Full Posey Award Watch List
WICHITA, Kan. – Zac Fascia's defensive excellence behind the plate and presence in the middle of the lineup in his first season as a Boilermaker has earned Purdue's catcher a spot on the initial watch list for the newly rebranded Buster Posey Award.
The Greater Wichita Sports Commission announced its initial watch list as well as the name change for the 20th anniversary of its national catcher of the year award. It was previously known as the Johnny Bench Award. Posey won the Johnny Bench Award in 2008, the same year he was drafted fifth overall by the San Francisco Giants.
Fascia has made 20 of his 25 starts this season behind the plate, serving as the starting catcher in 13 of the last 14 games. He has thrown out 11 base stealers in 25 attempts, ranking second in the Big Ten as one just two backstops to already reach double figures. He has also worked with a pitching staff that is averaging a Big Ten-high 9.25 strikeouts per nine innings. The Boilermakers already have 13 double-figure strikeout games this season, matching a program-high total since 2005.
Additionally, Purdue has compiled a 2.36 team ERA and 1.36 team WHIP in the last 14 games.
Fascia has batted in the middle of the lineup (3-4-5) in all 25 of his starts, making a team-high 21 starts as the cleanup hitter. He leads the Boilermakers with 11 RBI and 13 walks. A 2-for-32 slump from March 13 to 23 has held down his overall numbers a bit early this season. Outside of those eight games, he's batting a team-high .356 with a .466 on-base percentage. Fascia is batting a team-best .296 with runners in scoring position and .310 in lefty-lefty matchups.
The Brampton, Ontario, native was selected by the New York Mets in the 37th round of the 2018 MLB Draft after his sophomore season at Indian Hills College in Iowa, where he was a two-time Region XI Defensive Player of the Year.
Fascia joins Kevin Plawecki (2011, 2012), Sean McHugh (2014), Jack Picchiotti (2016) and Nick Dalesandro (2017, 2018) as Boilermakers to be named to the Johnny Bench/Buster Posey Award watch list this decade. Plawecki was one of three finalists in 2012 after being among the 15 semifinalists the year before. McHugh also advanced to the semifinalist list in 2014.
Seventy-nine catchers were included on the initial Buster Posey Award watch list. Because the award is given annually to the top division one collegiate catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 6.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 17. The three finalists will be announced June 3. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 22nd Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 27.
WICHITA, Kan. – Zac Fascia's defensive excellence behind the plate and presence in the middle of the lineup in his first season as a Boilermaker has earned Purdue's catcher a spot on the initial watch list for the newly rebranded Buster Posey Award.
The Greater Wichita Sports Commission announced its initial watch list as well as the name change for the 20th anniversary of its national catcher of the year award. It was previously known as the Johnny Bench Award. Posey won the Johnny Bench Award in 2008, the same year he was drafted fifth overall by the San Francisco Giants.
Fascia has made 20 of his 25 starts this season behind the plate, serving as the starting catcher in 13 of the last 14 games. He has thrown out 11 base stealers in 25 attempts, ranking second in the Big Ten as one just two backstops to already reach double figures. He has also worked with a pitching staff that is averaging a Big Ten-high 9.25 strikeouts per nine innings. The Boilermakers already have 13 double-figure strikeout games this season, matching a program-high total since 2005.
Additionally, Purdue has compiled a 2.36 team ERA and 1.36 team WHIP in the last 14 games.
Fascia has batted in the middle of the lineup (3-4-5) in all 25 of his starts, making a team-high 21 starts as the cleanup hitter. He leads the Boilermakers with 11 RBI and 13 walks. A 2-for-32 slump from March 13 to 23 has held down his overall numbers a bit early this season. Outside of those eight games, he's batting a team-high .356 with a .466 on-base percentage. Fascia is batting a team-best .296 with runners in scoring position and .310 in lefty-lefty matchups.
The Brampton, Ontario, native was selected by the New York Mets in the 37th round of the 2018 MLB Draft after his sophomore season at Indian Hills College in Iowa, where he was a two-time Region XI Defensive Player of the Year.
Fascia joins Kevin Plawecki (2011, 2012), Sean McHugh (2014), Jack Picchiotti (2016) and Nick Dalesandro (2017, 2018) as Boilermakers to be named to the Johnny Bench/Buster Posey Award watch list this decade. Plawecki was one of three finalists in 2012 after being among the 15 semifinalists the year before. McHugh also advanced to the semifinalist list in 2014.
Seventy-nine catchers were included on the initial Buster Posey Award watch list. Because the award is given annually to the top division one collegiate catcher, the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 6.
The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 17. The three finalists will be announced June 3. A final vote among the national committee will occur during the College World Series. All finalists will be brought to Wichita and the winner will be announced at the 22nd Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 27.
He put together 7 productive plate appearances in 10 trips to the dish in his debut weekend as a #Boilermaker. @Fascia15 also impressed with his work behind the plate. Take 90 seconds to learn a little bit more about Zac Fascia. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/GMcm3sxjue
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) February 18, 2019