Putnam, Canon and Cavanaugh Earn A-10 Honors
5/21/2024 4:21:00 PM | Baseball
WASHINGTON — Davidson first baseman Eli Putnam has earned Atlantic 10 First Team and All-Academic honors, while Wildcat freshmen Cider Canon and Cooper Cavanaugh are All-Rookie Team picks, the A-10 announced Wednesday morning.
"Each of these guys contributed in their own ways this season," said Davidson coach Rucker Taylor. "Each had some obstacles to overcome, which made their performances even more impressive."
A junior psychology major from Cabin John, Md., Putnam had a breakthrough season a year after being limited by an injury. He led the A-10 with 16 home runs, 58 RBIs, 57 runs and 133 total bases, while also ranking second in the league with a 1.141 OPS. Additionally, Putnam was second in slugging percentage (.682), fourth in hits (68), fifth in doubles (15) and average (.354) and sixth in on-base percentage (.459).
His 16 home runs are the fifth-most for a Wildcat in a season, with his RBI (t-6th) and total bases (t-7th) totals also ranking high in the program records.
Putnam was named A-10 Player of the Week on April 22 after hitting .625 (10-for-16) with a 2.042 OPS and three home runs. He led the Wildcats with 21 multi-hit games, including a season-high four hits against Richmond, and 16 multi-RBI games, with a high of five against Brown.
"Great recognition for Put," said Taylor. "I think he played as well as anyone in the league and could have been Player of the Year as well."
Canon, a freshman from San Marino, Calif., became an everyday outfielder after returning from an offseason injury. In 32 games, he hit .314 with a .986 OPS, six doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 30 RBIs.
Canon was named A-10 Rookie of the Week May 6 after hitting .353 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. That included a two-homer, seven-RBI performance in a win over Rhode Island.
"Cider had a huge impact for us," said Taylor. "If he'd been healthy for a full season, he might have been Rookie of the Year and an-all conference guy."
Cavanaugh, a left-handed freshman from Hampstead, N.C., spent his debut season as part of the weekend pitching rotation. Cavanaugh ranked sixth in the A-10 with 10.08 strikeouts per nine innings.
In 52.2 innings, Cavanaugh posted a 5.64 ERA, struck out 59 and held opposing batters to a .246 average. He was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on Feb. 20 after striking out nine in 4.2 innings of his college debut against Morehead State.
"Cooper was an important piece for us this year, and his impact moving forward should be even bigger," said Taylor. "His growth will be fun to watch in the coming years. He and Jason Ban had a big impact on our pitching staff as freshmen."
"Each of these guys contributed in their own ways this season," said Davidson coach Rucker Taylor. "Each had some obstacles to overcome, which made their performances even more impressive."
A junior psychology major from Cabin John, Md., Putnam had a breakthrough season a year after being limited by an injury. He led the A-10 with 16 home runs, 58 RBIs, 57 runs and 133 total bases, while also ranking second in the league with a 1.141 OPS. Additionally, Putnam was second in slugging percentage (.682), fourth in hits (68), fifth in doubles (15) and average (.354) and sixth in on-base percentage (.459).
His 16 home runs are the fifth-most for a Wildcat in a season, with his RBI (t-6th) and total bases (t-7th) totals also ranking high in the program records.
Putnam was named A-10 Player of the Week on April 22 after hitting .625 (10-for-16) with a 2.042 OPS and three home runs. He led the Wildcats with 21 multi-hit games, including a season-high four hits against Richmond, and 16 multi-RBI games, with a high of five against Brown.
"Great recognition for Put," said Taylor. "I think he played as well as anyone in the league and could have been Player of the Year as well."
Canon, a freshman from San Marino, Calif., became an everyday outfielder after returning from an offseason injury. In 32 games, he hit .314 with a .986 OPS, six doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 30 RBIs.
Canon was named A-10 Rookie of the Week May 6 after hitting .353 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. That included a two-homer, seven-RBI performance in a win over Rhode Island.
"Cider had a huge impact for us," said Taylor. "If he'd been healthy for a full season, he might have been Rookie of the Year and an-all conference guy."
Cavanaugh, a left-handed freshman from Hampstead, N.C., spent his debut season as part of the weekend pitching rotation. Cavanaugh ranked sixth in the A-10 with 10.08 strikeouts per nine innings.
In 52.2 innings, Cavanaugh posted a 5.64 ERA, struck out 59 and held opposing batters to a .246 average. He was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on Feb. 20 after striking out nine in 4.2 innings of his college debut against Morehead State.
"Cooper was an important piece for us this year, and his impact moving forward should be even bigger," said Taylor. "His growth will be fun to watch in the coming years. He and Jason Ban had a big impact on our pitching staff as freshmen."
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