WICHITA, Kan. – Georgia Southern catcher Chase Griffin and Western Carolina catcher Adam Martin were named to the Johnny Bench Award presented by BaseballSavings.com Watch List on Thursday.

Griffin is hitting .356 with five doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs in 12 games, with 10 starts coming from behind the plate.

With hits in seven of the first 10 games on the year including five multi-hit games, Martin currently leads the Catamounts with a .395 batting average and paces WCU with two home runs among his team-high tying 15 base hits. He enters this weekend riding a three-game hitting streak with a trio of multi-hit games, recording nine hits combined with nine RBIs. Martin matched his career high with four base hits in WCU’s home win over No. 15 Clemson.

Martin is a career .294 hitter with 148 career base hits including 29 doubles, three triples and 22 career home runs. Including a dozen RBIs this season, the Marietta, Ga., native has driven in 105 career runs. The right-handed slugger was won two summer league home run derbies, including the long-ball competition at the Northwoods League All-Star game. Martin was dubbed the top prospect out of the Northwoods League last summer.

Griffin and Martin are two of 72 catchers that were nominated for the award by their coaches. The watch list will be narrowed down to the semifinalists, who will be announced May 15, 2014. The award winner will be announced at the 17th Annual Greater Wichita Sports Banquet on June 26, 2014.

“We are extremely appreciative to BaseballSavings.com and Mr. Johnny Bench for supporting this prestigious award,” stated Bob Hanson, President/CEO of the Wichita Area Sports Commission. “They are the ones who make all of this possible.”

The award is named after 14-time Major League All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner Johnny Bench. Bench was also named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1968, the National League Most Valuable Player in 1970 and 1972 and the World Series MVP in 1976.