Kansas City’s Ban Johnson Collegiate Baseball League announces 2023 honors

The Ban Johnson Collegiate Baseball League announced its honors for the 2023 season at a banquet on Thursday.

The Ban Johnson Baseball League, founded in 1927, features KC-area baseball players across the league’s 12 teams. The collegiate athletes spend their summers playing at the Creekside Baseball Complex in Parkville, with one of the season’s highlights being the annual All Star Game hosted by the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Some notable league alumni who have gone on to Major League Baseball include David Cone, Rick Sutcliffe and Frank White.

In addition to Thursday’s player honorees, the Ban Johnson Legends were presented with the league’s championship trophy. This was the team’s first title in five years in the league, and manager Cary Lundy’s eighth league title.

Here are this year’s award winners:

MVP: Jake Miller, Creche Innovations Stars DH/outfielder

Miller was named the league’s Lester Milgram MVP after posting a league-best .526 on-base percentage, .753 slugging percentage and 1.280 OPS (on base plus slugging). Miller also posted a .416 batting average this season, the second best in the league.

Miller currently attends Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Hustle Award: Josh Patrick, Ban Johnson Legends infielder/outfielder

Receiving the Hustle Award, Lundy said that Patrick “was like a co-MVP this season.”

Patrick slashed .410/.537/.699 this season. A Truman High School graduate, Patrick currently attends UCM.

Pitcher of the Year: Jack Scott, Milgram Mustangs RHP

Scott finished his season with a 6-0 record across seven appearances (five starts), leading the league in record and ERA (0.76) in earning the Rick Sutcliffe Pitcher of the Year award. He also posted a WHIP of 0.97 and allowed a .206 opponent batting average with 41 strikeouts in his 37 innings pitched.

An Olathe West graduate, Scott currently attends UCM.

Offensive Player of the Year: Max Pawela, Regal Plastic outfielder

Slashing .375/.520/.728, Pawela led the league with five home runs and 29 RBIs this season. His slugging and OBP were ranked second in the league, as well as his OPS (1.248). For that, he was named Bob Allison Offensive Player of the Year.

“We should have nicknamed him ‘Rolex’ because his timing was impeccable,” his manager, Clint Culbertson, said.

A Park Hill South graduate, Pawela currently attends Northwest Missouri State.

Fielding Award: Billy Rivera, Ban Johnson Legends shortstop

Rivera had an astounding 0.973 fielding percentage this season, earning him the Frank White Award for Fielding Excellence.

“Billy has range and arm-strength to make all the plays,” Lundy said.

Rivera currently attends Park University in Parkville.

Ban Johnson Hall of Fame Inductee: Bob McFarlane

The 48th inductee to the Ban Johnson Hall of Fame, McFarlane retired at the end of the 2023 season after 34 years as the league’s executive director.