For immediate release:
Photo: Oregon State Athletic Communications
PORTLAND, Oregon (July 18) -- The Oregon Sports Awards’ first-ever award went to the player selected first in the 2019 MLB Draft on Wednesday.
Former Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman, who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in June, was chosen as the recipient of the 2019 Bill Hayward Male Amateur Athlete of the Year. Founded in 1948 as the Oregon Sports Awards’ inaugural honor, the award recognizes the top male and female college athletes in Oregon annually.
Rutschman became the 14th male athlete from Oregon State to win the award. Past Oregon State winners include Terry Baker (1961), Dick Fosbury (1968), Gary Payton (1989), Mike Hass (2005) and Nick Madrigal (2018).
Rutschman was tabbed the winner by the Oregon Sports Awards’ voting panel over finalists Cravon Gillespie (UO track and field) and Justin Herbert (UO football). Fellow Beavers Spencer Tibbits (golf) and Tres Tinkle (basketball) were nominated for the award.
Sport Oregon, which manages the Oregon Sports Awards, and NBC Sports Northwest announced Rutschman as the winner during the network’s evening talk show “The Bridge.” Rutschman is in Florida preparing to make his professional debut but filmed a 60-second acceptance video that played during the broadcast. Click here to watch.
Rutschman’s Oregon Sports Award is the eighth MVP or Player of the Year honor he has received since June. He was named the Dick Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award winner, which are presented annually to the top college baseball player. Rutschman also received Pac-12 Player of the Year honors as well as National Player of the Year recognition from Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game.
He upped the ante at the plate this spring for the Beavers, hitting .411 with 17 home runs and 76 hits in 185 at-bats. Rutschman hit 10 doubles and recorded 58 RBI to help post a .989 slugging percentage.
The Beavers hosted their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament Regional in June and finished with a 36-20-1 overall record. Rutschman exits Corvallis having guided Oregon State to a College World Series title in 2018 and helping the Beavers finish with the best overall record (56-6) in 2017.
Rutschman is expected to debut with the Gulf Coast League Orioles in July or August. The GCL Orioles compete at the Rookie classification and are based in Sarasota, Florida.
Rutschman signed a contract with the Orioles on June 24 that included an $8.1 million signing bonus. It is the largest-ever signing bonus given to an MLB Draft pick.
Sport Oregon and NBC Sports Northwest will announce the Bill Hayward Female Amateur Athlete of the Year on either the July 24 or July 31 edition of “The Bridge.”
About the Bill Hayward Amateur Athlete of the Year
Bill Hayward was the track and field coach at the University of Oregon for 44 years until his death in 1947. Recognized as the Grand Old Man of Oregon athletics, he served on the coaching staff of six US Olympic teams and coached four world-record holders, six American record holders, four NCAA champions and nine US Olympians.
This award goes to the outstanding male and female amateur athletes with a state of Oregon background— high school, college or by residency— whose accomplishments brought credit to the state.
Award criteria and past winners: http://www.oregonsportsawards.com/amateur-athlete-of-the-year
2019 Oregon Sports Awards sponsors
Presenting sponsor: HP
State Champion Sponsors: NBC Sports Northwest Nike Pamplin Media Group Portland Thorns Portland Timbers Portland Trail Blazers Providence Heath and Services Washington Trust Bank
About Sport Oregon
Sport Oregon’s mission is to drive economic growth and enhance Oregon’s quality of life through sports. Our non-profit organization has served as the state’s sports economic development arm for more than two decades, injecting more than $350 million into Oregon’s economy through sports tourism.
Supported by more than 150 annual members, Sport Oregon works relentlessly to enhance the state’s economy and quality of life by attracting sports events and franchises. Sport Oregon’s major achievements include securing the NCAA Basketball Tournament, Davis Cup World Final, multiple U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Women’s World Cup Soccer and the Dew Tour. Sport Oregon was recognized as “Sports Commission of the Year” in 2010 by the National Association of Sports Commissions. View a complete list of Past Events and Future Events.
Learn more about opportunities to become involved with Sport Oregon by becoming a member, volunteering or joining Sport Oregon’s Young Professionals Board.
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Brady Johnson
Sport Oregon
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