Luke Robinson on the Buster Posey Award Watch List

Western Carolina junior catcher Luke Robinson appeared on the initial watch list for the 2019 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List released on Tuesday afternoon. Previously known as the Johnny Bench Award, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award honors the nation’s top NCAA Division I catcher as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors and is administered by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.

A combined 79 catchers were nominated for the 2019 Buster Posey Award and appear on the initial watch list. Of those 79, WCU will play – or has already played – eight catchers that appeared on Tuesday’s list. Robinson is joined by Bryce Leasure of The Citadel and Anthony Mulrine of Samford from the Southern Conference. A product of McLeansville, N.C., Robinson has been in the starting lineup in all 24 games this spring making the bulk of his starts coming behind the plate, while also finishing games at catcher. He is currently tied for the team lead with eight multiple RBI games and is second on the squad with his single-season, career-best 26 runs driven in. Thirteen of his 27 seasonal base hits have gone for extra bases including six doubles, a triple, and six home runs, also second on the Catamount squad to give him nine career round-trippers. Robinson has already matched his single-season career-high with eight HBPs.

Robinson was selected as this year’s Leggett No. 7 Legacy, wearing the No. 7 jersey – the ninth player all-time and third Catamount catcher to receive the honor and just the second underclassman. National semifinalists will be announced on May 17 with the list to be narrowed down to the finalists on June 3. The award presentation will be held in Wichita, Kansas, on June 27.