OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – After a strong start to the 2026 season, Monmouth University baseball freshman shortstop Sam Saucke has been named to the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List. 
 
The award honors the nation's top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year. 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.
 
The top 100 shortstops in the country were announced, led by several players putting up tremendous offensive numbers. But because the award is reflective of more than just offense, there are numerous players putting up solid defensive numbers as well.
 
Saucke is one of four CAA players named to the list and one of just eight freshmen placed on the list. 
 
Saucke has gotten his rookie campaign off to a flying start, starting each of the first nine games. He is hitting .314 with a .985 OPS. Saucke leads the team with 11 runs scored and is second on the team with nine RBIs. He has three multi-hit games and cranked his first career home run against Richmond. 
 
Saucke was named the CAA Rookie of the Week after the opening weekend in which he hit .500 with four RBIS and four runs scored. 
 
Saucke and the rest of the Hawks are back in action on Friday, Mar. 6 when they open CAA play with a three-game set at Towson.