LUBBOCK, Texas – Evan Albrecht's team-leading batting average and on-base percentage coupled with another stellar defensive season has earned the Purdue senior a spot on the watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award, which recognizes the nation's top shortstop.
Presented by the College Baseball Foundation and sponsored by Mizuno, the Brooks Wallace Award is named in honor of 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.
A four-year starting middle infielder for the Boilermakers, Albrecht is enjoying a breakout senior season. Entering the April 22 to 24 home series vs. Belmont, he's batting .402 with 10 extra-base hits, a .489 on-base percentage and 15 stolen bases. Defensively, he has compiled a .952 fielding percentage while leading the team with 89 assists. The Wisconsin native ranks among the top five in the Big Ten in batting average, OBP and steals.
Albrecht has teamed with Curtis Washington Jr. (22 of 22) and Mike Bolton Jr. (22 of 26) to give Purdue three players with 15-plus steals for just the fourth time in program history. At the plate, Albrecht is currently riding a 24-game on-base streak and 10-game hit streak in Big Ten play. He's batting .472 over the first four conference weekends.
Albrecht has made all 31 of his starts at shortstop and not left the field defensively (or lineup) dating back to the first pitch of Purdue's Feb. 20 win vs. South Dakota State. He has made 127 career starts as a Boilermaker, 104 coming at shortstop.
David Miller, in 2012, was the last Boilermaker to be selected for the Brooks Wallace Award watch list. Miller was a two-year starter at shortstop from 2011 to 2012, helping Purdue compile an 82-41 combined record over those successful seasons. Starting in 2009, the Brooks Wallace Award was changed from a national player of the year to most outstanding shortstop honor.
"The shortstop position may be being redefined a bit," said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the Brooks Wallace Award. "So many shortstops in the game today are hitting with power and high batting averages that at one time weren't considered a characteristic of the position. But we are proud to announce our top 100 shortstops who are showing they are some of the best in the game, regardless of position."
Around the Big Ten, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and Rutgers also had their shortstops selected for the Brooks Wallace Award watch list.
Presented by the College Baseball Foundation and sponsored by Mizuno, the Brooks Wallace Award is named in honor of 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.
A four-year starting middle infielder for the Boilermakers, Albrecht is enjoying a breakout senior season. Entering the April 22 to 24 home series vs. Belmont, he's batting .402 with 10 extra-base hits, a .489 on-base percentage and 15 stolen bases. Defensively, he has compiled a .952 fielding percentage while leading the team with 89 assists. The Wisconsin native ranks among the top five in the Big Ten in batting average, OBP and steals.
Albrecht has teamed with Curtis Washington Jr. (22 of 22) and Mike Bolton Jr. (22 of 26) to give Purdue three players with 15-plus steals for just the fourth time in program history. At the plate, Albrecht is currently riding a 24-game on-base streak and 10-game hit streak in Big Ten play. He's batting .472 over the first four conference weekends.
Albrecht has made all 31 of his starts at shortstop and not left the field defensively (or lineup) dating back to the first pitch of Purdue's Feb. 20 win vs. South Dakota State. He has made 127 career starts as a Boilermaker, 104 coming at shortstop.
David Miller, in 2012, was the last Boilermaker to be selected for the Brooks Wallace Award watch list. Miller was a two-year starter at shortstop from 2011 to 2012, helping Purdue compile an 82-41 combined record over those successful seasons. Starting in 2009, the Brooks Wallace Award was changed from a national player of the year to most outstanding shortstop honor.
"The shortstop position may be being redefined a bit," said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the Brooks Wallace Award. "So many shortstops in the game today are hitting with power and high batting averages that at one time weren't considered a characteristic of the position. But we are proud to announce our top 100 shortstops who are showing they are some of the best in the game, regardless of position."
Around the Big Ten, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and Rutgers also had their shortstops selected for the Brooks Wallace Award watch list.