Jay and Perez Named To Brooks Wallace Watch List

Nov. 21, 2005

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami juniors Jon Jay and Chris Perez were named to the 2006 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List on Monday afternoon by the College Baseball Foundation. The award is presented annually to the national college player of the year.

UM’s candidates were joined by 118 other collegiate prospects on the list, which will be trimmed to 12 semi-finalists by May. Jay (Miami/Columbus HS) was a first team All-ACC pick in left field in 2005 and led the Hurricanes with a .408 batting average, 86 hits, 17 doubles and was third on the team with 52 RBIs.

Perez (Holmes Beach/The Pendleton School), a right-handed reliever, compiled a 5-1 record, 2.56 ERA, seven saves and held opponents to a team-best .204 batting average. After beginning the 2005 season as a starter, Perez made the switch to the bullpen and yielded only four earned runs in 29.1 innings of relief work (1.45 ERA)

Both Jay and Perez played for the USA National Team last summer.

The Brooks Wallace Award is the only award that accounts for the full season of collegiate play, including all post-season competition. The CBF National Selection Committee is comprised of coaches, writers, broadcasters, sports information directors and former winners who follow the game closely, according to collegebaseballfoundation.org, the web site that plays host to the Brooks Wallace Award.