Janek named Buster Posey Award Semifinalist
5/22/2024 1:53:00 PM | Baseball
WICHITA, Kan. – Sam Houston catcher Walker Janek was named as one of 16 semifinalists for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Midseason Watch List, the Wichita Area Sports Commission announced Wednesday morning.Â
The award honors the nation's top backstop in a given year. A selection committee made up of Division I Baseball Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Major League Scouts selected the 16 catchers from 69 nominations submitted by Division I college schools. Â
The three finalists are to be announced on June 6 with the award presentation taking place at the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 26. The finalists will be invited to attend the banquet, hosted by the Wichita Sports Commission. Â
Janek has been on the watch list in each of his three years at Sam Houston but it is the first time he has broken through to the semifinal round. He was recently named a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist by USA Baseball and was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and first-team catcher on Tuesday. Â
The junior from Portland, Texas, is the only CUSA player on the list. Â
Janek has posted an impressive offensive stat line in 2024 and enters Ruston, leading the league in OPS (On-Base + Slugging) with a 1.226 mark, anchored by 15 doubles and CUSA-marks of 17 home runs and five triples. He is hitting .381 for the season with 57 RBI and needs just three more RBI in Ruston to become the first Kat in program history with consecutive seasons of 60+ RBI.Â
Those offensive numbers are bolstered even further by what he has done behind the plate where he has almost singlehandedly eliminated opponent's running games in 2024, throwing out 15 of 29 attempted base stealers this season with a pair of pickoffs.Â
Full Semifinalists: Â
Ethan Anderson - VirginiaÂ
Ariel Armas - San DiegoÂ
Burke Camper - Utah ValleyÂ
Ryan Campos - Arizona StateÂ
Josh Caron - NebraskaÂ
Connor Caskenette - PurdueÂ
Jacob Cozart - NC StateÂ
Mac Guscette - AlabamaÂ
Brandon Heidal - OaklandÂ
Ike Irish - AuburnÂ
Walker Janek - Sam HoustonÂ
Caleb Lomavita -Â CaliforniaÂ
Cole Messina -Â South CarolinaÂ
Malcolm Moore - StanfordÂ
Ryan Stafford - Cal Poly Alex Stone – DukeÂ
More information and player stats can be seen at https://wichitasports.com/buster-posey-award/  Â
The Greater Wichita Sports Banquet will be held at Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita. Tickets will go on sale to the public June 10. For updates on the events and tickets, visit wichitasports.comÂ
