Ivan Melendez of Texas Wins Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award

 The Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award (BBCSA) presented by SR Bats announced today that Ivan Melendez from the University of Texas has won the 2022 award as the nation’s top college baseball hitter. Melendez will be honored at a gala on November 17 in Fort Worth.

The BBCSA, created by the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation, was open to nominations from all Division I baseball programs in the country. The award is based on performance at the plate, academics, and personal integrity.

Melendez, a junior from El Paso, has a .396 batting average with 32 home runs and 94 RBI in leading Texas to a College World Series berth this weekend. In addition, the Horns first baseman led the nation in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage (.888) and total bases (213).

"I would like to congratulate Ivan Melendez of the University of Texas on being the 2022 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award winner,” said Tracy Taylor, Executive Director of the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation and the Bobby BraganCollegiate Slugger Award. "Ivan led the nation in numerous offensive stats this season while competing against some of the toughest competition in college baseball." 

“In addition, he was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll multiple times. That combined with his strong values and overall leadership, and you have a prime example of what the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Selection Committee is looking for."

Texas Tech’s Hunter Hargrove won the initial BBCSA in 2017. Dallas Baptist’s Devlin Granberg took home the honor in 2018 with Texas Tech’s Josh Jung winning the award in 2019. The BBCSA had no winner in 2020 due to the fact that the COVID-19 virus cut that collegiate baseball season short. Last year’s winner was Connor Norby from East Carolina University.