Bazzell, Kash headline Big 12 baseball awards

IRVING, Texas – Redshirt freshman Kevin Bazzell and sophomore Gavin Kash were both named first-team All-Big 12 selections on Tuesday, headlining the Red Raiders’ portion of the annual postseason baseball awards announced by the conference office. The Big 12 all-conference teams are selected in a vote of the league’s head coaches, who could not vote for their own players.

Bazzell finished the 56-game regular season with the second-most hits (81) in the Big 12, trailing only Big 12 Player of the Year J.J. Wetherholt. He led the league in doubles (23), tied for the third-most RBIs (58) and owned the fourth-best batting average (.367) in the league. Bazzell started 53 games at third base and twice at catcher.

Kash, a unanimous selection, wrapped his regular season leading the Big 12 in home runs (23), RBIs (79) and total bases (167). He owned the second-best slugging percentage (.729), owned the third-most hits (80) and tied for the third-most runs scored (62) in the conference. Kash started all 56 regular season games at first base.

Senior Nolen Hester and sophomore pitcher Mason Molina were each tabbed to the All-Big 12 second team. The Red Raiders’ leadoff hitter and everyday left fielder led the Big 12 in on-base percentage (.527) and tied for the league’s most walks drawn (54). Meanwhile, on the mound, Molina recorded the second-most strikeouts (92) in the Big 12 and led the league in striking out batters looking (33).

Junior Brandon Beckel, freshman Gage Harrelson and catcher Hudson White each received All-Big 12 honorable mention nods for their respective seasons.

The Big 12 All-Freshman team included Red Raiders’ Bazzell, a unanimous selection, as well as Harrelson.

2023 ALL-BIG 12 BASEBALL

All-Big 12 First Team
IF: Gavin Kash*
IF: Kevin Bazzell

All-Big 12 Second Team
OF: Nolen Hester
SP: Mason Molina

All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
RP: Brandon Beckel
OF: Gage Harrelson
C: Hudson White

All-Freshman Team
IF: Kevin Bazzell*
OF: Gage Harrelson

*- unanimous selection

To view the complete All-Big 12 awards list, visit Big12sports.com.

The 2023 awards are a prelude to the upcoming Big 12 tournament. The Red Raiders begin the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field on Wednesday. Tech is the No. 6 seed and opens against No. 3-seeded West Virginia at 7:30 p.m.

– TECH –

Release provided by MATT BURKHOLDER Texas Tech Athletics