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Buster Posey

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Buster Posey
Posey in April 2011
San Francisco Giants – No. 28
Catcher/First Baseman
Born: (1987-03-27) March 27, 1987 (age 37)
Leesburg, Georgia
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
September 11, 2009, for the San Francisco Giants
Career statistics
(through 2012 season)
Batting average.314
Hits350
Home runs46
Runs batted in191
On base percentage.380
Slugging percentage.503
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Posey at Bat

Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III[1] (born March 27, 1987) is an American professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Giants with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. Posey made his major league debut on September 11, 2009; he was named the Giants' regular catcher on June 30, 2010.

As a rookie, he hit .305, slugged 18 home runs and had 67 runs-batted-in. He was a key to the Giants winning the 2010 World Series. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year.

Posey finished the 2012 season with a .336 batting average to win the 2012 NL batting champion. He became the seventh Giants player to win a batting title, the second San Francisco Giant, and the first since Barry Bonds won the batting championship in 2004. [2][3] He was chosen the National League MVP for 2012.[4]

Early years

Posey, the oldest of four children, was born to Gerald "Demp" Dempsey Posey II and Traci Posey on March 27, 1987, in Leesburg, Georgia.[5] His nickname, "Buster," came from his father's childhood nickname. He played football, soccer, and basketball along with baseball growing up, but baseball was his main sport.[6] As a junior at Lee County High School, Posey (playing shortstop and pitching) had 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 7 home runs while setting school records for batting average (.544) and runs batted in (RBI) (46). Meanwhile, his pitching achievements included a 10–1 record and a 1.53 earned run average (ERA). He batted .462 with 40 RBI as a senior while setting a school record with 14 home runs. Meanwhile, he had a 12–0 record (in 13 starts) with a 1.06 ERA and 108 strikeouts. That year, he was named the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, the Louisville Slugger State Player of the Year, an EA Sports All-American, and a Baseball America All-American. Posey had a 3.94 GPA in high school while graduating fourth in his class (out of 302 students), and although he was drafted in the 50th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, he chose to enroll in college instead of signing.[5]

College career

Posey played college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles under coach Mike Martin. He began his freshman year at Florida State University playing shortstop, starting all 65 games for the Seminoles, and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. He finished his freshman season with a .346 batting average, four home runs and 48 RBI.[5] As a sophomore, he moved from shortstop to catcher on the suggestion of assistant coach Mike Martin, Jr.[7] He batted .382 with three home runs and 65 RBI. After just one season of playing the position, Posey finished second to Ed Easley in Johnny Bench Award voting.[8][9]

In 2008, as a junior, he hit .463 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI, won the Johnny Bench Award, and garnered the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year award.[9][10] On May 12, he played all nine fielding positions in a game against Savannah State University, including pitcher where he struck out both batters he faced; he also hit a grand slam in the 10–0 victory.[11][12] Posey was awarded the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award at the end of the year.[13][14]

During the college offseason, Posey started at shortstop for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in 2006 when they won the Cape Cod Baseball League championship. He started at catcher in 2007 when they won another championship.[15]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

Posey was considered by Baseball America to be the best catcher available in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.[16] He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants with the fifth overall pick.[17] On August 16, the Giants signed Posey shortly before the signing deadline for draftees, giving him a $6.2 million bonus, the largest up-front bonus in Giants' history.[18] He was invited to the Giants Spring Training in 2009. Following 2009 Spring Training, Posey was assigned to the Giants' Class A advanced affiliate, the San Jose Giants of the California League.[19] In 80 games with San Jose, he batted .326 with 63 runs, 95 hits, 23 doubles, 13 home runs, and 58 RBI.[20]

On July 13, Posey was promoted to the Giants' Class AAA team, the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League.[21] In 35 games with Fresno, he batted .321 with 21 runs scored, 42 hits, eight doubles, five home runs, and 22 RBI.[20] Because of an injury to Giants starting catcher Bengie Molina, Posey was called up to the majors for the first time on September 2, 2009.[22] He made his major league debut on September 11, striking out in his first at bat against Hiroki Kuroda of the Los Angeles Dodgers.[23] Posey got his first Major League hit on September 19 against Jeff Weaver of the Dodgers.[24] In 17 at bats with the Giants in 2009, Posey had two hits.[25]

After again appearing in the Giants' Spring Training camp,[26] Posey began the 2010 season at Fresno, batting .349 with 31 runs scored, 60 hits, 13 doubles, six home runs, and 32 RBI in 47 games.[20]

2010 (Rookie Season)

Posey at the catcher position.

