The University of Mississippi Athletics
Cooper Johnson Named to Buster Posey Award Watch List
4/3/2019 | Baseball
Rebel Catcher Has Thrown Out 10 Baserunners in 2019
WICHITA, Kan. – Amid an excellent start to his junior season behind the plate, Cooper Johnson was named to the Buster Posey Award Watch List by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission Tuesday.
Previously known as the Johnny Bench Award, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award will continue to honor the nation's top division one collegiate catcher as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors.
Through the Rebels' 30 games this season, Johnson has played in 26 and started 23 at catcher. He's hitting .291 with seven doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI. Johnson has shown great improvement at the plate this season, increasing his batting average by .056 points. He already has more hits, more runs scored and more home runs than last season, also already matching his RBI total from all of 2018.
Meanwhile, the junior out of Mundelein, Illinois, continues to be one of the best defensive catchers in the country. Johnson has erased 10 would-be base stealers this season, in addition to a litany of other outstanding plays in the field.
Coached by three former catchers in Mike Bianco, Carl Lafferty and Mike Clement, Johnson continues the recent lineage of Rebel catchers in contention for the award. Stuart Turner won the award in 2013, Will Allen was a finalist in 2014, Henri Lartigue was a semifinalist in 2016 and Nick Fortes was a semifinalist as well just last season.
The Greater Wichita Sports Commission will continue to add players to the watch list through May 6. Semifinalists will be announced May 17, and finalists will be announced June 3. The Award presentation will take place on June 27 in Wichita, Kansas.
Previously known as the Johnny Bench Award, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award will continue to honor the nation's top division one collegiate catcher as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors.
Through the Rebels' 30 games this season, Johnson has played in 26 and started 23 at catcher. He's hitting .291 with seven doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI. Johnson has shown great improvement at the plate this season, increasing his batting average by .056 points. He already has more hits, more runs scored and more home runs than last season, also already matching his RBI total from all of 2018.
Meanwhile, the junior out of Mundelein, Illinois, continues to be one of the best defensive catchers in the country. Johnson has erased 10 would-be base stealers this season, in addition to a litany of other outstanding plays in the field.
Coached by three former catchers in Mike Bianco, Carl Lafferty and Mike Clement, Johnson continues the recent lineage of Rebel catchers in contention for the award. Stuart Turner won the award in 2013, Will Allen was a finalist in 2014, Henri Lartigue was a semifinalist in 2016 and Nick Fortes was a semifinalist as well just last season.
The Greater Wichita Sports Commission will continue to add players to the watch list through May 6. Semifinalists will be announced May 17, and finalists will be announced June 3. The Award presentation will take place on June 27 in Wichita, Kansas.
Players Mentioned
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