FIU freshman catcher Jose Garcia was nominated to the 2018 Johnny Bench Award Watch List.
Garcia is tied for the team lead in home runs with eight and leads the Panthers with 28 RBI. Garcia is tied for third in Conference USA in home runs. Garcia is also 10th in slugging percentage in the conference with a .582 mark.
The Bench Award honors the top catcher in college baseball. Garcia is among 112 catchers on the list. The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 16, 2018. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists.