The University of Mississippi Athletics
3/10/2020 | Baseball
Rebel Freshman in the Running for Top Catcher Honor
WICHITA, Kan. – Ole Miss freshman catcher Hayden Dunhurst was named to the watch list for the 2020 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award presented by the Kamerion Wimbley Foundation.
The watch list for the Buster Posey Award—previously known as the Johnny Bench Award—will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, who will be announced May 19, 2020. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 3, 2020. 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 at the 23rd Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 25, 2020.
Coached by three former catchers in Mike Bianco, Carl Lafferty and Mike Clement, Dunhurst 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, Nick Fortes was a semifinalist in 2018 and Cooper Johnson was a watch-lister in 2019.
Dunhurst has already made numerous highlight-reel plays defensively as he has locked down the basepaths in just his first few weeks as a collegiate catcher. The rookie out of Carriere, Mississippi, has caught three would-be base stealers and picked off another while allowing just four stolen bases in 15 games. For comparison, the Rebel offense has stolen 26 bases in 27 attempts in the same span.
The 2019 MLB Draft Pick (Round 37 - Colorado Rockies) has already shown some pop in his bat as well. He is hitting .213 with three home runs and 12 RBI. Dunhurst has appeared in all 15 games thus far, starting 14.
Dunhurst came to Oxford as the No. 1 catching prospect in the country, a Collegiate Baseball High School All-American and the 2019 Mississippi Player of the Year according to Prep Baseball Report. He opened the season as the second-highest ranked freshman catcher in D1Baseball's catcher power rankings and the No. 28 catcher regardless of class.
The watch list for the Buster Posey Award—previously known as the Johnny Bench Award—will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, who will be announced May 19, 2020. Ballots will be sent to the national voting panel at the end of May for a vote to determine the three finalists. The finalists will be announced June 3, 2020. 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 at the 23rd Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 25, 2020.
Coached by three former catchers in Mike Bianco, Carl Lafferty and Mike Clement, Dunhurst 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, Nick Fortes was a semifinalist in 2018 and Cooper Johnson was a watch-lister in 2019.
Dunhurst has already made numerous highlight-reel plays defensively as he has locked down the basepaths in just his first few weeks as a collegiate catcher. The rookie out of Carriere, Mississippi, has caught three would-be base stealers and picked off another while allowing just four stolen bases in 15 games. For comparison, the Rebel offense has stolen 26 bases in 27 attempts in the same span.
The 2019 MLB Draft Pick (Round 37 - Colorado Rockies) has already shown some pop in his bat as well. He is hitting .213 with three home runs and 12 RBI. Dunhurst has appeared in all 15 games thus far, starting 14.
Dunhurst came to Oxford as the No. 1 catching prospect in the country, a Collegiate Baseball High School All-American and the 2019 Mississippi Player of the Year according to Prep Baseball Report. He opened the season as the second-highest ranked freshman catcher in D1Baseball's catcher power rankings and the No. 28 catcher regardless of class.
Players Mentioned
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