to just how good Smith and 2022 winner Ryan Ritter have been at one of the game’s most demanding positions.
Smith, a senior from Albuquerque, New Mexico, made just three errors in 244 chances on the season and played a role in 34 double plays. One of his three errors came on a throw that skipped past the first baseman after Smith made a spectacular stop on the play.
Smith’s .988 fielding percentage is the tops of the three finalists and helped UK lead the nation and set a school record with a .984 fielding percentage as a team.
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Photo: UK Athletics
