Kentucky’s Coltyn Kessler Named to Buster Posey Award Watch List

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky catcher Coltyn Kessler has been named to the 2020 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List, it was announced this week. The award, presented by the Kamerion Wimbley Foundation, honors the nation’s top catcher.
 
Kessler, a junior from High Ridge, Missouri, has been UK’s primary catcher the past two seasons while starting 39 games behind the plate. He has helped guide a pitching staff that saw Zack Thompson named an All-American last season and get drafted in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft
 
Although Kessler has gotten off to a slow start hitting this season he has often been the victim of bad baseball luck on balls put in play. He has two doubles and six RBI thus far but is tied for the team lead in walks with 10 to boost his on-base percentage to .317. He also has thrown out four runners trying to steal.
 
In 2019, Kessler led the Wildcats with a .297 average in 48 games, scoring 28 runs and driving in 29. He had 12 doubles, a triple and five home runs to go along with 17 walks and seven hit by pitch. All five of his home runs came in Southeastern Conference play.
 
Kessler also excelled in the prestigious Cape Cod League over the summer, producing a monster postseason as his Cotuit Kettleers claimed the league championship. In seven games he hit .409 with a .961 OPS, scoring seven runs and driving in three. He was rated the No. 10 catching prospect in the league by D1Baseball.com.