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UVA Center Fielder Ethan O'Donnell Wins Rawlings Gold Glove Award

After committing just one error in 65 games this season, O'Donnell was recognized as one of the top three outfielders in all of college baseball

Matt Newton

Matt Riley/Virginia Athletics

Virginia junior center fielder Ethan O'Donnell was named one of three outfielder recipients of the 2023 Rawlings Division I Gold Glove Award on Wednesday. O'Donnell is the second Cavalier in program history to win the award, joining Jarrett Parker (2010).

Needing an experienced and athletic center fielder to replace Chris Newell after the 2022 season, Brian O'Connor went into the transfer portal and got Ethan O'Donnell from Northwestern. O'Donnell ended up being one of many extremely valuable transfer portal pickups that contributed a great deal to UVA's sixth trip to the College World Series. 

In 65 games played this season, O'Donnell committed just one error and had a .995 fielding percentage. He recorded 190 putouts on 197 chances and was credited with six outfield assists. O'Donnell routinely made incredible diving plays and had a knack for throwing out baserunners who tried to take an extra base on him. 

Here are some of his best web gems of the season:

Not that it carries much weight in an award that recognizes fielding, but O'Donnell swung that bat pretty well too. He batted .354 on the season and totaled 90 hits, 57 RBI, 13 home runs, 71 runs, and 18 doubles. 

In his first season playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, O'Donnell was selected to the All-ACC First Team and has now been recognized as one of the top three outfielders in all of college baseball as a recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. 

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Matt Newton
MATT NEWTON

Matt launched Virginia Cavaliers On SI in August of 2021 and has since served as the site's publisher and managing editor, covering all 23 NCAA Division I sports teams at the University of Virginia. He is from Downingtown, Pennsylvania and graduated from UVA in May of 2021.

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