WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball's Camden Gasser was once again identified among the nation's elite shortstops while advancing to the list of 29 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award.
Entering the NCAA Regionals, Gasser continues to lead the Big Ten with 53 walks and a .507 on-base percentage. Both totals rank among the top five in program history. He also contributed to 41 of the 56 double plays turned by the Boilermakers. They ranked among the top five nationally for much of the regular season and racked up the team's most twin killings since the 2012 Big Ten championship team turned 59 in 59 games.
Presented by the College Baseball Foundation, 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.
The list of 29 semifinalists featured three shortstops from the Big Ten Conference – including the league's player of the year, Josh Kuroda-Grauer (Rutgers), and the captain of the infield of the league champion, Cal Hejza (Illinois).
Gasser remains in the same company as teammate Connor Caskenette – Boilermakers to be semifinalists for notable national honors at their positions. Caskenette is also a semifinalist for the Buster Posey Award, recognizing the top Division I catcher.
Gasser moved into second place in team history with 53 walks and became just the fourth player in the Purdue record book to post an on-base percentage .500 or better (minimum 100 at-bats). He joined Ryne White (.521 in 2007), Dan Black (.518 in 2009) and Anthony Grieco (.517 in 1997) as the only Boilermakers to reach base more frequently than they were out. Gasser joined Black as the only player to achieve both feats (50 walks, .500 OBP) in the same season.
Gasser also recorded 51 hits, 52 runs scored and 17 stolen bases while starting 51 of Purdue's 57 games. He led the squad with 11 sacrifice bunts, batting second in the lineup in a team-high 30 games. The Boilermakers set team records for runs scored (457), runs per game (8.02) and on-base percentage (.406) this season.
Gasser played his way into the starting lineup, opening the campaign with a 24-game on-base streak while batting over .400 through the weekend of March 22-24. He also enjoyed a 12-game hit streak in March and reached base safely multiple times in 11 consecutive games as Purdue reeled off a 9-2 record from April 13-May 1.
For the season, Gasser was held without a hit, walk or hit by pitch in only five of his 51 games. Defensively, he compiled a .963 fielding percentage while leading the team with 157 assists.
Gasser is the third Boilermaker selected to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list since it evolved to spotlight shortstops in 2009. David Miller (2012) and Evan Albrecht (2022) were also recognized among the nation's elite captains of the infield.
Entering the NCAA Regionals, Gasser continues to lead the Big Ten with 53 walks and a .507 on-base percentage. Both totals rank among the top five in program history. He also contributed to 41 of the 56 double plays turned by the Boilermakers. They ranked among the top five nationally for much of the regular season and racked up the team's most twin killings since the 2012 Big Ten championship team turned 59 in 59 games.
Presented by the College Baseball Foundation, 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.
The list of 29 semifinalists featured three shortstops from the Big Ten Conference – including the league's player of the year, Josh Kuroda-Grauer (Rutgers), and the captain of the infield of the league champion, Cal Hejza (Illinois).
Gasser remains in the same company as teammate Connor Caskenette – Boilermakers to be semifinalists for notable national honors at their positions. Caskenette is also a semifinalist for the Buster Posey Award, recognizing the top Division I catcher.
Gasser moved into second place in team history with 53 walks and became just the fourth player in the Purdue record book to post an on-base percentage .500 or better (minimum 100 at-bats). He joined Ryne White (.521 in 2007), Dan Black (.518 in 2009) and Anthony Grieco (.517 in 1997) as the only Boilermakers to reach base more frequently than they were out. Gasser joined Black as the only player to achieve both feats (50 walks, .500 OBP) in the same season.
Gasser also recorded 51 hits, 52 runs scored and 17 stolen bases while starting 51 of Purdue's 57 games. He led the squad with 11 sacrifice bunts, batting second in the lineup in a team-high 30 games. The Boilermakers set team records for runs scored (457), runs per game (8.02) and on-base percentage (.406) this season.
Gasser played his way into the starting lineup, opening the campaign with a 24-game on-base streak while batting over .400 through the weekend of March 22-24. He also enjoyed a 12-game hit streak in March and reached base safely multiple times in 11 consecutive games as Purdue reeled off a 9-2 record from April 13-May 1.
For the season, Gasser was held without a hit, walk or hit by pitch in only five of his 51 games. Defensively, he compiled a .963 fielding percentage while leading the team with 157 assists.
Gasser is the third Boilermaker selected to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list since it evolved to spotlight shortstops in 2009. David Miller (2012) and Evan Albrecht (2022) were also recognized among the nation's elite captains of the infield.