AMERICUS, Ga. -- Georgia Southwestern State University catcher Kalvin Alexander and Georgia College & State University first baseman Braeden Smith have been named NCAA Division II recipients of a 2024 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings Gold Glove Award. In addition, both were named to the 2024 ABCA NCAA Division II All-Defensive Team for the Southeast Region along with three other PBC players: Payton Palladino of Flagler, Ethan Wilder of Lander and Win Johns of Columbus State.
Alexander, a redshirt-junior from Lakeland, Fla., started 36 games behind the plate this spring in his second season with the Hurricanes. He did not commit an error with 377 total chances, made 39 assists and threw out 19 runners attempting to steal. His caught stealing percentage was 36.5 percent, which would rank second among the career numbers of all active Major League Baseball catchers according to Baseball-Reference.com. Alexander becomes GSW's second Gold Glove Award winner. The Hurricanes have had a recipient in each of the past two seasons.
Smith is the third Bobcat to be named to the Gold Glove Team, joining Dylan Cook (second base) in 2015 and Logan Mattix (outfield) in 2017.
The freshman from Statham, Georgia, did not commit a single error in 497 chances (481 putouts, 16 assists) in the field. Smith started all 59 games for GCSU, batting .356 (77-of-216) with 20 doubles, three triples and six home runs. He scored 57 runs and drove in 48 runs. Smith, who was named the Freshman of the Year in the Peach Belt Conference, slugged .560 and had a .482 on-base percentage. The All-PBC first team performer drew 49 walks and stole eight bases.
GCSU finished the 2024 campaign ranked No. 20 by the ABCA and No. 21 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The Bobcats compiled a 37-22 ledger as they made their 15th trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament where they advanced to the Southeast Super Regional for the first time in program history after winning the PBC Tournament.
The 2024 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were released by ABCA and Rawlings Sporting Goods in all eight divisions of collegiate baseball and high school. A Gold Glove Award is presented to nine players at each level with each representing a defensive position on the field. Alexander is the NCAA Division II catcher award recipient. The Rawlings Gold Glove winners have been selected since 2007 in the collegiate and high school ranks, featuring many future Major League Baseball players.
The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Awards are selected by ABCA coaches committees at each level: NCAA Division I, II & III, NAIA, NJCAA Division I, II & III, Pacific Association Division, and High School.
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 40 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.
| 2024 ABCA NCAA Div. II All-Defensive Team: Southeast Region |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Kalvin Alexander |
Jr. |
Georgia Southwestern State |
GA |
| 1B |
Braeden Smith |
Fr. |
Georgia College & State |
GA |
| 2B |
Payton Palladino |
Fr. |
Flagler |
FL |
| 3B |
Alden Cottle |
Sr. |
Mount Olive |
NC |
| SS |
Ethan Wilder |
Sr. |
Lander |
SC |
| OF |
Dylan Driver |
Jr. |
Catawba |
NC |
| OF |
Dylan Jeffries |
Gr. |
Mount Olive |
NC |
| OF |
Win Johns |
Sr. |
Columbus State |
GA |
| P |
Noah Pridmore |
Sr. |
Carson-Newman |
TN |