Troy University Athletics
Troy Catcher Jimmy Janicki Named to Buster Posey Award Midseason Watch List
4/1/2026 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - Troy sophomore Jimmy Janicki was one of 50 catchers in college baseball to be named to the Buster Posey Award Midseason Watch List on Wednesday.
Janicki has been dominant through the first half of the 2026 campaign, leading Troy with a .339 batting average, 1.066 OPS, eight home runs and 34 RBIs. The Downers Grove, Ill., native ranks No. 18 in Baseball America's 2027 MLB Draft rankings while taking the No. 1 spot among college catchers in the 2027 draft class.
"Jimmy is one of the premier catchers in the country and earns all the accolades that come with that," head coach Skylar Meade said. "He has received very well this year, and we knew his power numbers would uptick quickly this year. The best is yet to come for Jimmy as a Trojan!"
Earlier this season, Janicki was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week (Mar. 17) after a powerful four-game stretch against Alabama and Old Dominion with four home runs and nine RBIs, hitting .471 on the week. Janicki was a Preseason All-Sun Belt pick at utility after spending his freshman year as Troy's primary third baseman.
Since moving behind the plate, Janicki's eight home runs this season have greatly surpassed the two he hit as a freshman in 2025. His eight doubles are on pace to blow by the 12 he hit in 2025, which tied Troy's freshman single-season record.
The Buster Posey Award, formerly known as the Johnny Bench Award, annually recognizes the top catcher in college baseball. Troy's Brooks Bryan, now with the Kansas City Royals organization, was named to the Midseason Watch List in 2025.
Janicki and the Trojans return to Sun Belt Conference action this weekend with a three-game series with Arkansas State, Thursday through Saturday, at Riddle-Pace Field.
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Janicki has been dominant through the first half of the 2026 campaign, leading Troy with a .339 batting average, 1.066 OPS, eight home runs and 34 RBIs. The Downers Grove, Ill., native ranks No. 18 in Baseball America's 2027 MLB Draft rankings while taking the No. 1 spot among college catchers in the 2027 draft class.
"Jimmy is one of the premier catchers in the country and earns all the accolades that come with that," head coach Skylar Meade said. "He has received very well this year, and we knew his power numbers would uptick quickly this year. The best is yet to come for Jimmy as a Trojan!"
Earlier this season, Janicki was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week (Mar. 17) after a powerful four-game stretch against Alabama and Old Dominion with four home runs and nine RBIs, hitting .471 on the week. Janicki was a Preseason All-Sun Belt pick at utility after spending his freshman year as Troy's primary third baseman.
Since moving behind the plate, Janicki's eight home runs this season have greatly surpassed the two he hit as a freshman in 2025. His eight doubles are on pace to blow by the 12 he hit in 2025, which tied Troy's freshman single-season record.
The Buster Posey Award, formerly known as the Johnny Bench Award, annually recognizes the top catcher in college baseball. Troy's Brooks Bryan, now with the Kansas City Royals organization, was named to the Midseason Watch List in 2025.
Janicki and the Trojans return to Sun Belt Conference action this weekend with a three-game series with Arkansas State, Thursday through Saturday, at Riddle-Pace Field.
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Players Mentioned
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