Ole Miss Catcher Austin Fawley Named to 2026 Buster Posey Award Preseason Watch List

Wichita, Kansas — Austin Fawley of Ole Miss has been named to the 2026 Buster Posey Award preseason watch list, marking the first time the award has been announced since its rebranding from the Johnny Bench Award, according to the Wichita Sports Commission.

The award honors the nation’s top Division I collegiate catcher, as voted on by head coaches and sports information directors. Fawley is one of 10 catchers nationally selected and one of four from the Southeastern Conference.

Fawley, a junior, started 49 games behind the plate in 2025. He led the team in slugging percentage and finished second in home runs and third in RBIs. His 21 home runs were the most by any catcher in Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco’s era and the third most in a single season for the Rebels.

The catcher was named to the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region Team and the Oxford Regional All-Tournament Team. D1Baseball ranked him as the eighth-best catcher nationwide in its 2026 Preseason Top 50 Catcher Rankings. Fawley is expected to serve as Ole Miss’s starting catcher again this season.

Season tickets for Ole Miss baseball are now available. Fans can purchase tickets and stay updated on team news through the university’s official channels and social media accounts.

Source: Original Article