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OMAHA, Neb. — University of Iowa junior Grant Leonard has been named a second-team All-Big Ten selection, it was announced Tuesday by the Big Ten office. It is Leonard’s first career All-Big Ten honor.
Leonard is Iowa’s 23rd All-Big Ten selection during head coach Rick Heller’s six-year tenure. Senior Mitchell Boe was Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree.
The Mokena, Illinois, native earned Iowa’s closer role two weeks into the season and finished the regular season a perfect 13-for-13 in save opportunities to tie Iowa’s single-season saves record. His 13 saves were the second most in the Big Ten and tied for seventh nationally.
Only six closers across the country had more saves than Leonard.
Across 12 appearances from late March to late April, Leonard owned a 14-inning scoreless streak. During his streak, he racked up six saves and a 14-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Overall, the right-hander finished the regular season with a 2.84 ERA in 26 appearances spanning 31.2 innings with 32 strikeouts and only nine walks.
Boe, a second baseman from Naperville, Illinois, was Iowa’s recipient for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The distinction is presented to student-athletes who display sportsmanship and ethical behavior, are in good academic standings, and demonstrate good citizenship outside of athletics.
For a complete list of All-Big Ten selections, visit www.bigten.org.
The eighth-seeded Hawkeyes open Big Ten Tournament play 5 p.m. (CT) Wednesday, facing top-seeded Indiana in Omaha, Nebraska, at TD Ameritrade Park. The game will be televised on BTN.
