Wittenberg Baseball Announces 2024 Team Awards During Family Day Event

The Wittenberg University baseball program announced the 2024 Team Awards this past weekend at their annual Family Day Event. With many baseball family members in attendance the day's events included an intersquad scrimmage, team picnic, and the traditional team awards being handed out. Below are the four individual recipients who will forever be enshrined in the program's history.

Rookie of the Year: (SO/1B) Xander Rodriguez

The 2024 Rookie of the Year goes to sophomore first baseman Xander Rodriguez. Xander made an immediate impact on an already stacked Tigers lineup. He immediately replaced a middle of the order, run producing type hitter and at the first base position from the year before. Playing primarily as the teams every day first baseman, Xander played in and started in all of the teams 43 games, unheard of for a freshman to accomplish that with the landscape of college baseball right now. In his rookie campaign, Rodriguez slashed a astonishing .365/.490/.601. He finished with 54 hits, 9 doubles, 8 HRs, 43 runs scored, 48 runs batted in, stole 2 bases, and was walked a ridiculous 36 times in his 148 ABs. His 8 homers and 48 RBI were team bests, and was a top 10 producer in many offensive statistical categories across the entire NCAC conference including slugging, rbi, hrs, and walks… in fact his 36 walks led the conference. Xander had multiple clutch hit performances during his freshman campaign, which earned him enough reputation in the league to earn and be awarded player of the week in April, and at the end of the season a 2nd Team All NCAC Team honoree. Known more for his offensive prowess and patience at the plate, Xander still showcased himself as a complete player from both sides of the field having done an exceptional job at first base fielding an impressive .984 over 369 total chances while recording 347 put outs, 16 assists and 25 double plays all while only committing 6 errors on his way to a very successful freshman season for the Tigers. He has notched himself in our record books already as a freshman and are excited to see his growth.

Pitcher of the Year: Joe Horoszko (Graduate/RHP)

Now graduate senior right-handed pitcher Joe Horoszko has been named Pitcher of the Year for the 2024 season. The right hander finished the season with a 5-1 record while recording 4 saves. Horoszko threw 41+ innings for the Tigers last season in an early role as a closer/reliever which grew over the course of the season into a dominant starter. He led the team in WINS, SAVES, and with an impressive ERA of (1.09). In his 41 innings of work Horoszko made it tough on hitters recording 35 strikeouts while scattering only 32 hits for a miniscule .212 opponents batting average against. Horoszko’s dominance last season was also done with great command having only walked 14 batters over those 41+ innings while showcasing a WHIP of 1.11. Most impressively when the lights were on, Joe showed out! During NCAC conference play only Joe was at his best, having recorded a league best an astounding 0.37 ERA, let me repeat a 0.37 ERA over 24.1 innings of work; winning 3 games and saving another 3 and held opposing hitters to a ridiculous .174 average against. For his efforts Horoszko was honored and named to the All-NCAC First Team, 2nd Team D3baseball All Region, and 3rd Team ABCA All Region. Joe was not able to be here with us today as he is now living in Phillidelphia, PA working for a pharmaceutical company. Joe is at the core of this programs growth over his time in recent years. He not only fulfilled his four-year commitment to Wittenberg, but also gave us an unforgettable fifth year senior campaign having persevered through so much adversity with injury and setbacks.

Most Valuable Player: Alex Nemunaitis (JR/INF)

Junior infielder Alex Nemunaitis was chosen as the team’s 2024 Most Valuable Player. It didn’t take long last season for Alex to find himself as a main stay in our lineup slashing an impressive .386 AVG/.486 OBP%/.600 SLUG%. Nemunaitis has top three on the team in multiple offensive categories including Hits (56), doubles (13), HR (6), RBI (40), Runs (41), slugging %, and HBP with (17). During the season he had hit streaks of 9 and 11 games while notching 18 multi-hit games. Most impressively Nemunaitis can be a story for everyone. He rose from only getting 10 ABs his freshman season to putting together one of the most prolific seasons in memory, and literally being a candidate for NCAC Player of the year honors. His 17 HBPs is a representation of that, his grit, fight, and determination to just being a, and I emphasize, BALL PLAYER. Just a great story about a great person! Nemunaitis was at the tops of several major leaderboard catagories across the entire NCAC in conference in areas such as batting average, on base percentage, slugging, etc. At the end of the season Alex found himself as the most recognized as decorated player in the program having earned Academic All-NCAC, 2nd Team All NCAC, 3rd Team All Region ABCA, 3rd team D3 Baseball, and on the 6-4 Analytics All American List for 3B.

Red Maurer Award: Matt Moore (Graduate/C/DH)

Graduate catcher and designated hitter Matt Moore spent 5 deeply invested and dedicated years as a loyal team member and ambassador for Wittenberg University.
The guys have heard this a number of times, but baseball is just a part of your experience and memories you will take with you. In the end, you’re on-field accomplishments aren’t what’s most important, although this guy had plenty. You aren’t remembered for “what you do as a player”, you will be remembered for “who you were as a person”. This award personifies that, Matt was a tremendous player over his career and had a major impact on our growth as a program, however what makes this guy special is him, himself, his personality. He is a happy dude, energy provider, does things right, is that guy you can count on… he is just one of those guys who is respected for simply being true to himself. Simply, he is a leader.

On the field Moore was able to leave his legacy as a significant contributor to last year’s championship season. His continued relentless pursuit of team success not only got him that championship he had been chasing but also landed him on the all NCAC 3rd team after another impressive year at the plate. Known around the leave as an offensive threat, Moore played in 41 games primarily as the DH for the Tigers. In his 155 at bats, Moore hit an impressive .342 recording 53 hits, 4 doubles, 3 HRs, 26 runs, 45 RBI, with 13 walks and slugged .426. His 45 RBI ranks inside the top 10 all time in Wittenberg history for a single season! On top of those 45, Matt is 3rd all-time in Wittenberg history with 127 runs driven in for this program over his illustrious career. He walks away as possibly one of the best if not the best designated hitter in Wittenberg history.

Moore not only found success on the field, but off the field as well having graduated with honors double majoring in Economics and Sports Management; and last season having earned his Masters of Science in Data Analytics. His reputation on the field followed him into the classroom as he was named the 2023-2024 Sports Management Student of the Year. Moore is currently working for Western Reserve Trust Company as a Junior Trust officer in Cleveland, OH.

Matt will be remembered as a guy who gave everything to his team and his teammates. He is what Wittenberg Baseball is all about, and for that he deserves this award for having completely embodied what it truly means to Tiger Up!