April 30, 2009
Complete Wallace Award Watch List
ATLANTA – Yellow Jacket sophomore Derek Dietrich has been named to the initial watch list for the 2009 Brooks Wallace Award, the College Baseball Foundation and Mizuno announced this week.
Dietrich has started 102 consecutive games since his arrival on the Flats and owns a career .333 batting average. He is batting .335 with six home runs, four doubles, four triples and 38 RBI in his second year as a Yellow Jacket.
For the first time since its creation in 2004, the Wallace Award will honor the country’s finest shortstop. Previously the Wallace Award was given to the national player of the year.
The change was made following the creation of the College Baseball Awards show, in collaboration with the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the Dick Howser Trophy Committee. The Howser Trophy has recognized the best overall player in the country for 23 years and will continue to do so. Both the Wallace Award and the Howser Award will be presented as part of the College Baseball Awards Show on July 2 in Lubbock, Tex.
“Transitioning the Wallace Award to a position player award will give increased attention to the position that Brooks Wallace played when he was in college,” said Raymond Richardson, CBF board member and College Baseball Awards Show chair. “The Wallace family embraced this idea and we are thrilled to honor Brooks in this way.”
The watch list features shortstops from around the country, including three apiece from the Big 12, ACC, Big West and Conference USA.
The College Baseball Awards Show will recognize the top players in college baseball as part of the CBF’s annual celebration, which also includes the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. In addition to the Brooks Wallace Award, other awards presented during the show will include the Dick Howser Trophy for the national player of the year, and the National Pitcher of the Year Award.
