Junior catcher Ryan Stafford became the first-ever Mustang to be named as a finalist for the Buster Posey Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate catcher.
A committee votes on semifinalists for the award before Division-I head coaches vote on the finalists and winner.
Stafford led the Big West in hits (86), doubles (23) and runners caught stealing (22) while recording a top-5 batting average (.368).
Joining Stafford as finalists for the award are Jacob Cozart from North Carolina State and Walker Janek from Sam Houston State.
Previous award winners include Baltimore Orioles standout Adley Rutschman and the namesake of the award, Buster Posey.
Stafford is the fourth Big West catcher to be nominated as a finalist since the award was created as the Johnny Bench award in 2000, including former winner and Cal State Fullerton product Kurt Suzuki.
Before the 2024 season started, D1Baseball ranked Stafford as the No. 17 best catcher in college baseball and the No. 83 best draft prospect in this summer’s 2024 MLB Draft.
Stafford’s other major accolades during his three seasons as a Mustang include a 2024 Big West Defensive Player of the Year award and a 2022 Freshman All-American award.
The Wichita Sports Commission will announce the winner on Wednesday, June 26.