LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock senior catcher
John Michael Russ has been added to the 2021 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List, announced by The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
The award is given annually to the top Division-I collegiate catcher, as 80 players were nominated for this year's honor. The semifinalists will be announced on May 20, with finalists slated to be released on June 7, followed by the award presentation on June 25 in Wichita, Kansas. 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 a date that is yet to be determined.
Russ has taken over as Little Rock's everyday catcher and has made the most of his opportunity, batting .388 on the year and ranking second on the team. He has a .418 slugging percentage, knocking a pair of doubles with eight RBI while drawing 10 walks, primarily in the clean up spot.
The Texarkana native has also been solid behind the plate for Little Rock, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 145 putouts on the year, catching all but two games to date for the Trojans.
Russ and the Trojans are in Jonesboro to take on the rival Red Wolves, looking to bounce back from a loss in the series opener Thursday night. Game two of the series is set for tonight at 6 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium, streaming live on ESPN+.
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