2024 ABCA-Rawlings NAIA Baseball Gold Glove Team Announced
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In partnership with the American Baseball Coaches Association, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2024 ABCA-Rawlings-NAIA Baseball Gold Glove Team. The nine position winners, chosen based upon their defensive success, were selected by the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association All-America Committee.
| Name | School | Year | Position | Hometown |
| Brayden McGinnis | Columbia (Mo.) | Jr. | 1B | Concordia, Mo. |
| Ty Nekoliczak | Concordia (Neb.) | Jr. | 2B | Greeley, Neb. |
| Buster Hardman | Friends (Kan.) | Gr. | SS | American Fork, Utah |
| Nick Grade | Bellevue (Neb.) | So. | 3B | Kennewick, Wash. |
| Brendan DeFlorio | Rochester Christian (Mich.) | Jr. | LF | Mio, Mich. |
| Bryce Hayman | Roosevelt (Ill.) | Sr. | CF | Michigan City, Ind. |
| Rody Garcia | Texas Wesleyan | Jr. | RF | Nagua, Dominican Republic |
| Tevis Payne | Vanguard (Calif.) | Jr. | C | San Jose, Calif. |
| Blake Kimball | IU Kokomo (Ind.) | So. | P | Tolono, Ill. |
Nick Grade of Bellevue (Neb.) is a returning winner from 2023 at third base and Buster Hardman of Friends (Kan.) at shortstop are both returners. This marks the second straight season there is a repeat and is the seventh time a player has earned the honor twice.
Ty Nekoliczak from Concordia (Neb.), Brendan DeFlorio of Rochester Christian (Mich.), Bryce Hayman of Roosevelt (Ill.), Rody Garcia of Texas Wesleyan, and Blake Kimball of IU Kokomo (Ind.) are the first winners in their school's history.
Brayden McGinnis of Columbia (Mo.) has the second award in program history and Tevis Payne of Vanguard (Calif.) records the seventh honor for the team. Vanguard ranks second all-time in winners (seven) while Bellevue (Neb.) is the clubhouse leader with nine.
Lyon (Ark.), Oklahoma City, and Webber International (Fla.) are tied for third place with five each. Siena Heights (Mich.), St. Francis (Ill.), The Master’s (Calif.), and Westmont (Calif.) have four apiece with three each being earned by College of Idaho, Faulkner (Ala.), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), and Southeastern (Fla.) players.
Jake Browne (Bellevue), Nick Grade (Bellevue), Buster Hardman (Friends), Tyler Tognarine (Lyon), Chad Carman (Oklahoma City), Luke Ketchum (St. Francis), and Michael Fuchs (Vanguard) are the only two-time winners of the Gold Glove. In total, 94 schools are represented by the 152 award winning student-athletes since the award’s inception following the 2007 season.
About the ABCA
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. It has over 11,000 members represent all 50 states and 25 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings’ unparalleled quality and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and an approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
