LUBBOCK, Texas – Mercer's RJ Yeager was one of 30 NCAA Division I shortstops selected as semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, the College Baseball Foundation announced late Tuesday.
The award, sponsored by Mizuno, honors the nation's top shortstop and will be presented this summer by the College Baseball Foundation. 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.
Yeager is the only player from the Southern Conference and the only shortstop from a Georgia university.
"I cannot think of a more deserving player for this award," stated head coach Craig Gibson. "RJ is the ultimate teammate, a talented and unselfish Individual who places the team above himself. He has been the leader of the team on and off the field."
Since arriving at Mercer, Yeager has started in every contest at shortstop for the Bears. During the 2021 season, he has started 51 games and has been a leader who has helped guide the Bears to a 33-18 mark thus far.
Yeager is no stranger to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List after being a candidate for the award in 2018. He is currently hitting .314 with 13 home runs and leads the team with 50 RBI. He has an on-base percentage of .372 and has stolen seven bases. Out of his 65 hits, 30 have been for extra-bases. Yeager has hit 28 career home runs and is the program's active home runs leader.
In the field, Yeager has a fielding percentage of .970 with 60 putouts and 131 assists.
"I am blessed to be selected as a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award," remarked Yeager. "As a shortstop, this is something you always strive for. It's exciting to be recognized with some of the best players in the country. I'm excited to finish out the season strong and to see what God has in store!"
Prior to the 2021 season, Yeager was named to the Preseason All-SoCon and Perfect Game Preseason All-SoCon teams. He was also named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List along with being named a Senior CLASS Award candidate.
In 2018, Yeager was named an NCBW Freshman All-American, a Perfect Game/Rawlings Freshman All-America second team selection and to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List. He was also selected as the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year.
For more information on the Brooks Wallace Award visit
www.collegebaseballhall.org.
| Name |
School |
Conference |
Class |
| Andy Armstrong |
Oregon State |
Pac-12 |
Sr. |
| Tommy Bell |
Old Dominion |
Conference USA |
Jr. |
| Ryan Bliss |
Auburn |
SEC |
Jr. |
| Collin Burns |
Tulane |
AAC |
RS-Soph. |
| Branden Comia |
Illinois |
Big Ten |
Soph. |
| Cal Conley |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
RS-Fr. |
| Benjamin Cowles |
Maryland |
Big Ten |
Jr. |
| Cristopher DeGuzman |
Alabama State |
SWAC |
Jr. |
| Jason Dicochea |
Santa Clara |
West Coast |
Sr. |
| Phillip Glasser |
Youngstown State |
Horizon |
Jr. |
| Bennet Hostetler |
North Dakota State |
Summit |
Sr. |
| Cody Jefferis |
Univ. of San Diego |
West Coast |
Soph. |
| Kole Kaler |
Hawaii |
Big West |
Jr. |
| Kodie Kolden |
Washington State |
Pac-12 |
Jr. |
| Ed Johnson |
Tennessee Tech |
Ohio Valley |
Soph. |
| Brooks Lee |
Cal Poly |
Big West |
RS-Fr. |
| Matt McLain |
UCLA |
Pac-12 |
Jr. |
| Channy Ortiz |
Grand Canyon |
WAC |
Sr. |
| Matt Richardson |
Utah |
Pac-12 |
Jr. |
| Simon Scherry |
Evansville |
Missouri Valley |
Soph. |
| Spencer Schwellenbach |
Nebraska |
Big Ten |
Jr. |
| Benjamin Sems |
Michigan |
Big Ten |
Sr. |
| Trey Sweeney |
Eastern Illinois |
Ohio Valley |
Soph. |
| Liam Spence |
Tennessee |
SEC |
Sr. |
| Drew Swift |
Arizona State |
Pac-12 |
Jr. |
| Jose Torres |
North Carolina State |
ACC |
Fr. |
| Tyler Wilbur |
Southeast Missouri |
Ohio Valley |
Jr. |
| Ernie Yake |
Gonzaga |
West Coast |
Jr. |
| RJ Yeager |
Mercer |
Southern |
Jr. |
| Carter Young |
Vanderbilt |
SEC |
Soph. |