Frazier Named Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist
Jun 08 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers junior All-American shortstop Todd Frazier (Toms River, N.J.) was named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year Award, presented by the College Baseball Foundation, the group announced on Friday.
The Scarlet Knight is among 10 standout players from around the nation included on the reduced list that spans nine schools and eight conferences around the country. The selection committee will reduce the list to three finalists following NCAA Super Regional play this weekend and will be announced during the College World Series.
"I am honored to be included on such a prestigious list," Frazier said after receiving the news. "I want to thank my teammates for helping me improve each year."
The Wallace Award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate baseball player and will be televised nationally by Fox College Sports. The award is the only one to encompass the first pitch of the college season to the final out in Omaha.
The 2007 Wallace Award Banquet will be held Tuesday, July 3, at 7 p.m. in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Information regarding the sale of individual tickets, as well as group and corporate tables, is available by calling (806) 777-8277, or by e-mailing jeff@collegebaseballfoundation.org.
"The success that the 10 Wallace semifinalists enjoyed on the field this year is remarkable," said Raymond Richardson, Chairman of the 2007 Brooks Wallace Award Committee. "We are looking forward to hosting the three finalists in Lubbock on July 3rd and 4th."
Frazier was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the 34th overall pick in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft yesterday. He was named a First Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Rivals.com last week. The shortstop painted himself throughout the Rutgers record book, finishing in the top-6 in every single-season offensive category, excluding triples. Frazier broke the Rutgers single-season record for home runs (22), home runs by a leadoff hitter (22), runs scored (87), walks (62), doubles (24) and total bases (187), all set this season. He also finished second in slugging percentage (.757), second in at bats (247), tied for third in runs batted in (65), fifth in hits (93), and tied for sixth in stolen bases (25).
Frazier has also placed himself on several Rutgers career record charts through just three seasons. He is the Scarlet Knights all-time leader in home runs (42) and runs scored (210), and is second in walks (138) and total bases (434), and third in hits (241), slugging percentage (.625) and stolen bases (65), and fifth in runs batted in (152).
Frazier, who played with the USA Baseball National Team last summer and starred on the Toms River East American Team that won the 1998 Little League World Series title, was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year at the conclusion of the regular season. He finished the season ranked among the BIG EAST leaders in virtually every offensive category and was fourth in the nation in home runs (22), fourth in runs per game (1.38), eighth in walks per game (0.98) and 11th in home run per game (0.35).
The finalists will be accompanied by their parents and head coaches to participate in activities with the 2007 Hall of Fame Inductees as part of the Wallace Award and Hall of Fame festivities in Lubbock. The winner will be permanently recognized in the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Wallace Award is a dedication to the memory of the former Texas Tech player and assistant coach Brooks Wallace. Wallace was a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977 to 1980. A four-year starter, he was named All-Southwest Conference and All-District his senior year. He led the Red Raiders to their first-ever appearance in the Southwest Conference Tournament in 1980. After playing two years in the Texas Rangers organization, he returned to Texas Tech and served as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant coach. In the summer of 1984, he was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease courageously until his death on March 24, 1985, at age 27. The Plano, Texas, native was married to the former Sandy Arnold and they had one daughter, Lindsay Ryan.
2007 Wallace Watch Semifinalists
Alvarez, Pedro 3B Vanderbilt
Frazier, Todd SS Rutgers LaPorta, Matt 1B Florida
Lavarnway, Ryan OF Yale
Mills, Adam SP Charlotte
Price, David SP Vanderbilt
Russell, Kyle OF Texas
Thomas Jr., Tony 2B Florida St.
Wallace, Brett 1B Arizona St.
Waring, Brandon 3B Wofford
