STANFORD, Calif. – Catcher Maverick Handley was named Pac-12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and eight other Cardinal earned places on the Pac-12 All-Conference teams, as announced Wednesday.
Handley, a native of Lakewood, Colorado, shares Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors with Oregon State's Adley Rutschman, and was also a member of the All-Conference team. Handley (bioengineering) leads the Pac-12 in pickoffs (7), yielding just three passed balls on the season while throwing out 10-of-26 stolen base attempts against him – Stanford has also allowed a league-low 17 sacrifice bunts this season. Since his freshman season in 2017, the Cardinal is 97-23-0 (.808) when Handley starts behind home plate.
.@MaverickHandley is the @pac12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year!
— Stanford Baseball (@StanfordBSB) May 29, 2019
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First baseman Andrew Daschbach, pitcher Jack Little, the versatile Will Matthiessen, who has served as the designated hitter in all 52 games while making 14 appearances on the mound, and Brandon Wulff joined Handley on the All-Conference team.
Duke Kinamon, Kyle Stowers and Tim Tawa were named All-Pac-12 honorable mention while Daschbach, Handley and Stowers were named to the All-Defensive team. Nick Bellafronto and Kinamon were named All-Defense honorable mentions.
No. 4 Stanford opens the NCAA Tournament on Friday when it opens the 18th NCAA Regional at Sunken Diamond at 1 pm against Sacramento State.
Co-Defensive Player of the Year
Maverick Handley
All-Conference Team
Andrew Daschbach
Maverick Handley
Jack Little
Will Matthiessen
Brandon Wulff
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Duke Kinamon
Kyle Stowers
Tim Tawa
All-Defensive Team
Andrew Daschbach
Maverick Handley
Kyle Stowers
All-Defensive Honorable Mention
Nick Bellafronto
Duke Kinamon