Aaron Schunk makes history for Georgia Baseball
Georgia baseball’s 2019 season was one to remember. Even though it’s over, the success continues with yet another award for Aaron Schunk.
Aaron Schunk had one of his best seasons for Georgia baseball this year, and the baseball world continues to notice it.
On June 14, Georgia announced that Schunk was named the 2019 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year.
Now the newly signed Colorado Rockie rookie has to make room on his already crowded trophy case for the award.
Schunk was one of the most reliable players in 2019 as he started at third base and was the Bulldogs closing pitcher.
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Schunk has already received multiple All-American honors this season and is a Dean’s List student and three-year member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
In a Georgiadogs.com article, George Watson, the chairman of the Olerud Award selection committee, said this about Schunk.
“In the end, we felt that Aaron’s impact on the mound, where he factored in the decision in 15 of his 17 appearances, his steady bat and his outstanding play at third base put him just a tick above the others,” Watson told Georgiadogs.com.
“Plus his ability to positively affect the lives of others off the field makes him the perfect example of what the Olerud Award is all about. We are excited to see what the future holds for him.”
There hasn’t been this much excitement around the baseball team since 2009, and there have been a ton of ups and downs. However, Schunk was one of the players that changed this program for the better.
He deserved this award by leaps and bounds because he was the best two-way player this season.
Schunk held a .339 batting average, hit 15 home runs and 58 RBIs this season. He also recorded 12 saves in 2019 and had a 1-2 record and 2.49 ERA in his 17 appearances on the mound.
He made history as the first Georgia player to win the Olerud Award, and I cannot think of a more humble and deserving player.
Without Schunk, this season, Georgia probably wouldn’t have finished the season with a 46-17 record. He was the heart and soul of this team along with a few other guys, but he was the senior leader, the one the other players looked to for guidance on and off the field.
His ability to make those plays at third and show off his arm to make incredible outs wherever it was on the field just impressed me. You don’t see players that are that good at two different positions, so that’s why he is so special.
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Schunk’s career is just getting started, and he will likely have a long one if the MLB system can see his worth and versatility. It’ll be interesting to see if he can be utilized at two different positions in the pros or if he will stick to one of them.