Braeden Smith named to ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Team 

GREENSBORO, N.C. | Georgia College & State University first baseman Braeden Smith has been named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawling Sporting Goods 2024 NCAA Division II Gold Glove Team.

The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Awards are selected by ABCA coaches committees at each level: NCAA Div. I, II & III, NAIA, NJCAA Div. I, II & III, Pacific Association Division and High School. The first ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were recognized in 2007, making this the 17th year the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards have been presented in the collegiate and high school ranks. (No awards were presented in 2020 due to COVID-19.)

Smith, who was also named to the ABCA Division II Southeast Region All-Defensive Team, is the third Bobcat to be named to the Gold Glove Team, joining Dylan Cook (second base) in 2015 and Logan Mattix (outfield) in 2017.

The freshman from Statham, Georgia, did not commit a single error in 497 chances (481 putouts, 16 assists) in the field. Smith started all 59 games for GCSU, batting .356 (77-of-216) with 20 doubles, three triples and six home runs. He scored 57 runs and drove in 48 runs. Smith, who was named the Freshman of the Year in the Peach Belt Conference, slugged .560 and had a .482 on-base percentage. The All-PBC first team performer drew 49 walks and stole eight bases.

GCSU finished the 2024 campaign ranked No. 20 by the ABCA and No. 21 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The Bobcats compiled a 37-22 ledger as they made their 15th trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament where they advanced to the Southeast Super Regional for the first time in program history after winning the PBC Tournament.