Nate LaRue named to Buster Posey Catcher of the Year Award Watch List

Auburn baseball's Nate LaRue makes an award watch list.

WICHITA, Kan. – Senior catcher Nate LaRue has been named to the 2023 Buster Posey National Catcher of the Year Award Watch List, the Wichita Sports Commission announced Friday.

The award is given annually to the top catcher Division I baseball, and the list will be updated to include other candidates until May 8. Once the complete list of candidates is compiled, semifinalists will be announced on May 22 and finalists will be announced on June 6. The finalists will be invited to the award presentation in Wichita, Kansas, where the winner will be announced on June 29.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, LaRue became the Tigers primary catcher at the beginning of conference play a year ago and ultimately earned 42 starts behind the plate. While handling a pitching staff that produced five draft picks in the top 12 rounds and a USA Collegiate National Team representative, LaRue also control opposing teams’ run game by throwing out 12 would-be base stealers, good for the third-highest total in the league. He collected a career best eight doubles, six homers and 34 RBI in 2022 and entered the 2023 season as one of Auburn’s three team captains.

LaRue is one of 65 catchers from across the country named to the watch list, including five from the Southeastern Conference. It marks the fourth time in the last five seasons an Auburn catcher has been named to the watch list.

LaRue and the No. 13 Tigers (6-1-1) continue non-conference play with a three-game series against Lipscomb beginning Friday at 6 p.m. CT at Plainsman Park.