Easton Sports has named catcher Ryan Saldivar from Richland College as the Easton/National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Baseball Defensive Player of the Year.

Richland College head coach Joe Wharton calls Saldivar “the best catcher defensively I have ever seen at the two-year college level in my 10 years of coaching.”

Saldivar threw out 23 of the 28 (78%) runners that attempted to steal bases on him this season. He was also credited with just one past ball this year. Additionally, Saldivar recorded 240 putouts, 51 assists, and just two errors for a .993 fielding percentage. His play helped lead Richland to a 37-17 record this season.

Saldivar was just as solid offensively, batting .387 for the season with 10 home runs. He led the Division III ranks with 72 RBIs.