University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Roch Cholowsky
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
Cholowsky Named Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist
May 23, 2025 | Baseball
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – UCLA's Roch Cholowsky was named a Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist, an award that recognizes the nation's most outstanding shortstop, by the College Baseball Foundation.
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 semifinalists were identified based on their combined offensive and defensive performances from this season. Finalists for the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award will be announced on June 4, with the 2025 winner to be announced at a date to be finalized later that month. Griff O'Ferrall of the University of Virginia was the 2024 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year.
Roch Cholowsky was named the Brooks Wallace Player of the Week on April 29 after his three-homer weekend in UCLA's sweep over Penn State.
Cholowsky became UCLA's first-ever Defensive Player of the Year and the program's first conference Player of the Year honoree since 1998.
Also a First Team All-Big Ten selection, Cholowsky capped off his regular season as the national leader in wins-above-replacement (WAR) with a staggering 5.85. UCLA's standout shortstop led the team with a .371 average, blasting 20 home runs and driving in 63 RBIs. He topped the Big Ten in OPS (1.273), on-base percentage (.511), and finished first in slugging (.839), total bases (99), and runs scored (41) during conference play. His 21 home runs mark the most by a Bruin since Forrest Johnson hit 23 in 2000.
Cholowsky also recently broke UCLA's single-season hit-by-pitch record as he has been plunked 20 times in 2025.
Cholowsky also solidified himself as one of the nation's premier defensive shortstops, posting a defensive-runs-saved (DRS) mark of 16.44 and a defensive WAR of 1.23, ranking second nationally in both categories. He committed just six errors all season while anchoring a UCLA defense that ranks 10th in the nation in fielding percentage (.981) and leads the country in double plays (56).
For more information on the Brooks Wallace Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
2025 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Semifinalists
Name, School, Hometown, Conference
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 semifinalists were identified based on their combined offensive and defensive performances from this season. Finalists for the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award will be announced on June 4, with the 2025 winner to be announced at a date to be finalized later that month. Griff O'Ferrall of the University of Virginia was the 2024 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year.
Roch Cholowsky was named the Brooks Wallace Player of the Week on April 29 after his three-homer weekend in UCLA's sweep over Penn State.
Cholowsky became UCLA's first-ever Defensive Player of the Year and the program's first conference Player of the Year honoree since 1998.
Also a First Team All-Big Ten selection, Cholowsky capped off his regular season as the national leader in wins-above-replacement (WAR) with a staggering 5.85. UCLA's standout shortstop led the team with a .371 average, blasting 20 home runs and driving in 63 RBIs. He topped the Big Ten in OPS (1.273), on-base percentage (.511), and finished first in slugging (.839), total bases (99), and runs scored (41) during conference play. His 21 home runs mark the most by a Bruin since Forrest Johnson hit 23 in 2000.
Cholowsky also recently broke UCLA's single-season hit-by-pitch record as he has been plunked 20 times in 2025.
Cholowsky also solidified himself as one of the nation's premier defensive shortstops, posting a defensive-runs-saved (DRS) mark of 16.44 and a defensive WAR of 1.23, ranking second nationally in both categories. He committed just six errors all season while anchoring a UCLA defense that ranks 10th in the nation in fielding percentage (.981) and leads the country in double plays (56).
For more information on the Brooks Wallace Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
2025 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Semifinalists
Name, School, Hometown, Conference
- Alex Alicea, Louisville, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ACC
- Wehiwa Aloy, Arkansas, Wailuku, Hawai'i , SEC
- Aiva Arquette, Oregon State, Kailua, Hawai'i, Independent
- Dillon Baker, Miami (OH), Tampa, Florida, MAC
- Kolby Branch, Georgia, Lucas, Texas, SEC
- Benny Casillas, Michigan, Los Ángeles, California, Big Ten
- Roch Cholowsky, UCLA, Chandler, Arizona, Big Ten
- Lukas Cook, Purdue, Knoxville, Tennessee, Big Ten
- Dylan Grego, Ball State, Kansas City, Missouri, MAC
- Cam Hassert, Loyola Marymount, Longmont, Colorado, West Coast
- Core Jackson, Utah, Wyoming, Ontario, Big 12
- Tyriq Kemp, Baylor, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Big 12
- Matt King, Arizona State, Houston, Texas, Big 12
- Maddox Latta, Cal State Fullerton, Granada Hills, California, Big West
- Alex Lodise, Florida State, St. Augustine, Florida, ACC
- Kyle Lodise, Georgia Tech, Brunswick, Georgia, ACC
- Isaac Lopez, UTRGV, Edinburg, Texas, Southland
- Alex Madera, North Carolina, Delran, New Jersey, ACC
- Lorenzo Meola, Stetson, Green Brook, New Jersey, Atlantic Sun
- Jake Ogden, Miami, Homestead, Florida, ACC
- Ray Ortiz, NJIT, Bayonne, New Jersey, America East
- TJ Salvaggio, Southeastern Louisiana, Slidell, Louisiana, Southland
- Blake Schaaf, Georgetown, Oakland, California, BIG EAST
- Jake Schaffner, North Dakota State, Janesville, Wisconsin, Summit
- Colby Shelton, Florida, Lexington, South Carolina, SEC
- Ike Shirey, Tarleton State, Dale, Oklahoma, WAC
Players Mentioned
INF
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