TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Wildcats sophomore catcher Austin Wells has been selected to the 2020 Buster Posey Award watch list, the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission announced on Monday afternoon.

The Buster Posey Award, formerly known as the Johnny Bench Award, is presented annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher in the nation. Former winners include Kurt Suzuki, Jeff Clement, Buster Posey, Mike Zunino, and many more notable players.

Wells, a consensus Preseason All-American, currently ranks second on the team with a .375 (21-for-56) batting average and has posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while serving as the Cats primary backstop. In 71 career games with the Wildcats, Wells has hit .357 with 85 runs scored, 74 RBI, a .560 slugging percentage, and a .476 on-base percentage.

This marks the second consecutive season in which the Wildcats have boasted a player on the National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award initial watch list, after Matthew Dyer was tabbed with the honor in 2019. 

The 60 players named to this initial watch list were nominated by their coaches.

Buster Posey Award Timeline:

• May 19: Semifinalists announced
• June 2: Finalists announced
• June 25: Award presentation in Wichita, Kansas