After another terrific season for the UCLA Bruins, junior infielder Roch Cholowsky was named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year for the second season in a row, becoming the third player to ever win the award multiple times.
UCLA just completed their best regular season ever this past weekend, with the Bruins taking a 48-6 record into the Big Ten Conference tournament later this week. Cholowsky joins Minnesota’s Luke Appert (2002-03) and Michigan’s Barry Larkin (1984-85) as the only players to win the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in consecutive years.
It’d be no surprise if Cholowsky went first overall in this summer’s MLB Draft, with the shortstop batting .330 this season with 21 home runs and 59 runs batted in. For his UCLA career, Cholowsky owns a .332 average and is up to 52 homers and 41 doubles.
Cholowsky was also one of nine UCLA players named to the Big Ten’s All-Conference teams. Cholowsky, pitcher Logan Reddemann, closer Easton Hawk, relief pitcher Wylan Moss, first baseman Mulivai Levu, third baseman Roman Martin and outfielder Will Gasparino were all named First Team All-Big Ten.
UCLA catcher Cashel Duggar was the only Bruin named to the Second Team All-Big Ten with relief pitcher Cal Randall being the only UCLA player selected to the Big Ten’s Third Team All-Conference team.
The Bruins’ defense was recognized, with four players selected to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team. Duggar, Levu, Gasparino and Dean West all got the nod, with freshman pitcher Zach Strickland making the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team.
UCLA will begin their postseason with the Big Ten tournament, which begins on Friday for the Bruins in the quarterfinals of the 12-team tournament.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Roch Cholowsky named Big Ten Player of the Year for second time
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