Posey was called up to the major leagues on May 29, 2010, and started at first base against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Posey drove in the first runs of his major league career, going three for four with three RBI.[27] He appeared primarily at first base through the end of June. Posey hit his first career home run against Aaron Harang of the Cincinnati Reds on June 9.[28] Following Molina's trade to the Texas Rangers on June 30, Posey became the starting catcher for the Giants.[29][30]

Posey hit his first career grand slam against Chris Narveson of the Milwaukee Brewers on July 7, en route to a two-home run, four-hit, six-RBI night.[31] This was part of a 10-game streak from July 1 to July 10 during which he batted .514 with 19 hits, six home runs, and 13 RBI to set a National League (NL) record for rookies during any 10-day stretch according to the Elias Sports Bureau.[32] This performance also earned Posey the NL Player of the Week honors for the week of July 5–11, 2010.[33] He had a 21-game hitting streak that started July 4 and ended July 29 when Aníbal Sánchez of the Florida Marlins threw a one-hitter against the Giants. During the streak, which fell one game short of tying the San Francisco Giants' rookie mark set by Willie McCovey and five short of the team record, Posey batted .440 with 37 hits, six home runs, and 23 RBI.[34][35] Posey was awarded both the NL Player of the Month and NL Rookie of the Month awards for his excellent July.[36] On July 10, on the road against the Washington Nationals, Posey was inserted into the Giants' batting order as the clean-up hitter, which became his regular position in the lineup.

On September 21, Posey hit an eighth-inning home run against Andrew Cashner of the Chicago Cubs to win the game, 1-0, the only time in major-league history the feat has been accomplished by a rookie on a first-place team in a September pennant race.[37] He hit another eighth-inning home run against Luke Gregerson of the San Diego Padres in the final game of the year on October 3 as Giants secured the NL West Division championship by defeating the Padres 3-0.[38] In 108 games, Posey batted .305 with 58 runs scored, 124 hits, 23 doubles, 18 home runs, and 67 RBI.[25]

Posey was named by his peers as the NL Players Choice Awards Outstanding Rookie. He was also named the catcher on Baseball America's All-Rookie Team.[39]

Posey helped lead the Giants to the 2010 World Series to face the Texas Rangers, hitting .282 with three runs batted in during the first two rounds of the playoffs. In Game 4, Posey hit his first postseason home run to center field off of Darren O'Day. The Giants would go on to win the series, 4-1. He became the fifth rookie catcher to win a World Series. During the series he hit .300 with a home run and two runs batted in.

On November 15, 2010, Posey was named National League Rookie of the Year, taking 20 first place votes to second place finisher Jason Heyward's nine.[40] Posey joins Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Gary Matthews and John Montefusco as the 6th Giant to win the Rookie of the Year award. He became the sixth catcher in National League history to win the award.[41] He was also named the catcher on the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.[42]

2011

Posey set season highs with three hits and four RBI on April 6, 2011, including a two-run home run against Tim Stauffer in an 8–4 victory over the Padres.[43] On May 25, during a game against the Florida Marlins, Posey was injured during a collision with Scott Cousins at home plate as Cousins scored the winning run in the 12th inning of a 7–6 Giants' loss. Posey suffered a fractured fibula and torn ligaments in his ankle, requiring season-ending surgery to repair.[44][45] Cousins, who was not disciplined, said he hit Posey in order to score. "If you hit them, you punish them and you punish yourself, but you have a chance of that ball coming out."[46] He expressed regret over injuring Posey, saying "I certainly didn’t want him to get hurt."[47] Cousins received threats from fans, but Posey denounced them: "I appreciate the continued support of Giants fans and others as I begin the process of working my way back ... But in no way do I condone threats of any kind against Scott Cousins or his family. As I said last week, I'm not out to vilify Scott."[48] In 45 games, Posey batted .284 with 17 runs scored, 46 hits, five doubles, four home runs, and 21 RBI.[25]

