University of Tennessee Athletics
ARENCIBIA NAMED PRESEASON CANDIDATE FOR BROOKS WALLACE AWARD
November 21, 2005 | Baseball
Nov. 21, 2005
Tennessee baseball player J.P. Arencibia has been named to the 2006 Wallace Watch, the College Baseball Foundation announced Monday. The rising sophomore catcher who earned Freshman All-America honors last season is one of 120 preseason candidates for the 2006 Brooks Wallace National Player of the Year Award.
Arencibia hit .322 last spring with 91 hits, 14 home runs and 71 RBIs. He started all 67 games for the Vols while helping lead the club to the NCAA College World Series for the fourth time in school history. The Miami, Fla., native was also named the SEC Freshman of the Year.
Following the collegiate season, Arencibia was selected to the USA Baseball National Team. He posted a .404 batting average during his stint with Team USA -- the highest on the elite American squad. He also led the team in hits (23) and slugging percentage (.579) while tying for the team lead in RBIs (12).
Last season, Tennessee pitcher Luke Hochevar was named one of 13 semifinalists for the 2005 Wallace Award.
The 2006 Wallace Watch will be trimmed to 12 semifinalists in May. The selection committee will then narrow the list to three finalists following the NCAA Super Regionals.
The selection committee for the Wallace Award is comprised of a national panel of preeminent coaches, sports information directors, former winners and beat media who most closely follow the sport of college baseball.
