Buster Posey, Retired


Date of Birth: 3/27/1987
Birthplace: Leesburg, Georgia
College: Florida State University

Buster Posey, retired catcher for the San Francisco Giants, also occasionally played first base. However, Posey did not start out as a catcher or a first baseman but, rather, as a pitcher and a shortstop. He played both of those positions in high school but in his second year of college, he switched from shortstop to catcher. In his junior year, he won the Dick Howser Trophy for his talent as a college baseball player.

Posey was drafted by the Giants in 2008 and played in the minors until May 29, 2010, with the exception of seven games that he played with the Giants in September, 2009. Posey had an outstanding first year in 2010 and he won the National League Rookie of the Year award. Posey's statistics for 2010 include:

  • 108 games played
  • 124 hits
  • .305 batting average
  • 23 doubles
  • 18 home runs
  • 67 RBIs

The 2011 season ended abruptly for Posey when he was involved in a collision on May 25th but Posey came back strong in 2012. That year, he won the NL MVP award, a Silver Slugger award, the NL Comeback Player of the Year award, and the Hank Aaron award. Posey also won the MLB batting title in 2012.

In March, 2013, the Giants rewarded Posey with a one year contract and eight year extension worth $167 million. In 2013, he batted .294 with 153 hits, 34 doubles, and 72 RBIs in 148 games.

Posey won his second Silver Slugger award in 2014. He finished the season with 170 hits, 28 doubles, 22 home runs, 89 RBIs, and a .311 batting average in 147 games. In the postseason, he had 17 hits, 7 RBIs, and a .246 batting average in 69 at-bats in 17 games.

Posey had another strong season in 2015, finishing with a .318 batting average in 150 games. He also had 28 doubles, 19 home runs, and 95 RBIs. He struck out 52 times and walked 56 times. As a catcher, he made 67 assists, 771 putouts, and 2 errors in 106 games. He caught players trying to steal 36.1% of the time and he had a .998 fielding percentage.

Posey won his third Silver Slugger award in 2015.

In 2016, Posey batted .288 in 146 games. He had 155 hits, 33 doubles, 14 home runs, and 80 RBIs. Defensively, as the Giants' catcher in 123 games, he made 65 assists, 1,003 putouts, an 3 errors for a .997 fielding percentage. He caught players trying to steal 37.3% of the time. In the postseason, he batted .278 with 5 hits, including a double, and 2 RBIs in 18 at-bats in 5 games.

Posey won his first Gold Glove in 2016.

Posey had another strong season in 2017. He finished with a .320 batting average, 158 hits, 34 doubles, 12 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 66 strikeouts to 61 walks in 140 games. Defensively, behind the plate in 99 games, he made 52 assists, 724 putouts, and 4 errors. He caught players trying to steal 37.9% of the time and he had a .995 fielding percentage.

Posey won his fourth Silver Slugger award in 2017.

Posey's 2018 season ended on August 25th when it was announced that he would have hip surgery. In 105 games in 2018, he batted .284 with 113 hits, 22 doubles, 41 RBIs, and 53 strikeouts to 45 walks. Defensively, as the Giants' catcher in 88 games, he made 37 assists, 677 putouts, and 2 errors. He caught players trying to steal a career low 28.8% of the time.

Posey again spent time on the DL in 2019 with concussion symptoms and with a right hamstring strain. He played in 114 games and he had 104 hits, 24 doubles, 38 RBIs, 71 strikeouts to 34 walks, and a .257 batting average. As the Giants' catcher in 101 games, he made 46 assists, 771 putouts, and 2 errors. He caught players trying to steal 32.4% of the time and he had a .998 fielding percentage.

Posey opted out of the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.

Posey had a strong 2021 season, winning his fifth Silver Slugger award for batting .304 with 120 hits, 23 doubles, 18 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 87 strikeouts to 56 walks in 113 games. Defensively, as a catcher in 106 games, he had 31 assists, 884 putouts, 3 errors, and a .997 fielding percentage. He caught players trying to steal 31% of the time. In the postseason, he batted .300 with 6 hits, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 2 RBIs, and 6 strikeouts to no walks in 20 at-bats in 5 games.

Posey retired on November 4, 2021.

Career batting statistics for Posey through 2021 include:

  • 1,371 games played
  • 1,500 hits
  • 293 doubles
  • 158 home runs
  • 729 RBIs
  • 721 strikeouts to 540 walks
  • .302 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Posey as a catcher through 2021 include:

  • 1,093 games played
  • 540 assists
  • 8,359 putouts
  • 44 errors
  • 33% caught stealing percentage
  • .995 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Posey married his wife Kristen in January, 2009. They have a set of twins.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Buster Posey
ESPN Sports - Buster Posey