Yeager Named a Semifinalist for The Brooks Wallace Award

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.

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Yeager Named a Semifinalist for The Brooks Wallace Award

Players Mentioned

RJ Yeager

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