By: Alex Kline, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
GREENSBORO, NC – Bronco catcher Johnny Pappas was named to the 2024 ABCA Division II All-Defensive West Region Team on Thursday, it was announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
The redshirt junior posted a stellar .997 fielding percentage during the 2024 season, recording 287 putouts with 17 assists and just one error. He started in 55 of the teams' 56 games, including 40 behind the plate, 11 at designated hitter, and four in right field. Pappas threw out seven of 22 potential base stealers, good for a 31.8 caught stealing percentage, while allowing just two passed balls during the 2024 season.
Pappas has established himself as one of the strongest defenders in program history, owning a career .996 fielding percentage. Since 2001, that is the best fielding percentage among players with at least 400 total chances. The Chino Hills native has also thrown out 27 runners in his career, tied for fourth-most in program history, while his 31.4 career caught stealing percentage is fifth-best all-time among CPP catchers.
The First Team All-West Region honoree ranks second in program history in fewest passed balls per game at .068, having allowed 11 over his four seasons in Green & Gold.
About the ABCA
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 41 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.
The Chair of the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America & Coach of the Year Committee is Rudy Garbalosa of Lynn University. The committee also includes Randy Betten (Cal Poly Pomona), Jim Gantt (Catawba College), Rick Giannetti (Dominican College), Dave Hajek (University of Colorado at Colorado Springs), Ryan Kelley (Wayne State University), Alex Koch (Wayne State College) and Marc Marizzaldi (Seton Hill University).
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