Austin Cousino wins Gold Glove

While the collegiate baseball season nears its final leg with only four teams still standing in the College World Series bracket, the Kentucky baseball team has been at home watching for a month. Losers of six of its final eight games, including a first-round loss in the SEC Tournament, the Wildcats slow and painful collapse from what was a promising season still irks many, knowing especially the Mississippi State Bulldogs, a team the Cats beat two games to one in mid-March before the epic collapse, are among the final teams.

Not to dwell on the past, however. There is good news to be shared. Kentucky sophomore centerfielder Austin Cousino has been named one of the three best defensive outfielders of 2013. The Rawlings Gold Glove award is given annually to nine of the top defenders at each position in the NCAA, announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Cousino’s list of honors in his young career is impressive, including a freshman All-America, SEC Freshman of the Year, preseason SEC Player of the Year, and the privilege of playing with the USA Collegiate National Team. Cousino is among the top prospects in all of college baseball, and after his junior season in 2014, he will surely be selected by a team on day one of the MLB Draft.

Cousino is the second consecutive Wildcat to win the award, going to pitcher Corey Littrell in 2012 after leading the SEC in pickoffs.

After such an extraordinary season in 2012, and then a complete change of direction in 2013 while still retaining much of the core from that 45-win team a season ago, it is difficult to predict what might happen in 2014. Still a good number of the players will be returning for their final year of required time in the college ranks, before the money comes calling.