2012

Posey started at catcher during Matt Cain's perfect game on June 13, 2012,[49] the 22nd in Major League history.[50] He stated afterwards that the game had him feeling "as nervous as I've ever been on a baseball field."[51] Posey played in the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his first, on July 10, going 0-2 with a walk and a run at Kauffman Stadium. On July 17, he had three hits and five RBI in a 9–0 victory over the Braves.[52] On September 21, Posey received the 2012 Willie Mac Award from the Giants organization.[53]

Posey led both leagues in batting in 2012 with an average of .336, and won the National League batting title, becoming the first catcher to lead the league in hitting since Ernie Lombardi of the Boston Braves in 1942, and only the fourth major league catcher to do so in the modern era. He also became only the second San Francisco Giant to win the batting championship, following Barry Bonds in 2002 and 2004.[3] Posey's .433 batting average against left-handed pitching (71 for 164) led all batters in the major leagues in 2012.[54]

In Game 5 of the 2012 National League Division Series against the Cincinnati Reds on October 11, Posey hit a grand slam home run off Reds starter Mat Latos to help the Giants take the series. Posey is just the third catcher in MLB history to hit a grand slam in the playoffs, the others being Hall of Famers. He also completed a strikeout-throw out double play at 3rd base in the 6th inning to help preserve the victory.[55]

On October 19, 2012, Major League Baseball named Posey the NL Comeback Player of the Year.[56] On October 27, 2012 Posey was awarded the NL Hank Aaron Award, receiving the award from Aaron prior to game 3 of the 2012 World Series in Detroit, which the Giants would go on to win 2-0.[57] He hit a two-run homer in the Game 4 finale as the Giants swept the World Series.[58]

On November 15, 2012, the Baseball Writers' Association of America named Posey as the National League MVP.[59]

Personal life

Posey's younger sister, Samantha, plays softball for Valdosta State University. On April 18, 2011, she hit a home run cycle in a doubleheader.[60]

Posey married his high school sweetheart, Kristen, in January 2009.

On Sunday, August 14, 2011, Buster and Kristen became the parents of twins (a boy and a girl); Lee Dempsey Posey and Addison Lynn Posey.[61]

Further reading

  • Baggarly, Andrew. A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-60078-598-6.

