The winners of the 2025 Johnny Bench Awards presented by MSA Sport, which honor the top NCAA Division I male and female college catchers along with the top high school baseball and softball catchers from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia, have been announced.
“Now in its seventh year, the Johnny Bench Awards honor more than just impressive stats, they celebrate the leadership, toughness and heart required to be a great catcher,” said Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. “I’m proud to recognize this year’s winners for upholding that standard.”
The ten winners will be honored at the Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon on July 29 at Great American Ball Park and recognized that evening during on-field ceremonies before the Reds vs. Dodgers game, 7:10 p.m.
2025 Johnny Bench Awards 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)
The 2025 Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon will take place on Tuesday, July 29 at Great American Ball Park. For information on table sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets, please contact Bob Santoro at rsantoro@reds.com.
Previous collegiate winners include 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick Adley Rutschman, 2021 Team USA Olympian Dejah Mulipola, 2021 Reds first-round draft pick Matheu Nelson and 2022 Rawlings Gold Glove winner Jordyn Rudd.
The full list of previous winners can be found at www.reds.com/BenchAwards.
About the Johnny Bench Awards
The Cincinnati Reds and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, along with the Reds Hall of Fame, are partnering for The Johnny Bench Awards presented by MSA Sport. The awards honor the best baseball and softball high school catchers from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia as well as the top baseball and softball NCAA Division I catchers. A committee determines the finalists with support from local media, coaches’ associations and scouting organizations in each state. The winners are then hand-picked by Johnny and brought together to celebrate their achievements and meet “Baseball’s Greatest Catcher” at an awards banquet. The awards are permanently located at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum presented by Dinsmore at Great American Ball Park.