Buster Posey Award
The most demanding and dangerous position on a baseball field is the one designated as “number 2” on a scorecard – the catcher. The role of catcher has evolved into a strategic part of the baseball game. Therefore, it is only fitting that the baseball community nationally recognizes the top collegiate catcher.
Previously known as the Johnny Bench Award, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award honors the nation’s top division one collegiate catcher as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors.
Zach Morgan (Fresno State), Kevin Parada (Georgia Tech), Buster Posey and Michael Carico (Davidson)
2023 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award
Watch List
The Wichita Sports Commission released the official watch list for the 2023 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award. Sixty-five catchers were nominated for the award by their schools. Because the award is given annually to the top division one collegiate catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 8, 2023.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 22, 2023. Ballots will be sent to the national voting committee at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 6, 2023. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced on June 29th, 2023.
They are (in alphabetical order):
Diego Altamirano, JR South Alabama
Cole Andrews, SR Ohio State
Tate Ballestero, SR St. John’s
Blake Barton, SO Belmont
Derek Berg, JR Army West Point
Gray Betts, SR Liberty
Julian Brock, JR Louisiana
Bryan Broecker, SO Michigan State
Devin Burkes, SO Kentucky
Connor Burns, JR Long Beach State
Michael Campagna, SR San Francisco
Burke Camper, JR Utah Valley
Michael Carico, JR Davidson
Owen Carapellotti, SO Georgetown
Josh Caron, SO Nebraska
John Cristino, SR Towson
Tyler Davis, JR Fresno State
Matt DePrey, JR Xavier
Dallas Duarte, SR Hawai’i
Matthew Ellis, SR Indiana
Cole Elvis, SR Kansas
Tomas Frick, JR North Carolina
Fernando Gonzalez, JR Georgia
Luke Hancock, SR Mississippi State
Calvin Harris, JR Ole Miss
Nick Hassan, JR Kennesaw State
Brandon Heidal, JR Oakland
McGwire Holbrook, JR Florida State
Henry Hunter, SO UAB
Cooper Ingle, JR Clemson
Adam Juran, JR Western Illinois
Cody Kelly, JR Missouri State
Will King, JR Eastern Kentucky
Tony Krueger, SR UMBC
Nate LaRue, SR Auburn
Bennett Lee, JR Wake Forest
Dayne Leonard, SR West Virginia
Luke Longo, SR NJIT
Travis Lott, JR The Citadel
JT Marr, SR College of Charleston
Ryan McCrystal, SO East Carolina
David Melfi, SR Wagner
Gustavo Nava Sanchez, SR Southern
Shane Paradine, SR Stony Brook
Jack Payton, JR Louisville
Ryan Proto, JR UMass Lowell
Nelson Rivera, JR South Florida
Julian Rojas, SR Radford
Eduardo Rosario, SR Nebraska-Omaha
Poncho Ruiz, JR San Diego State
Angel Saldivar, JR Cal State Bakersfield
Jason Schiavone, SO James Madison
Alex Smith, SR US Naval Academy
Ryan Snell, SR Lamar
Ryan Stafford, SO Cal Poly
Alex Stone, JR Duke
Evin Sullivan, SO Binghamton
Blake Sutton, R-JR High Point
Kyle Teel, JR Virginia
Jared Thomas, SR LMU
Anthony Tulimero, JR Houston
Tanner Tweedt, SR Abilene Christian
Nathan Waugh, JR Cornell
Jake Wright, SR Arkansas-Little Rock
Hernan Yanez, SR Incarnate Word
Who is Buster Posey?
Posey began his collegiate career as a shortstop, before moving to the catcher’s position his sophomore year. His junior season honors include: Johnny Bench Award, the Dick Howser Trophy, the Golden Spikes Award, and the 5th overall draft pick by the Giants.
During his major league career, Posey’s honors include: 3 world series titles,7 All-Star Game selections, 5 Silver Slugger Awards, 2010 National League Rookie of the Year, 2012 National League MVP, and 2016 Gold Glove Award winner. ©2019 S.F. Giants
| AVG | GP-GS | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | TB | SLG% | ||
| .460 | 66-65 | 248 | 88 | 114 | 20 | 4 | 26 | 92 | 220 | .887 | ||
| BB | HBP | SO | OB% | SB-ATT | PO | A | E | Fld% | SBA-ATT | CSB% | PB | CI |
| 55 | 8 | 27 | .564 | 5-8 | 416 | 50 | 8 | .983 | 34-58 | 41.3 | 2 | 0 |
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CATCHER OF THE YEAR RECIPIENT AND FINALISTS
2022 Kevin Parada, Georgia Tech (Michael Carico, Davidson; Zach Morgan, Fresno State)
2021 Matheu Nelson, Florida State (Henry Davis, Louisville, Andy Thomas, Baylor)
2020 Did not award due to COVID-19 and cancellation of baseball season.
2019 Adley Rutschman, Oregon State (Kyle McCann, Georgia Tech; Eric Yang, UC Santa Barbara
2018 Joey Bart, Georgia Tech (Alex Holderbach, Eastern Kentucky; Rey Pastrana, Marrshall)
2017 Matt Whatley, Oral Roberts (David Banuelos, Long Beach State; Brent Diaz, Louisiana Tech)
2016 Zack Collins, Miami (Logan Ice, Oregon State; Keith Skinner, North Florida)
2015 Garrett Stubbs, Southern California (Kade Scivicque, LSU; Matt Winn, VMI)
2014 Max Pentecost, Kennesaw State (Will Allen, Ole Miss; Kyle Schwarber, Indiana)
2013 Stuart Turner, Ole Miss (Mitchell Garver, New Mexico; Zane Evans, Georgia Tech)
2012 Mike Zunino, Florida (Kevin Plawecki, Purdue; Mitchell Garver, New Mexico)
2011 Jake Lowery, James Madison (Chris O’Brien, Wichita State; Mike Zunino, Florida)
2010 Bryan Holaday, TCU (Yasmani Grandal, Miami; Jose Iglesias, Coastal Carolina)
2009 JT Wise, Oklahoma (Chris Henderson, George Mason; Tony Sanchez, Boston College)
2008 Buster Posey, Florida St. (Jason Castro, Stanford; Dock Doyle, Coastal Carolina)
2007 Edward Easley, Mississippi St (Matt Wieters, Georgia Tech; Buster Posey, Florida St.)
2006 Jake Smith, East Carolina (Jeff Kunkel, Michigan; Eddy Rodriguez, Miami)
2005 Jeff Clement, Southern California (Nick Hundley, Arizona; Taylor Teagarden, Texas)
2004 Kurt Suzuki, CS Fullerton (Landon Powell, South Carolina; Chris Iannetta, North Carolina)
2003 Ryan Garko, Stanford (Tony Richie, Florida St.; Colt Morton, NC State)
2002 Jeremy Brown, Alabama (Chris Snyder, Houston; Alberto Concepcion, Southern California)
2001 Kelly Shoppach, Baylor (Casey Myers, Arizona State; Jeremy Brown, Alabama)
2000 Brad Cresse, LSU (Justin Cowan, Nebraska; Casey Myers, Arizona State)
