University of Richmond Athletics
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Blakely Named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List
03/11/2021 | Baseball
WICHITA, Kan. – Redshirt junior catcher Drew Blakely (Galesburg, Mich.) joins 68 other catchers from around the country that have been named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List, as announced by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission earlier this week.
This award is presented annually to the top catcher in NCAA Division I baseball. Former winners of this award include Adley Rutschman of Oregon State (2019), Georgia Tech's Joey Bart (2018), Mike Zunino of Florida (2012), Cal State Fullerton's Kurt Suzuki (2004) and Kelly Shoppach from Baylor (2001). The award, formerly known as the Johnny Bench Award, changed its namesake to the 2008 award winner after the 2018 season.
Blakely is the only catcher from an Atlantic 10 school to be named to the early season watch list. The team captain currently leads the Spiders with a .429 average at the plate, scoring a team-high six runs and driving in a pair. He ranks in the top 70 individually across the nation in the toughest hitters to strikeout, having struck out just twice this season. Behind the plate, he owns a perfect fielding percentage. Of the 11 attempted base stealers, Blakely has thrown out six, limiting opponents to a .454 stolen base rate.
Blakely and the Spiders return to action Saturday, March 20th as they will host the Old Dominion Monarchs at Pitt Field at 2 p.m.
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This award is presented annually to the top catcher in NCAA Division I baseball. Former winners of this award include Adley Rutschman of Oregon State (2019), Georgia Tech's Joey Bart (2018), Mike Zunino of Florida (2012), Cal State Fullerton's Kurt Suzuki (2004) and Kelly Shoppach from Baylor (2001). The award, formerly known as the Johnny Bench Award, changed its namesake to the 2008 award winner after the 2018 season.
Blakely is the only catcher from an Atlantic 10 school to be named to the early season watch list. The team captain currently leads the Spiders with a .429 average at the plate, scoring a team-high six runs and driving in a pair. He ranks in the top 70 individually across the nation in the toughest hitters to strikeout, having struck out just twice this season. Behind the plate, he owns a perfect fielding percentage. Of the 11 attempted base stealers, Blakely has thrown out six, limiting opponents to a .454 stolen base rate.
Blakely and the Spiders return to action Saturday, March 20th as they will host the Old Dominion Monarchs at Pitt Field at 2 p.m.
-- UR --
Players Mentioned
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