Baseball

ARAGON NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

ARAGON NAMED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Posted: May 17, 2022

Centerville, IA – Diego Aragon (Fort Collins, CO/Fort Collins) of the Indian Hills Baseball team has been named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XI DI Baseball Defensive Player of the Year.

A mainstay behind the plate for the Warriors, Aragon managed the pitching staff as the team's primary catcher in his second season at Indian Hills. Aragon appeared in 47 total games for the Warriors in 2022 and registered 354 total chances behind the plate. Aragon recorded 322 putouts along with 28 total assists while committing just four errors. The 354 total chances were the most for any player in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). Aragon also ranked third in the ICCAC with a .989 fielding percentage.

On the base paths, Aragon threw out nine runners on the year with a .250 caught stealing percentage, the top mark in the ICCAC. Aragon threw out a career-high three baserunners at Iowa Lakes on May 7.

Aragon becomes the second consecutive Indian Hills catcher to win the honor, following Dave Janssen's recognition in 2021. The Warriors have now earned five NJCAA Region XI DI Baseball Defensive Player of the Year honors since 2012. Along with Aragon and Janssen, Zach Fascia (2017 and 2018), and Yuliecer Arias (2012) have been named the region's top defensive player.

Aragon also made an impact at the plate on the year for the Warriors, boasting a .336 batting average while hitting six home runs and driving in 34 runners.

The Warriors wrapped up the 2022 season with a runner-up finish at the NJCAA Region XI DI Baseball Tournament.