For the second straight year, Carson Tinney has been named a finalist for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award. The Longhorns catcher advanced in the latest round of voting on Monday and is just the third finalist in program history. His competition includes Jon Embury of Florida Gulf Coast, Chase Fralick of Auburn, Daniel Jackson of Georgia, and Vahn Lackey of Georgia Tech.
In his first season on the Forty Acres, the Colorado native posted a .333 batting average while driving in 56 runs. He showed excellent plate discipline, drawing a team-high 49 walks. The former Notre Dame star was also a consistent source of power with 21 home runs.
While Tinney thrived at the plate, he was excellent defensively. He finished the 2026 campaign with a .997 fielding percentage and guided the Longhorns’ pitching staff to a 1.21 WHIP, which was the fifth-best mark in the country. Regardless of who was on the mound, Tinney ensured that the Longhorns had a chance to win.
After arriving on the Forty Acres with high expectations, Tinney showed why he is one of the best catchers in the nation. He ranked in the top five in multiple categories in the SEC, including OPS, on-base percentage, walks, and slugging. That is partly why Tinney finds himself in the running for one of the most prestigious honors in college baseball.
Although Tinney is focused on helping the Longhorns win a national title, he won’t have to wait long to find out his fate regrading the Buster Posey Award. The will be announced live at the Men’s College World Series in less than two weeks on June 13.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney named Buster Posey Award finalist
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
