LA MIRADA, Calif. ---  For the second-straight year, Biola Athletics is taking to social media and its website to announce its annual EDDIES awards. Since we were unable to announce our finalists and celebrate student-athletes in person with an end-of-year banquet, we will take the next two weeks to do so online and via social media to look back at the most memorable performances of Spring 2021.

The process continues today as we announce the winner of the 2021 Male Student-Athlete of the Year award. This award is meant to honor the standout male student-athlete performance for the 2020-21 school year. The list includes both freshmen and transfers. 

The 2020-21 winner of the Biola Male Student-Athlete of the Year award is RobertAnthony Cruz from Biola Baseball. Cruz is the first baseball player to earn an EDDIE this season and the first to also win the category from Biola Baseball. 

Cruz's is a wonderful representation of Biola Athletics both on and off the field, as the junior posted a 3.94 grade-point average while majoring in Christian Ministries and led the Biola Boys on the field. 

The Riverside, California native led the Eagles in nearly every category as he posted a team high .388 batting average and hit 11 no-doubt homeruns while hitting a career-high three homeruns at Eagles Diamond against Concordia on April 2. 

Cruz posted an OPS of 1.222, scored 29 runs, recorded 45 hits, 36 RBI and 23 walks during the 2021 season.

At the plate, Cruz was a force to be reckoned with and opponents wanted nothing to do with him. In a four-game series against Point Loma, the Sea Lions elected to intentionally walk Cruz 13 times in 19 trips to the plate. In the six official plate appearances he recorded during the series, Cruz went 2-6 with two RBI while scoring 4 runs.

In his final season as an Eagle, Cruz was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II West All-Region First Team, All-PacWest First Team, NCBWA First Team, CCA Honorable Mention All-America Team, D2CCA All-Region First Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District VII First Team.

Following the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft, Cruz received an offer from the Washington Nationals to sign a minor league baseball contract as an undrafted free agent. RobertAnthony will have the opportunity to make a childhood dream a reality and play professional baseball as he enters the Nationals MiLB system.

Congratulations, RobertAnthony, on an outstanding career as an Eagle!

Past Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award Winners:
RobertAnthony Cruz (2021)
Gabe Plendcio (2020)
Gabe Plendcio (2019)
Gabe Plendcio (2018)
Jummy Gallarda (2017)

Head on over to our @BiolaAthletics Instagram account to leave some love for RobertAnthony.

On Monday, we plan to announce the 2021 recipient of the Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Award.

EDDIES Release Schedule 
July 5 - Finalists Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year 
July 6 - Finalists Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 7 - Finalists Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 8 - Finalists Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 9 - Finalists Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 12 - Winner Announced - Female Newcomer of the Year
July 13 - Winner Announced - Male Newcomer of the Year
July 14 - Winner Announced - Breakout Performance of the Year
July 15 - Winner Announced - Female Student-Athlete of the Year
July 16 - Winner Announced - Male Student-Athlete of the Year
July 19 - Winner Announced - Dr. Dave Holmquist Career Achievement Award