Dec. 5, 2008
LUBBOCK, Texas- Baylor juniors Aaron Miller and Kendal Volz were named to the initial watch list for the 2009 Brooks Wallace Award, presented annually to the top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. This is the award's sixth year.
Miller, an outfielder and left-handed pitcher from Channelview, Texas, hit .295 with 12 home runs, 45 RBI, 18 doubles and 41 runs last season. He led the Bears in home runs, doubles, slugging percentage (.562) and walks (34) and was tied for the team lead in RBI. Miller also was 1-1 on the mound in very limited action, logging 5.0 innings over six appearances.
Volz, a right-handed pitcher from Bulverde, Texas, was 3-6 with a 4.20 ERA and 85 strikeouts over 70.2 innings as Baylor's Friday-night starter last season. He averaged 10.83 strikeouts per game, a Baylor single-season record and 18th nationally in 2008. Volz served as closer for the 2008 USA Baseball National Team during the summer; he converted all eight save opportunities with a 0.00 ERA for the 24-0 Team USA.
The Wallace Award is dedicated to the memory of former Texas Tech player and assistant coach Brooks Wallace, who died of cancer at age 27 in 1985. Wallace played at Tech from 1977 to 1980 and spent two years in the Texas Rangers' organization.
Past winners of the Wallace Award are Kurt Suzuki (catcher; Call State Fullerton; 2004), Alex Gordon (third baseman; Nebraska; 2005), Brad Lincoln (pitcher/designated hitter; Houston; 2006), David Price (pitcher; Vanderbilt; 2007) and Buster Posey (catcher; Florida State; 2008).
For more Baylor baseball information, check out Straight from the Pen.
