Kevin Bazzell
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 2003)}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Kevin Bazzell
|image =
|team = Washington Nationals
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|position = Catcher
|birth_date = {{bda|2003|3|29}}
|birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
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Kevin Chet Bazzell (born March 29, 2003) is an American professional baseball catcher in the Washington Nationals organization. He was drafted by the Nationals in the 3rd round of the 2024 MLB draft.
Amateur career
Bazzell grew up in Rockwall, Texas and attended Rockwall-Heath High School.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/baseball/2021/06/09/5-players-to-know-at-the-2021-uil-state-baseball-tournament-including-a-duo-of-catchers/|title=5 players to know at the 2021 UIL 6A state baseball tournament, including a duo of catchers|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=June 9, 2021|access-date=May 10, 2024}} He was named the area Offensive Player of the Year by The Dallas Morning News as a senior after he batted .438 with five home runs and 36 RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/high-school-sports/baseball/2021/07/01/the-dallas-morning-news-2021-baseball-awards-offensive-pitcher-coach-and-newcomer-of-the-year/|title=The Dallas Morning News' 2021 baseball awards: Offensive, Pitcher, Coach and Newcomer of the Year|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=July 1, 2021|access-date=May 10, 2024}}
Bazzell enrolled at Dallas Baptist University and took part in the Patriots' fall practices before deciding to transfer to Texas Tech University at the end of his first semester at the school. He was forced to sit out out his true freshman season due to NCAA rules and used a redshirt.{{cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/red-raiders/2023/04/05/delayed-arrival-techs-kevin-bazzell-takes-off-after-redshirt-year/70082300007/|title=Delayed arrival: Tech's Bazzell takes off after redshirt year|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=April 5, 2023|access-date=May 10, 2024}} As a redshirt freshman, he served as the Red Raiders' starting third baseman and was named a freshman All-American by Baseball America after hitting .348 with 24 doubles, 10 home runs, and 62 RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/red-raiders/2023/06/12/texas-techs-kevin-bazzell-garners-award-hudson-white-reportedly-transfers-to-arkansas/70315681007/|title=Texas Tech's Kevin Bazzell garners award, Hudson White reportedly transfers to Arkansas|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=May 10, 2024}} In 2023, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=https://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=1636103 |title=Kevin Bazzell - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 16, 2024}} Before the start of his redshirt sophomore season moved from third base to catcher, after the previous starting catcher Hudson White transferred to Arkansas.{{cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/red-raiders/2024/01/26/texas-tech-baseball-position-switches-in-store-for-returning-starters-kevin-bazzell-austin-green/72367369007/|title=Change in store for Texas Tech baseball players Kevin Bazzell, Austin Green|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=January 26, 2024|access-date=May 10, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/red-raiders/2024/02/29/texas-tech-baseball-coach-tim-tadlock-would-like-kevin-bazzell-to-catch-162-games-if-he-can/72708852007/|title=Tim Tadlock would like Kevin Bazzell to 'catch 162 games if he can'|first=Don|last=Williams|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=February 29, 2024|access-date=May 10, 2024}}
Professional career
Bazzell was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 3rd round, with the 79th overall selection, of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft. On July 19, 2024, Bazzell signed with the Nationals on a $980,000 contract.{{Cite web|title=Nats sign top Draft pick King, 3rd-rounder Bazzell|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-sign-draft-picks-seaver-king-kevin-bazzell|access-date=July 24, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=695494|espn=|brm=bazzel000kev}}
- [https://texastech.com/sports/baseball/roster/kevin-bazzell/12730 Texas Tech Red Raiders bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bazzell, Kevin}}
Category:Baseball players from Rockwall County, Texas
Category:Sportspeople from Rockwall, Texas
Category:Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball players