Baylor Baseball’s Kolby Branch and Cortlan Castle Earn All-Big 12 Honors

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – May 23, 2023

Baylor Baseball’s Kolby Branch and Cortlan Castle Earn All-Big 12 Honors
Branch unanimously named to All-Freshman Team; Castle tabbed an honorable mention pick
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

IRVING, Texas – Baylor baseball underclassmen Kolby Branch and Cortlan Castle have received end-of-season All-Big 12 honors, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon.

Branch, a freshman infielder, was unanimously selected to the All-Freshman Team, while sophomore catcher Castle picked up All-Big 12 honorable mention distinction.

After leading the Bears in nearly every offensive category, Branch received votes from each of the league’s head coaches to land a spot on the 12-member rookie team. A product of Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas, Branch hit .325 in 2023 with 69 hits, 49 runs, six home runs and 41 RBIs. His 17 doubles were one shy of the program’s freshman record and ranked tied for fourth nationally among Power 5 freshmen. Branch finished his first season of collegiate baseball with more walks than strikeouts, 39 to 38, and was the only Bear to start and play in every game this year.

Branch is Baylor’s first All-Freshman Team selection since Chase Wehsener in 2019, who was also a unanimous pick. Four of BU’s last seven All-Freshman Team members have been unanimous selections now in Branch, Wehsener, Nick Loftin (2018) and Shea Langeliers (2017). The Bears have had 13 players all-time named to the Big 12’s All-Freshman Team.

Compared to BU’s last five Freshman All-America honorees – Jared McKenzie, Loftin, Langeliers, Max Muncy and Logan Vick -- Branch ranks second in RBIs, third in batting average and fourth in home runs among their true freshman seasons.

In his second season with the Bears, Castle led BU in league play and ranked fifth in the conference with a .393 batting average, nearly 40 points higher than the next closest Big 12 catcher. Castle added his first-career home run, drove in a personal-best 13 runs and hit .299 for the full 2023 campaign. The sophomore backstop from nearby Woodway, Texas, appeared in 40 games and made 30 starts, racking up 35 hits, 23 runs and a pair of stolen bases in 2023.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.

2023 ALL-BIG 12 AWARDS
Honorable Mention
Cortlan Castle, C

All-Freshman Team
Kolby Branch, INF*

*Denotes unanimous selection


-BaylorBears.com-


__________________________________

Max Calderone | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (BSB, FB, EQ)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-265-1639

[signature_3358015448]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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