Mississippi State’s Elih Marrero was selected to the Johnny Bench Award watch list, one of only three freshman catchers to receive the recognition.
The Johnny Bench Award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate catcher. Former Bulldog backstop Ed Easley claimed the honor in 2007.
Marrero, the son of former big league catcher Eli Marrero, has started nine of the 11 games in which he has appeared and thrown out three of the eight runners that have tried to steal against him. The 5-foot-7 switch hitter from Miami is batting .