Ben North, a graduate shortstop for Creighton Bluejays Baseball, has been named to the 2026 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List. The list, released by the College Baseball Foundation (CBF), includes the top 100 shortstops in college baseball this season. North is one of three BIG EAST players recognized.
North has started the current season strong, batting .351 with 13 hits and seven RBIs over nine games. Defensively, he has maintained a perfect fielding record with no errors in 48 chances. Last year, he finished with a .289 average, recording 69 hits, 59 RBIs, 17 doubles, and eight home runs.
The Brooks Wallace Award recognizes the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented later this year by the CBF. It is named after former Texas Tech player Brooks Wallace, who played from 1977 to 1980 and died of leukemia at age 27.
“Our staff is excited to get another year started looking for that special player to represent Brooks’ Award,” said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the Brooks Wallace Award. “We will dig deep to find the personal qualities as well as the physical attributes that best exemplify what we look for in the Brooks Wallace Award winner. It’s early but this list is already shaping up to be a competitive race with some big numbers from some new guys and some familiar faces on the list as well.”
Past recipients of this award include notable players such as Alex Bregman (LSU), Trea Turner (NC State), Dansby Swanson (Vanderbilt), and most recently Roch Cholowsky (UCLA) in 2025.
The CBF presents several awards throughout each season: besides the Brooks Wallace Award for outstanding shortstop performance, it also honors achievements through its John Olerud Two-Way Player award, National Pitcher award, and Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Week award.
“With the season now in full swing, there are so many deserving candidates for our many awards,” said Chris Snead, CBF Awards Chair. “This is just the beginning of this process that culminates in our Omaha announcements of our recipients.”
The College Baseball Foundation works to preserve and promote college baseball’s history and traditions while honoring those who have contributed significantly to the sport. It operates as a nonprofit organization; donations support its mission and are tax-deductible.
The College Baseball Hall of Fame began inducting members in 2006 through votes cast by national media members, coaches—both active and retired—former players and inductees, historians, and other experts. Since then it has inducted more than 175 individuals across various roles within college baseball. In 2026 a permanent Hall of Fame location will open at Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park, Kansas.
For more information about awards or donations visit www.collegebaseballhall.org.
