The Brooks Wallace Award is one of college baseball’s most respected honors, awarded each year to the nation’s top shortstop. It recognizes not only elite athletic performance but also character, leadership, and defensive excellence. The award is named after Brooks Wallace, a former Texas Tech shortstop and assistant coach whose legacy lives on through the players who earn this distinction.
Brooks Wallace played at Texas Tech in the late 1970s and early 1980s and later served as an assistant coach for the Red Raiders. Known for his dedication to the sport and his leadership on and off the field, Wallace tragically passed away from leukemia in 1985 at the age of just 27. To honor his legacy, the College Baseball Foundation created the Brooks Wallace Award, aiming to highlight shortstops who mirror his commitment to excellence, sportsmanship, and perseverance.
Originally established in 2004, the award was initially given to the most outstanding college baseball player, regardless of position. However, since 2009, it has been specifically dedicated to honoring shortstops, making it the only major NCAA award focused solely on that position. This shift allowed the College Baseball Foundation to celebrate the unique skill set required to play shortstop at an elite level—combining agility, defensive precision, quick decision-making, and offensive productivity.
The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually by the College Baseball Foundation and Hall of Fame, based in Lubbock, Texas. Each season, a watch list of top shortstops is released, followed by a narrowing of finalists as the college baseball season progresses. Finalists are evaluated not only for their statistical output but also for their leadership roles and impact on team success. The winner is typically announced in June following the conclusion of the College World Series, during a special ceremony at the College Baseball Foundation’s Night of Champions event.
Notable winners of the Brooks Wallace Award have gone on to make a mark in Major League Baseball. Alex Bregman, who won the award in 2013 while playing for LSU, is now a two-time All-Star with the Houston Astros. Nick Madrigal, the 2018 recipient from Oregon State, and Matt McLain, who won in 2021 while at UCLA, also went on to become first-round MLB Draft picks and promising professional players. These past recipients illustrate how the Brooks Wallace Award has become a key indicator of future baseball success, particularly for players at one of the most challenging positions on the field.
In the 2025 college baseball season, Florida State junior Alex Lodise was named a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award. Lodise had an outstanding season both offensively and defensively. He batted .394 with 17 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 95 hits while maintaining a .977 fielding percentage. He helped turn 34 double plays and committed only five errors in 216 chances. Lodise also received several other national honors, including the Dick Howser Trophy, ACC Player of the Year, and ACC Defensive Player of the Year, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most complete players in college baseball.
The Brooks Wallace Award continues to shine a spotlight on student-athletes who embody the spirit of the game and the legacy of a player who gave everything to baseball. It remains one of the most prestigious position-specific honors in collegiate sports, and its winners consistently reflect the very best in amateur baseball talent, commitment, and sportsmanship.
