WICHITA, Kan. — The Wichita Sports Commission announced Monday the 16 semifinalists for the 2026 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award presented by Hasty Awards.
This year’s award started with 111 catchers from 28 conferences nominated between Feb. 11 and May 8. The semifinalists were selected by the Buster Posey Award selection committee on May 11.
The semifinalists will now be voted on by Division I baseball coaches, sports information directors, college baseball national media, scouts and the award selection committee. Voting runs from Monday, May 18, through Thursday, May 28.
Five finalists will be announced at 9 a.m. Monday, June 1.
Kansas State’s Bear Madliak, a redshirt senior, was among the 16 semifinalists.
2026 Buster Posey Award semifinalists:
- Cashel Dugger, junior, UCLA
- Jon Embury, junior, Florida Gulf Coast
- Chase Fralick, sophomore, Auburn
- Jacob Galloway, senior, Oregon State
- Ryder Helfrick, junior, Arkansas
- Daniel Jackson, junior, Georgia
- Vahn Lackey, junior, Georgia Tech
- Maikol Lucena, junior, Bethune-Cookman
- Burke-Lee Mabeus, sophomore, Oregon
- Bear Madliak, redshirt senior, Kansas State
- Jack Natili, junior, Cincinnati
- Blake Primrose, sophomore, Saint Joseph’s
- Mark Quatrani, junior, Notre Dame
- Matt Quintanar, junior, Texas Tech
- Carson Tinney, junior, Texas
- Macon Winslow, junior, North Carolina
Since 1997, the Wichita Sports Commission has worked to promote, acquire and support youth, amateur and professional sports programs and events in the Wichita area. The organization said it has had an economic impact of more than $600 million.
The Wichita Sports Commission owns and organizes several signature events, including the Prairie Fire Race Series, the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet, the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, the Wichita Corporate Challenge and the Wichita Turkey Trot.