CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The Appalachian League announced that Johnson City’s Logan Sutter (Folsom Lake CC/Purdue) was named the Player of the Year.
Sutter, 20, batted .363 (58-for-160) with nine home runs and 48 RBIs in 41 games for Johnson City this season. The Doughboys two-way player (INF/RHP) had seven doubles, 30 runs scored, 15 walks and four stolen bases, finishing the season with a .427 on-base percentage and .575 slugging percentage. Sutter led the Appalachian League in hits, total bases (92) and RBI, matching Ryan McCrystal’s (Burlington) single-season Appy League RBI record from 2022. He also ranked second in average, home runs (tied), extra-base hits (tied-16) and slugging and posted the Appy League’s third-highest OPS (1.002).
“Logan was critical to the Doughboys’ success this summer,” said Johnson City skipper and 2023 Appy League Manager of the Year Kevin Mahoney. “When we needed a big hit, he delivered – consistently. His bat was a constant threat, and his ability to drive the baseball and drive in runs was tremendous.”
Sutter hit a home run in a 3-for-5 performance on Opening Day and never slowed down en route to Player of the Year honors. He hit safely in 32 games for the Doughboys, highlighted by 17 multi-hit games. He had five three-hit games, including three within a four-game span from July 9 to July 15, and two four-hit games. Sutter also drove in at least two runs in 12 contests for the Doughboys and had back-to-back four RBI games for Johnson City on July 10 and July 13.
Sutter turned in his most notable performance of the season in Johnson City’s 14-11 win over Elizabethton on June 14, belting a walk-off three-run homer to finish 4-for-6 with two home runs and a season-high seven RBIs. He authored a nine-game hit streak from July 8 to July 20, during which he batted .514 (19-for-37) with a 1.457 OPS, four home runs, three doubles and 21 RBIs.
“I am very proud of Logan’s accomplishments this season and the type of leadership and character he brought to our team,” added Mahoney. “He has a bright future ahead of him, and I look forward to watching him continue to grow as a player and a person.”
Sutter was the starting designated hitter and batted fifth for the West Division in the 2023 Appy League All-Star Game on July 25, going 1-for-3 with a walk. He participated in the Appy League’s Home Run Derby the previous night, hitting eight first-round homers before getting eliminated in the semifinals. On Aug. 2, Sutter went 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI to help Johnson City defeat Burlington, 4-1, in the Appy League Championship.
Defensively, Sutter started 27 games at third base, nine at DH and one each at shortstop and first base for Johnson City this season. He also appeared in five games as a pitcher, going 1-0 with one save and a 0.81 WHIP. The right-hander did not allow an earned run over 11 innings, permitting three hits (.045 BAA) and two walks while striking out 13 batters.
Sutter recorded his only save at Danville on June 29 and earned the win against Bristol on July 28, when he faced the minimum over six innings, allowing one hit and striking out four in his lone Doughboys start. The performance netted Sutter honors as the Appy League’s Pitcher of the Week for the final week of the regular season.
The Rocklin, Calif., native is heading into his junior year at Purdue. Sutter was named the Big 8 Player of the Year at Folsom Lake College (Calif.) this spring after slashing .390/.488/.707 with 40 extra-base hits and 69 RBIs as a sophomore. He scored 68 runs in 49 games, hitting 11 homers, 26 doubles and three triples. Overall, Sutter batted .354 (1.089 OPS) with 19 home runs, 38 doubles and 126 RBIs in 96 games during two seasons with the Falcons.
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