LUBBOCK, Texas – The College Baseball Foundation announced its five finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award, given to the nation's best shortstop, on Wednesday. Incredible play at the plate and in the field earned New Mexico State's Joey Ortiz a spot on the award's finalist list.
 
Ortiz recently concluded one of the best seasons by an Aggie in program history en route to earning WAC Player of the Year honors – just the second player in program history to earn that award. Ortiz finished his junior campaign with a .422 batting average, eight home runs and 84 runs batted in. In 55 games, Ortiz amassed 43 extra-base hits. He leads the entire NCAA in hits (106), runs scored (85) and triples (10), while also ranking third in runs batted in (84).
 
During the WAC Tournament in Mesa, Ortiz set the new school record for hits and runs in a single-season. Ortiz also set the new school record for triples in a single-season and career earlier in the campaign. For a single-season, the shortstop sits in second place in program history for doubles (25) and total bases (125) and fourth in at-bats (251). His average and RBI total ranks fifth and eighth respectively in a single-season in program history.
 
Play for the junior had him recognized by Aaron Fitt and D1 Baseball as one of the top shortstops in the nation to start the year and Baseball America said, "Ortiz is earning a reputation as a must-see defender out West. Some are saying he is one of the top defensive players they've ever scouted." The Garden Grove, Calif. native posted a .973 fielding percentage with 189 assists and 31 double plays turned this season.
 
The award, sponsored by Mizuno, honors the nation's top shortstop and is set to be presented this summer by the College Baseball Foundation. The honor is named for former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders to from 1977 to 1980.