KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Former Eastern Florida State College baseball player Bruce Bochy was honored during the NJCAA Annual Awards Dinner in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Melbourne High graduate joined Brevard Community College, now Eastern Florida State College, in 1974 and helped the team win a state championship in 1975 and was named an All-American that season. He was honored with the NJCAA Merit Award at the NJCAA Convention on Wednesday evening.

"The NJCAA played an incredible role in my journey both personally and professionally and am truly grateful to be recognized in this way," Bochy said in a video during the convention. "The lessons in dedication, service and striving for excellence that I learned through the NJCAA has stayed with me every step of the way. It's a privilege to be a part of this community and am deeply thankful for this award."

Bochy was drafted in the first round by the Houston Astros in the 1975 Supplemental Draft. He made his Major League Baseball debut on July 19, 1978 for the Astros and played for nine seasons.

In 802 career at-bats, he hit .239 with 26 home runs.

He became a manager in 1995 with the San Diego Padres and led them to a World Series appearance in 1998. He went to the San Francisco Giants in 2007 for 13 seasons and won three World Series championships with the Giants. The first one in 2010 and then in 2012 and 2014. He was with the Texas Rangers for three seasons beginning in 2023 and won the franchise's first World Series championship in 2023. He is one of three managers to win a World Series championship in both leagues.

Bochy is now serving as a special assistant to the San Francisco Giants baseball operations department.

The baseball field on the Melbourne campus of Eastern Florida State College was named after the catcher in 2011.

"We could not be more proud of Bruce Bochy for his extraordinary contributions to the game of baseball and to Eastern Florida State College," said College President Dr. Jim Richey. "From leading our baseball program to a state championship to helping establish Bruce Bochy Field as one of the premier baseball complexes in the state of Florida, his legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of our college. We are honored to see Bruce recognized by the NJCAA for a career that exemplifies excellence, and lasting impact."

The NJCAA Merit Award is a prestigious honor established in 1990 to recognize former NJCAA student-athletes who have achieved national distinction in their professional careers. Recipients have hailed from diverse fields including professional sports, politics, and music.