References

  1. ^ Baggarly, p. 10
  2. ^ "San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey wins N.L. batting title". Mercury News. October 3, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Haft, Chris (October 3, 2012). "Batting title highlights Posey's amazing comeback". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved october 4, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ "Comeback kid: Buster Posey wins NL MVP". USA Today. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "Player Bio: Buster Posey". FSU Seminoles. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  6. ^ Baggarly, p. 20
  7. ^ Scott Ostler (January 7, 2011). "Coach's bright idea helped turn Posey into star". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  8. ^ "Mississippi State's Easley wins Johnny Bench Award". USA Today. June 28, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Buster Posey Recipient Of Johnny Bench Award". FSU Seminoles. June 27, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  10. ^ "Buster Posey Named Collegiate Baseball Player Of The Year". Seminoles.cstv.com. May 29, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  11. ^ Carter, Andrew (13 May 2008). "Florida State's Buster Posey plays all 9 positions in single game". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  12. ^ Brinson, Will (13 May 2008). "Buster Posey Played All Nine Fielding Positions…In One Game". AOL News. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  13. ^ "Seminoles' Posey Wins Dick Howser Award As Top Collegiate Baseball Player". FSU Seminoles. June 14, 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  14. ^ "FSU catcher Posey takes home Golden Spikes Award". USA Today. July 17, 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  15. ^ Sherlock, Don (22 February 2011). "PLAY BALL!". Wicked Local. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  16. ^ "First Round Recap". Baseball America. June 5, 2008. Retrieved Sep. 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  17. ^ "Giants take catcher with top pick". Insidebayarea.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  18. ^ Haft, Chris (August 16, 2008). "Giants lock up top Draft pick Posey". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  19. ^ Haft, Chris (March 29, 2009). "Posey finally leaves big league camp". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  20. ^ a b c "Buster Posey Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  21. ^ Wild, Danny (July 14, 2009). "Posey promoted to Triple-A". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  22. ^ By Chris Haft / MLB.com (September 2, 2009). "Giants bring up top prospect Posey". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  23. ^ Haft, Chris (September 12, 2009). "Giants roughed up in division clash". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  24. ^ Haft, Chris (September 19, 2009). "Battery gives Giants glimpse of future". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  25. ^ a b c "Buster Posey Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  26. ^ Schlegel, John (April 2, 2010). "Giants send Posey to Triple-A". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  27. ^ By Chris Haft / MLB.com (May 30, 2010). "Giants' Posey drives in three in '10 debut". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  28. ^ Schulman, Henry (June 10, 2010). "Posey hits first homer in Giants' loss". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  29. ^ "Press Release: Giants acquire RHP Chris Ray and RHP Michael Main for catcher Bengie Molina". Sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  30. ^ By Chris Haft / MLB.com. "Posey gets call to catch Sanchez". Sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  31. ^ Haft, Chris (July 8, 2010). "Posey stars in Giants' rout of Brewers". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  32. ^ Seidlel, Jeff (July 11, 2010). "Posey's sizzling bat sets NL rookie mark". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  33. ^ Haft, Chris (July 13, 2010). "Posey wins NL Player of the Week". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  34. ^ Kruth, Cash (July 29, 2010). "Posey's hit streak ends in quiet loss". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  35. ^ Shea, John (July 30, 2010). "McCovey pulling for Posey to start new streak". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
  36. ^ Singer, Tom (August 4, 2010). "Posey, Davis named Rookies of the Month". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  37. ^ Kurkjian, Tim (2010-09-24). "Phils emerging as NL favorite". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  38. ^ Haft, Chris (October 3, 2010). "One and done: Giants win West on final day". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  39. ^ Eddy, Matt (October 19, 2010). "Future Big League Stars Highlight All-Rookie Team". Baseball America. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
  40. ^ "2010 Rookies of the Year". BBWAA.com. Baseball Writers Association of America. November 15, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  41. ^ Haft, Chris (November 15, 2010). "Posey catches NL Rookie of the Year honors". MLB.com. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  42. ^ "Valencia awarded with rookie honor". Mlb.com. November 29, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  43. ^ Haft, Chris (April 7, 2011). "Lincecum sends Giants home on high note". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  44. ^ Haft, Chris (26 May, 2011). "Surgery likely for Posey's torn ankle ligaments". Giants.MLB.com. Retrieved 29 September, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  45. ^ "Buster Posey out for year after surgery". ESPN.com. May 30, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  46. ^ Navarro, Manny. "A day later, emotional Scott Cousins is still upset over hurting Buster Posey". The Miami Herald. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  47. ^ Calcaterra, Craig (May 26, 2011). "Scott Cousins feels bad about Buster Posey's injury". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  48. ^ The Associated Press (June 4, 2011). "Buster Posey speaks out against threats". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  49. ^ Crossman, Matt. "Matt Cain's perfect game adds catcher Buster Posey to select fraternity". aol.sportingnews.com. Huffington Post Media Group. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  50. ^ Kercheval, Nancy. "Cain Pitches 22nd Perfect Game in MLB as Giants Beat Astros". Bloomberg. Bloomberg LP. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  51. ^ [1]
  52. ^ Haft, Chris (July 18, 2012). "Zito, Posey lead Giants to rare win in Atlanta". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  53. ^ "Buster Posey is Giants' Willie Mac Award winner". MercuryNews.com. September 21, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  54. ^ 2012 Postseason Notes - SF Game Information. sfgiants.com Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  55. ^ Haft, Chris (October 11, 2012). "Giants slam their way to historic NLCS berth". sanfranciscogiants.com. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  56. ^ Haft, Chris (October 19, 2012). "Posey is NL Comeback Player of Year". sanfranciscogiants.com. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  57. ^ Fall Classic foes Miggy, Posey win Aaron Award
  58. ^ Reuters. "Baseball: San Francisco Giants Capture World Series". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 1 November 2012. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  59. ^ "Comeback kid: Buster Posey wins NL MVP". USA Today. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  60. ^ Mandell, Nina (2011-04-21). "Giants' catcher Buster Posey's sister, Samantha Posey, hits home run cycle in doubleheader". The New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  61. ^ "Buster Posey, wife Kristin celebrate birth of twins". Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. August 15, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
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