This week, the College Baseball Foundation released the 2025 watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award, an award named after former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace that annually honors the nation's top shortstop.
The top 100 shortstops in the country were announced for this year's watch list, considering both offensive and defensive production. With that in mind, it's impossible to keep Alex Madera off the list, as the UNC baseball program's shortstop has been stellar in both aspects.
Some respect on his name 👏@_amad99 has been chosen for the @CollegeDiamonds Brooks Wallace Award Watch List as one of the nation's best shortstops! pic.twitter.com/MuEF8hVWsO
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) April 18, 2025
After serving as the Diamond Heels starting second baseman a season ago, Madera transitioned to the left side of the diamond for his final collegiate season. He's made the transition look seamless, currently putting together an even better offensive season than we saw a year ago.
Through 39 games played, Madera is hitting .336 on the year, collecting 48 hits and 25 runs scored. While he hasn't hit for much power, he's still getting on base at a very high rate, reaching base on walks (or hit by pitches) on 28 different occasions.
Madera currently holds a .970 fielding percentage, which is very impressive given the increased workload that his new position entails. He's closing in on the 100 assist mark, giving him a chance to surpass last year's mark of 133.
Alex Madera has been an impact player for the Diamond Heels, who currently hold a 30-9 record on the 2025 season. As another trip to Omaha is at the forefront of the UNC baseball program's goals, Madera will play a huge role in helping them once again earn the trip to college baseball's biggest stage.
2025 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List (Name, School, Conference)
- Trent Abel, Cal State Northridge, Big West
- Alex Adams, Air Force, Mountain West
- Landon Akers, Bellarmine, Atlantic Sun
- Alex Alicia, Louisville, ACC
- Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas, SEC
- Nick Arias, Abilene Christian, WAC
- Aiva Arquette, Oregon State, Independent
- Davis Baker, Penn, Ivy League
- Dillon Baker, Miami (OH), MAC
- Michael Ball, Nevada, Mountain West
- Emilio Barreras, Grand Canyon, WAC
- Eric Becker, Virginia, ACC
- Tyler Bell, Kentucky, SEC
- Beny Bikar, Southern, SWAC
- Chase Bloomer, SIUE, OVC
- Kolby Branch, Georgia, SEC
- Armando Briseno, Long Beach State, Big West
- Dylan Carey, Nebraska, Big Ten
- Yomar Carreras, Rutgers, Big Ten
- Benjamin Casillas, Michigan, Big Ten
- Nate Castellon, Cal Poly, Big West
- Roch Cholowsky, UCLA, Big Ten
- Wallace Clark, Duke, ACC
- Lukas Cook, Purdue, Big Ten
- Jack Cotrone, Davidson, Atlantic 10
- Sam Decarlo, Washington, Big Ten
- Justin Decriscio, NC State, ACC
- Ahmar Denatto, Prairie View A&M, SWAC
- Tyler Epstein, Missouri State, MVC
- Deric Fabian, Auburn, SEC
- Ryne Farber, Texas State, Sun Belt
- Jalin Flores, Texas, SEC
- Bradley Frye, Mercer, Southern
- Nomar Garcia, Indiana State, MVC
- Jonathan Gomez, Farleigh Dickinson, Northeast
- Jack Goodman, Northeastern, CAA
- Dylan Grego, Ball State, MAC
- Kevin Hager, Cornell, Ivy League
- Cam Hassert, Loyola Marymount, West Coast
- Kai Holm, Lipscomb, Atlantic Sun
- Marek Houston, Wake Forest, ACC
- Core Jackson, Utah, Big 12
- Antonio Jimenez, UCF, Big 12
- Kevin Jones, UNCW, CAA
- Camden Karczewski, Purdue Ft Wayne, Horizon
- Hunter Keen, Radford, Big South
- Tyriq Kemp, Baylor, Big 12
- Ryan Kennell, Gardner-Webb, Big South
- Brodie Kresser, West Virginia, Big 12
- Jimmy King, Holy Cross, Patriot
- Matt King, Arizona State, Big 12
- Alex Kizearry, Quinnipiac, MAAC
- Jake Lambdin, Xavier, BIG EAST
- Isaiah Lane, San Diego, West Coast
- Maddox Latta, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
- Justin Lebron, Alabama, SEC
- Brando Leroux, FAU, AAC
- Tyler Lichtenberger, Appalachian State, Sun Belt
- Alex Lodise, Florida State, ACC
- Kyle Lodise, Georgia Tech, ACC
- Isaac Lopez, UTRGV, Southland
- Alex Madera, North Carolina, ACC
- Maximus Martin, Kansas State, Big 12
- Luke Mathews, Kent State, MAC
- Jonathan Mendez, UC Santa Barbara, Big West
- Lorenzo Meola, Stetson, Atlantic Sun
- Jared Mettam, Saint Mary’s College, West Coast
- Steven Milam, LSU, SEC
- Cody Miller, East Tennessee State, Southern
- Sam Miller, Columbia, Ivy League
- Gable Mitchell, Iowa, Big Ten
- Maddox Molony, Oregon, Big Ten
- J.R. Nelson, Ohio, MAC
- Charlie Niehaus, Cincinnati, Big 12
- Ben North, Creighton, BIG EAST
- Sheehan O'Connor, New Mexico State, Conference USA
- Jake Ogden, Miami, ACC
- Ray Ortiz, NJIT, American East
- Michael Perazzo, Sacramento State, WAC
- Rob Rispoli, Connecticut, BIG EAST
- Shai Robinson, Illinois State, MVC
- TJ Rogers, San Francisco, West Coast
- Trent Rumley, Canisius, MAAC
- TJ Salvaggio, Southeastern Louisiana, Southland
- Blake Schaaf, Georgetown, BIG EAST
- Jake Schaffner, North Dakota State, Summit
- Colby Shelton, Florida, SEC
- Ike Shirey, Tarleton State, WAC
- Brady Short, Central Connecticut, Northeast
- Carter Sintek, South Dakota State, Summit
- Clayton Slack, Southern Indiana, OVC
- Zane Spinn, Lamar, Southland
- Trent Turner, Western Carolina, Southern
- Jonathan Vastine, Vanderbilt, SEC
- Michael Whooley, Villanova, BIG EAST
- Jaxson Willits, Oklahoma, SEC
- Matt Wolfe, Middle Tennessee, Conference USA
- Kade Wood, Mississippi Valley State, SWAC
- Drew Wyers, Bryant, American East
- Ryan Wynn, Wofford, Southern
- Colin Yeaman, UC Irvine, Big West
For more information on the Brooks Wallace Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website atwww.collegebaseballhall.org.