Logan Tanner one of 16 semifinalists for national catcher of the year award
STARKVILLE – Second-year freshman catcher Logan Tanner has been named a semifinalist for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award presented by the Kamerion Wimbley Foundation.
Tanner was one of 16 catchers tabbed as a semifinalist for the award formerly known as the Johnny Bench Award and is awarded to the top collegiate catcher (must play 70 percent of games at catcher). Mississippi State’s Ed Easley earned the award following the 2007 season.
On the season, Tanner has thrown out 10 of 30 potential base stealers in 39 starts behind the plate. He is fielding .994 at catcher and his 20 stolen bases against are the second fewest in the SEC among catchers with 30-plus attempts against. He has also been a part of five strikeout-caught stealing double plays in 2021.
At the plate, he owns a team-best 11 home runs entering the final weekend of the regular season and has produced 39 RBIs on 51 hits. He boasts a .290 batting average and 21 of his 51 hits have gone for extra bases. His 28 walks rank No. 2 on the team and his 35 runs scored are tied for No. 3 on the squad.
The three finalists for the Buster Posey Award will be announced June 7, 2021. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series and each finalist will be brought to Wichita for the 23rd Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on July 1, 2021.
2021 Buster Posey Award Semifinalists (listed alphabetically)
Eric Bigani, UNLV
Drew Blakely, Richmond
Henry Davis, Louisville
Adrian Del Castillo, University of Miami
Hayden Dunhurst, Ole Miss
Braxton Fulford, Texas Tech
Hunter Goodman, Memphis
Wyatt Hendrie, San Diego State
Coltyn Kessler, Kentucky
Mat Nelson, Florida State
Drake Osborne, Louisiana
Straton Podaras, Radford
CJ Rodriguez, Vanderbilt
Logan Tanner, Mississippi State
Andy Thomas, Baylor
Nick Thornquist, UTSA