Short Named Semifinalist for Brooks Wallace Award
Central Connecticut shortstop Brady Short was named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award presented by the College Baseball Hall of Fame it was announced. The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to the nation's top shortstop.
Short has started every game for the Blue Devils this season and is batting .329 from the leadoff spot in the lineup. He has posted 14 multi-hit games this season, while going 8-for-9 on stolen bases. He has a .483 on-base percentage and is second on the team with 15 doubles and 57 runs scored. He leads the team and ranks third in the Northeast Conference having drawn 44 walks.
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 semifinalists were identified based on their combined offensive and defensive performances from this season. Finalists for the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award will be announced on June 4, with the 2025 winner to be announced at a date to be finalized later that month. Griff O'Ferrall of the University of Virginia was the 2024 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year.
"Pairing down our list each year is always difficult and this year is no different," said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the Brooks Wallace Award. "All these candidates are hitting for big averages but how well they field their position is paramount in choosing the winner for this award."
The Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award was first awarded in 2004. Prior to 2009, the award recognized the national player of the year.
Previous winners of the award are Kurt Suzuki, C, Cal State Fullerton, 2004; Alex Gordon, 3B, Nebraska, 2005; Brad Lincoln, SP/DH, Houston, 2006; David Price, SP, Vanderbilt, 2007; Buster Posey, C, Florida State, 2008; Ben Orloff, SS, UC Irvine, 2009; Jedd Gyorko, SS, West Virginia, 2010; Brad Miller, SS, Clemson, 2011; Zach Vincej, SS, Pepperdine, 2012; Alex Bregman, SS, LSU, 2013; Trea Turner, SS, NC State, 2014; Dansby Swanson, SS, Vanderbilt, 2015; Sheldon Neuse, SS, Oklahoma, 2016; Logan Warmoth, SS, North Carolina, 2017; Cadyn Grenier, SS, Oregon State, 2018; Grae Kessinger, SS, Ole Miss, 2019; Cal Conley, SS, Texas Tech, 2021; Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly, 2022; Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland 2023; and Griff O'Ferrall, SS, Virginia, 2024.
2025 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Semifinalists
- Alex Alicia, Louisville, ACC
- Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas, SEC
- Aiva Arquette, Oregon State, Independent
- Dillon Baker, Miami (OH), MAC
- Kolby Branch, Georgia, SEC
- Benjamin Casillas, Michigan, Big Ten
- Roch Cholowsky, UCLA, Big Ten
- Lukas Cook, Purdue, Big Ten
- Dylan Grego, Ball State, MAC
- Cam Hassert, Loyola Marymount, West Coast
- Core Jackson, Utah, Big 12
- Tyriq Kemp, Baylor, Big 12
- Matt King, Arizona State, Big 12
- Maddox Latta, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
- Alex Lodise, Florida State, ACC
- Kyle Lodise, Georgia Tech, ACC
- Isaac Lopez, UTRGV, Southland
- Alex Madera, North Carolina, ACC
- Lorenzo Meola, Stetson, Atlantic Sun
- Jake Ogden, Miami, ACC
- Ray Ortiz, NJIT, American East
- 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
- Drew Wyers, Bryant, American East
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.
The College Baseball Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Support for the College Baseball Hall of Fame will help preserve the rich history of the sport for future generations. All donations to the College Baseball Hall of Fame are tax deductible and can be made via this link on the organization's website.
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.
About the College Baseball Hall of Fame
Each year, more than 190 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee. The College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006. Since that time, 165 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and contributors have been selected for induction. Click here for a full list of College Baseball Hall of Fame classes.
The College Baseball Hall of Fame will establish a physical location in Overland Park, Kansas in early 2026. Located within the iconic Museum at Prairiefire, the College Baseball Hall of Fame will serve as a shared community asset, deepening connections to the nation's favorite pastime through a dynamic and ever-evolving space for college baseball enthusiasts to celebrate the sport's rich past, present, and future.
