BLACKSBURG - Over the past few weeks, many national award Watch Lists have been announced and two Virginia Tech baseball players, senior Luke Horanski and freshman Chris Gerard, have found themselves on one of those lists joining the nation's best at the collegiate level.
The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced a new name for the 20th Anniversary of the national collegiate catcher of the year award when it released the official watch list. Previously known as the Johnny Bench Award, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award will continue to honor the nation's top division one collegiate catcher as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors. The Buster Posey Award will be administered by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
Seventy-nine catchers, including Horanski, were nominated for the 2019 Buster Posey Award by their coaches. 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, 2019. The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, whom will be announced May 17, 2019. CLICK HERE to see the full list.
The College Baseball Foundation also recently released its initial 2019 Pitcher of the Year Award Watch List, highlighting 69 of the top arms in the country, and includes Gerard, who is one of six ACC pitchers on the list. The award, college baseball's version of the Cy Young Award which was created in 2009, and is given annually to the nation's top collegiate pitcher. Sponsored by Diamond, the award winner will be announced this summer by the CBF. CLICK HERE to see the full list.