Janek named to Buster Posey Award Watch List
4/19/2024 9:42:00 AM | Baseball
WICHITA, Kan. – Sam Houston catcher Walker Janek was named to the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Midseason Watch List, the Wichita Area Sports Commission announced Thursday afternoon.Â
In all, 63 student-athletes from NCAA Division I universities across the country were on the list for the award, which honors the nation's top backstop in a given year and is voted on by head coaches and sports information directors. Â
Nominations for the honor from head coaches and sports information directors will continue to be accepted until May 8. Semifinalists are to be announced on May 22 and finalists named on June 6.Â
The award presentation will take place at the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 26. Three finalists will be invited to attend the banquet, hosted by the Wichita Sports Commission.
Janek has now been on the watch list in each of his three years at Sam Houston and is considered one of the best backstops in the nation. He was recently named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason watch list by USA Baseball and was recently tabbed as the No. 20 college draft prospect by D1Baseball.com in its midseason rankings released in early April. Â
The junior from Portland, Texas, is one of just two Conference USA players to be on list, joined by Jax State's Bear Madliak. Â
Janek has been dangerous all season at the plate in 2024, leading the Bearkats in batting average (.392), hits (58), runs (39), doubles (11), triples (3), home runs (11) and RBI (37) while also being 8-for-9 on stolen bases. Â
Those numbers include a 23-game hit streak to open the season, the longest hitting streak by a Bearkat to open a season in the history of the program and the third-longest overall. He has hit home runs in four straight games on two separate occasions.Â
Additionally, he has been outstanding behind the plate, throwing out 12 of 22 attempted base stealers this season with a pair of pickoffs. Opponents have only attempted 14 stolen bases in 25 games with Janek behind the plate since March 2 with only four being successful.
