Post Courtesy of NJCAA.org
CHARLOTTE, NC -- After leading RCSJ Gloucester (NJ) to its first national championship in a decade, outfielder Aaron Graeber has been named the 2023 NJCAA Division III Baseball Player of the Year!
Graeber was a key piece as the center fielder for the top-ranked and national champion Roadrunners. The sophomore finished the season ranked within the top five nationally in runs, hits, triples, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage, and batting average. Graeber finished with a .500 batting average, 18 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 102 RBI on the season.
"Aaron Graeber is an outstanding college baseball player and a great teammate. His 2023 performance was extraordinary from start to finish. Aaron's ability to produce clutch hit after clutch hit carried our team to a National Championship," RCSJ Gloucester head baseball coach Rob Valli said.
Leading the Roadrunners to the NJCAA DIII Baseball World Series for a DIII record 26th appearance and fifth consecutive as the top overall seed. Graeber had a multi-hit game at every game the Roadrunners played during the World Series, finishing the tournament hitting a .600 average, with seven RBI, two triples, and seven runs scored. These efforts helped earn RCSJ Gloucester to an undefeated World Series and National Championship, with Graeber earning Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
"He was an impossible out with the game on the line. I have coached over 75 future professional players and Aaron is among the best of the best," Coach Valli said.
The sophomore was named a 2023 NJCAA DIII Baseball First-Team All-America selection, one of four Roadrunners named to the teams. Last week, Graeber was named a member of the 2023 NJCAA DIII Baseball Gold Glove team.
Graeber will continue his baseball career at the University of Delaware next season.
2023 Stats
.500 batting average (4th in the nation)
.566 on-base percentage (9th in the nation)
.897 slugging percentage (5th in the nation)
107 hits (led nation)
106 runs scored (led nation)
18 home runs (2nd in the nation)
102 RBI (2nd in the nation)
2023 Accomplishments
2023 NJCAA DIII Baseball World Series National Champion
2023 NJCAA DIII Baseball First-Team All-America selection
2023 NJCAA DIII Baseball Gold Glove Team
2023 NJCAA DIII Baseball World Series Most Valuable Player
2023 NJCAA DIII Baseball North Atlantic District Tournament Most Valuable Player
2023 GSAC Player of the Year
Read more:
https://www.njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2022-23/releases/20230622kcrifu