OVERLAND PARK, KAN. – Graduate student shortstop Dante DeFranco has been named to the College Baseball Foundation's Brooks Wallace Award watch list for the nation's top shortstop, the organization announced Wednesday.
 
The award is one of four national awards presented by the College Baseball Foundation annually, along with the John Olerud Two-Way Player, National Pitcher and Buster Posey Catcher of the Year Award. It 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 initial watch list features the top 100 shortstops through the first three weeks of college baseball. DeFranco has had a strong showing in his first 10 games as a Ram after arriving as a graduate transfer from Charlotte.
 
The Hillsborough, N.C., native brought in a veteran leadership presence to the Rams' locker room this year, making an immediate impact on and off the diamond. DeFranco is hitting at a team-leading .333 clip with his 11 hits tied for second-most among Rams. He has also posted team-best marks with a .576 slugging percentage and 19 total bases.
 
Heating up in the last week alone, DeFranco manufactured three consecutive multi-hit games against Virginia and William & Mary. Following a 3-for-4, three-RBI performance on Tuesday, the graduate has seven hits, four RBI and a home run over the three-game stretch.
 
Also showing his defensive flashes early, DeFranco has handled all 24 defensive chances in the infield cleanly, maintaining a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 15 defensive assists.
 
DeFranco was one of three A-10 shortstops named to the initial watch list, joined by George Mason's Owen Clyne and Fordham's Anthony Grabau.
 
For the complete watch list, or more information on College Baseball Foundation, visit their website at https://www.cbhalloffame.org/
 
DeFranco and the Rams return to action today against Old Dominion at 1:30 p.m. at The Diamond. Admission is free to fans and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.