The top catchers from NCAA baseball and softball, along with the top catchers from select states in Reds Country, were recognized for their efforts during the 2025 Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon at Great American Ball Park.
The award, now 25 years old, was originally instituted to recognize the best catcher in NCAA baseball. In 2019 the award expanded to include NCAA softball and high school talent from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia and was permanently moved to the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum presented by Dinsmore.
On July 8, the 2025 honorees and their families enjoyed a luncheon emceed by former WCPO sports anchor Dennis Johnson. Bench, Reds president and chief executive officer Phil Castellini, Reds catchers Jose Trevino and Tyler Stephenson, third-base coach J.R. House, bullpen catcher James Keller and Reds broadcaster Tommy Thrall were also in attendance, along with representatives from MSA Sport and other program partners.
“Today is about celebrating the talent in this room,” Castellini said. “The catcher is the quarterback of our sport and in my opinion, which I think Johnny shares, is one of if not the most important position in the game. You have to understand the game at a different level than other position players. You have to understand all positions offensively and defensively. You are a unique talent to be a catcher, and to be recognized at this level is very special, so I congratulate you for everything that you have done to get these awards.”
Bench, a Reds Hall of Famer and a Cooperstown inductee, famously spent 17 years behind the plate for Cincinnati. For him, being able to put a spotlight on the next generation is important.
“The reactions from these kids are amazing,” Bench said. “Just to get recognized is a very special thing for them. Sometimes we're thankless as catchers, so for them to be able to get this recognition is a nice little step. It [helps] take their college and education [further] that will [hopefully] broaden what they're doing in their lives.”
To decide each year’s recipients, a committee determines the finalists with help from local media, coaches’ associations and each state’s scouting organizations. The winners are then hand-picked by Bench.
This year’s NCAA catcher selections, who unfortunately could not attend the ceremony, hold some elite talent. For NCAA baseball, one of the Baltimore Orioles’ 2025 first-round Draft picks, Caden Bodine, was the recipient. In NCAA softball, University of Texas catcher Reese Atwood, a 2025 Women’s College World Series champion, was selected.
With Atwood having attended Tuloso-Midway High School in Trevino’s hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, it’s no shock that the two had connected. Trevino had high praise for the Longhorn.
“[She’s] unbelievable. [She’s got a] great family. Just a great young woman and she's representing the catcher position well,” Trevino said.
Olivia Young of Jasper, Ind., was the Hoosier State’s 2025 selection. Being from a small town, she felt that the in-depth nature of the Johnny Bench Awards allowed her to be honored.
“Being from Jasper, you don't expect to really be seen as much as the bigger schools in Indiana,” Young said. “It was nice to know that the selection process was really thorough and that they truly try their best to pick the recipients. It just felt special to be seen.”
For the recipients, the awards help highlight a lot of hard work and passion put into their respective sport.
With the award specifically targeting four states, some recipients believe that getting the nod as best catcher not only represents them, but their state. West Virginia’s baseball recipient, Bryson McNew, wants the award to reflect him and the talent that his state produces.
“I feel like West Virginia doesn't get much recognition for baseball,” McNew said. “I think that with these awards, we have to try and use them to improve West Virginia baseball and get recognized more. I feel like there's a lot of really good talent in West Virginia that goes unrecognized because there's not as much coverage as there is everywhere else.”
McNew’s recognition is something he “worked for in [his] life,” while always hoping to continue to learn and grow.
Being at the heart of Reds Country, Walsh Jesuit softball catcher Caleigh Shaulis has had her eyes on the Johnny Bench Award since the beginning of her high school career. Now, with the award in hand to finish her senior year, it means so much more.
“This has been one of my goals since my freshman year, so it's definitely something I've been working for all four years,” Shaulis said. “I finally got it my senior year. I’ve definitely worked hard to get here. … It just shows that my hard work has paid off. I've spent [so] many hours [on this] with all the sweat, tears and everything else.”
Shaulis was also “blessed” to be recognized as Ohio’s best softball catcher, knowing that “there's so many great softball catchers in Ohio.”
The Johnny Bench Awards have featured strong recipients. Major Leaguers Buster Posey, Adley Rutschman, Patrick Bailey and Kurt Suzuki are on the list. On the softball side, Olympic silver medalist Dejah Mulipola and U.S. Women’s Softball catcher Kinzie Hansen are past winners.
2025 Johnny Bench Award Winners
Top male NCAA baseball catcher
• Caden Bodine – Coastal Carolina University
Top female NCAA softball catcher
• Reese Atwood – University of Texas
Top high school catchers from Ohio
• Caleigh Shaulis – Walsh Jesuit High School (softball)
• Jace Schrock – Jonathan Alder High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from Kentucky
• Emersyn Ramage – Livingston Central High School (softball)
• Owen Jenkins – Lexington Catholic High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from Indiana
• Olivia Young – Jasper High School (softball)
• Johnnie Ankenbruck – Homestead High School (baseball)
Top high school catchers from West Virginia
• Tayler Likens – Frankfort High School (softball)
• Bryson McNew – Preston High School (baseball)