Top 25 shortstops honored on Wallace Award list
Finalists include sizable representation from smaller conferences
LUBBOCK, Texas — As conference play comes to an end and teams prepare for conference tournaments, the College Baseball Hall of Fame released the top 25 players for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year Award on Tuesday.
The award, sponsored by Mizuno, recognizes the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented June 30 in Lubbock, Texas, as part of the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Night of Champions.
The SEC and PAC-12 both have five representatives on the list. The ACC, Big 10 and Ohio Valley, each with two, are the only other conferences with multiple representatives.
“Those two conferences are certainly baseball powerhouses, but it’s great to see shortstops from smaller conferences performing just as well,” said Tyler Young, Wallace Award co-chair. “The smaller conference players have outstanding numbers that are just as competitive as the players from larger conferences.”
Richie Rodriguez, a senior at Eastern Kentucky, leads the list with a .388 batting average. He also has 17 doubles, two triples and 13 home runs and 40 RBIs. Zach Vincej, a junior at Pepperdine, continues to lead the list in fielding percentage at .991. He has 14 doubles and 22 RBIs on the season.
“Watching the success these 25 players have had this season has been great,” said Kevin Dunagan, Wallace Award co-chair. “We look forward to seeing how they do as we near the end of the season and head into postseason play.”
BROOKS WALLACE AWARD WATCH LIST
| NAME | SCHOOL | CONFERENCE | |
| Alfredo Rodriguez | Maryland | ACC | |
| Chris Diaz | NC State | ACC | |
| Chad Christensen | Nebraska | Big 10 | |
| David Miller | Purdue | Big 10 | |
| Mikey Reynolds | Texas A&M | Big 12 | |
| Mike Miller | Cal Poly | Big West | |
| Ashley Graeter | Southern Miss | CUSA | |
| Alex Jones | Northern Illinois | Mid-American | |
| Eric Stamets | Evansville | MVC | |
| Richie Rodriguez | Eastern Kentucky | OVC | |
| Kenton Parmley | SE Missouri State | OVC | |
| Alex Mejia | Arizona | Pac-12 | |
| J.J. Altobelli | Oregon | Pac-12 | |
| Tyler Smith | Oregon State | Pac-12 | |
| Kenny Diekroeger | Stanford | Pac-12 | |
| Pat Valaika | UCLA | Pac-12 | |
| Jared Reaves | Alabama | SEC | |
| Tim Carver | Arkansas | SEC | |
| Nolan Fontana | Florida | SEC | |
| Austin Nola | LSU | SEC | |
| Anthony Gomez | Vanderbilt | SEC | |
| Will Callaway | Appalachian State | Southern | |
| Cam Schiller | Oral Roberts | Summit | |
| Zach Voight | New Mexico State | WAC | |
| Zach Vincej | Pepperdine | WCC |

Calendar & Events
- Jan. 31, 2013
- 2013 Texas Rangers Winter Caravan luncheon
- Feb. 13, 2013
- Bobby Moegle induction reception
- April 13, 2013
- Night at the Races
- June 27-30, 2013
- College Baseball Hall of Fame Classic
- June 28, 2013
- Night of Champions Welcome BBQ
- June 29, 2013
- College Baseball's Night of Champions

