Nation's top shortstops featured on the 2025 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award watch list

By College Baseball Foundation | April 18, 2025

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The nation’s best shortstops are featured on the 2025 watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award, which was released by the College Baseball Foundation.

The award honors the nation's top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year. It is named for former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977 to 1980. Wallace died of leukemia at the age of 27.

The top 100 shortstops in the country were announced, led by several players putting up tremendous offensive numbers. But because the award is reflective of more than just offense, there are numerous players putting up solid defensive numbers as well.

“It's a great time of the year when we get to start diving into looking at all the shortstops from around the country and who might best represent the Brooks Wallace Award this year,” said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the Brooks Wallace Award. “This list doesn't disappoint with some stellar offensive numbers along with some outstanding gloves to represent the shortstop position.”

Six shortstops on the watch list have already earned distinction as Brooks Wallace Award weekly honorees. Wehiwa Aloy (Arkansas), Aiva Arquette (Oregon State), Core Jackson (Utah), Matt King (Arizona State), Alex Lodise (Florida State) and Maximus Martin (Kansas State) have been recognized this season.

For more information on the Brooks Wallace Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.

2025 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List

Name, School, Conference

Trent Abel, Cal State Northridge, Big West
Alex Adams, Air Force, Mountain West
Landon Akers, Bellarmine, Atlantic Sun
Alex Alicia, Louisville, ACC
Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas, SEC
Nick Arias, Abilene Christian, WAC
Aiva Arquette, Oregon State, Independent
Davis Baker, Penn, Ivy League
Dillon Baker, Miami (OH), MAC
Michael Ball, Nevada, Mountain West
Emilio Barreras, Grand Canyon, WAC
Eric Becker, Virginia, ACC
Tyler Bell, Kentucky, SEC
Beny Bikar, Southern, SWAC
Chase Bloomer, SIUE, OVC
Kolby Branch, Georgia, SEC
Armando Briseno, Long Beach State, Big West
Dylan Carey, Nebraska, Big Ten
Yomar Carreras, Rutgers, Big Ten
Benjamin Casillas, Michigan, Big Ten
Nate Castellon, Cal Poly, Big West
Roch Cholowsky, UCLA, Big Ten
Wallace Clark, Duke, ACC
Lukas Cook, Purdue, Big Ten
Jack Cotrone, Davidson, Atlantic 10
Sam Decarlo, Washington, Big Ten
Justin Decriscio, NC State, ACC
Ahmar Denatto, Prairie View A&M, SWAC
Tyler Epstein, Missouri State, MVC
Deric Fabian, Auburn, SEC
Ryne Farber, Texas State, Sun Belt
Jalin Flores, Texas, SEC
Bradley Frye, Mercer, Southern
Nomar Garcia, Indiana State, MVC
Jonathan Gomez, Farleigh Dickinson, Northeast
Jack Goodman, Northeastern, CAA
Dylan Grego, Ball State, MAC
Kevin Hager, Cornell, Ivy League
Cam Hassert, Loyola Marymount, West Coast
Kai Holm, Lipscomb, Atlantic Sun
Marek Houston, Wake Forest, ACC
Core Jackson, Utah, Big 12
Antonio Jimenez, UCF, Big 12
Kevin Jones, UNCW, CAA
Camden Karczewski, Purdue Ft Wayne, Horizon
Hunter Keen, Radford, Big South
Tyriq Kemp, Baylor, Big 12
Ryan Kennell, Gardner-Webb, Big South
Brodie Kresser, West Virginia, Big 12
Jimmy King, Holy Cross, Patriot
Matt King, Arizona State, Big 12
Alex Kizearry, Quinnipiac, MAAC
Jake Lambdin, Xavier, BIG EAST
Isaiah Lane, San Diego, West Coast
Maddox Latta, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Justin Lebron, Alabama, SEC
Brando Leroux, FAU, AAC
Tyler Lichtenberger, Appalachian State, Sun Belt
Alex Lodise, Florida State, ACC
Kyle Lodise, Georgia Tech, ACC
Isaac Lopez, UTRGV, Southland
Alex Madera, North Carolina, ACC
Maximus Martin, Kansas State, Big 12
Luke Mathews, Kent State, MAC
Jonathan Mendez, UC Santa Barbara, Big West
Lorenzo Meola, Stetson, Atlantic Sun
Jared Mettam, Saint Mary’s College, West Coast
Steven Milam, LSU, SEC
Cody Miller, East Tennessee State, Southern
Sam Miller, Columbia, Ivy League
Gable Mitchell, Iowa, Big Ten
Maddox Molony, Oregon, Big Ten
J.R. Nelson, Ohio, MAC
Charlie Niehaus, Cincinnati, Big 12
Ben North, Creighton, BIG EAST
Sheehan O'Connor, New Mexico State, Conference USA
Jake Ogden, Miami, ACC
Ray Ortiz, NJIT, American East
Michael Perazzo, Sacramento State, WAC
Rob Rispoli, Connecticut, BIG EAST
Shai Robinson, Illinois State, MVC
TJ Rogers, San Francisco, West Coast
Trent Rumley, Canisius, MAAC
TJ Salvaggio, Southeastern Louisiana, Southland
Blake Schaaf, Georgetown, BIG EAST
Jake Schaffner, North Dakota State, Summit
Colby Shelton, Florida, SEC
Ike Shirey, Tarleton State, WAC
Brady Short, Central Connecticut, Northeast
Carter Sintek, South Dakota State, Summit
Clayton Slack, Southern Indiana, OVC
Zane Spinn, Lamar, Southland
Trent Turner, Western Carolina, Southern
Jonathan Vastine, Vanderbilt, SEC
Michael Whooley, Villanova, BIG EAST
Jaxson Willits, Oklahoma, SEC
Matt Wolfe, Middle Tennessee, Conference USA
Kade Wood, Mississippi Valley State, SWAC
Drew Wyers, Bryant, American East
Ryan Wynn, Wofford, Southern
Colin Yeaman, UC Irvine, Big West

About the College Baseball Foundation

The purpose of the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) is to preserve, elevate and advance the game; to inspire the next generation; to teach those who love college baseball about its rich history and traditions; to celebrate those who make college baseball special; and to honor those who have come before us, and built the foundation upon which college baseball thrives today.

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The CBF presents the Brooks Wallace Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Shortstop), the National Pitcher of the Year, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year, the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year, the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award and the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence Award.

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