By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information & College Baseball Foundation
LUBBOCK, Texas – Tennessee Tech sophomore shortstop Ed Johnson has been a semifinalist for the 2021 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List as announced by the College Baseball Foundation 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.
"When narrowing down our list to this level, we put extra emphasis on what the award embodies and states in the bio of my brother, 'a slick-fielding shortstop,'" said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the Brooks Wallace Award committee. "Numerous young men on this list exemplify that skill as well as hit for average and power."
In his first season as a Golden Eagle, Johnson has excelled on both sides of the diamond, slashing .312/.396/.465 in 40 games this season. The Auburn transfer leads the purple and gold with 40 runs scored and ranks second on the team in average, hits (49) and on-base percentage.
The Trussville, Ala. native has tallied seven doubles, a triple and five home runs while driving in 27 and stealing four bases. He has also played elite defense, making just five errors at shortstop all season for a .969 fielding percentage.
The sophomore represents one of three Ohio Valley Conference shortstops to make the final cut of 30 semifinalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, with Eastern Illinois' Trey Sweeney and Southeast Missouri's Tyler Wilbur also on the list. Johnson is also one of just two players in the OVC to earn multiple Player of the Week nods this season, joining SIUE's Brady Bunten.
Johnson represents Tech's third shortstop to be named a semifinalist for the honor in past 10 years, joining former Golden Eagles David Garza (2018) and Dylan Bosheers (2013, 2014 & 2015) in the exclusive club.
For more information on the Wallace Award or the Night of Champions event, visit www.collegebaseballhall.org.
Photo by Rob Schabert
