Full Release

Wichita, Kans. – (April 3, 2019) - For the third consecutive season, senior Justin Bardwell is on the Watch List for the National Catcher of the Year Award, presented by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.  Previously the Johnny Bench Award, the award is in its 20th year and has been renamed the Buster Posey Award in honor of the former All-American catcher at Florida State. 
 
"We were honored to have worked with Johnny Bench the last 19 years in celebrating the achievements of college catchers around the country," stated Bob Hanson, President/CEO of the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission. "Johnny was the best, so good in fact that he was drafted out of high school."

Hanson continued, "we are extremely excited to re-brand the award for its twentieth anniversary and partner with Buster Posey who had a tremendous collegiate career at Florida State."
 
Posey began his collegiate career as a shortstop, before moving to the catchers position his sophomore year. His junior season honors included the Johnny Bench Award, the Dick Howser Trophy, the Golden Spikes Award, and was the fifth overall draft pick by the Giants. Since his major league debut in 2010, Posey's honors include three World Series championships, six All-Star Game selections, four Silver Slugger Awards, 2010 National League Rookie of the Year, 2012 National League MVP and 2016 Gold Glove Award winner.
 
Bardwell has started 33 of the 35 games he has appeared in, leading the Rams with 22 RBI, while being third in doubles (6) and second in home runs (3).  He enters this week just two doubles shy of 50 for his career, which would make him the third Ram to reach that milestone, joining Greg Smith and Pete DeLuca.  Defensively, he has thrown out 41% of potential base stealers this season.