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LSU’s Watson picks up Gold Glove

Posted at 8:59 PM, Jun 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-20 21:59:33-04

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BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU sophomore centerfielder Zach Watson was named Wednesday night as one of three outfielders on the 2018 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove team for NCAA Division I.

Watson becomes the fourth LSU player to receive a Gold Glove award. Catcher Micah Gibbs was named to the 2009 Gold Glove team, and shortstop Alex Bregman and centerfielder Andrew Stevenson were 2015 Gold Glove honorees.

Watson is joined in the 2018 Gold Glove outfield by Brandon Lockridge of Troy and Jake Mangum of Mississippi State.

The other members of the 2018 Gold Glove team are catcher Shea Langeliers of Baylor, first baseman Jake Vieth of Gonzaga, second baseman Michael Massey of Illinois, third baseman Brandon Perez of Southern California, shortstop Tyler Depreta-Johnson of Houston Baptist and pitcher Joe DeMers of Washington.

Watson, who has tremendous range in center field, posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 2018, and he recorded six outfield assists.

The product of Ruston, La., batted .308 (72-for-234) this season with 15 doubles, two triples, seven homers, 34 RBI, 47 runs and 14 stolen bases. He has a .312 career batting average in two seasons at LSU with 24 doubles, five triples, 16 homers, 71 RBI, 89 runs and 26 stolen bases.

Watson has been appointed to the USA Collegiate National Team, which begins its summer schedule of games next Wednesday, June 27, in Cary, N.C.

The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Awards are selected by ABCA coaches committees at each level:  NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and High School.

The first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were recognized in 2007, making this the 12th season the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards have been presented in the collegiate and high school ranks.