Bradley University Athletics

Shadid Highlighted in Inaugural Bragan Award Watch List Reveal

Bradley senior shortstop one of 36 players named to the watch list recognizing the nation's top hitter

James Franks

Bragan Award Watch List Announcement

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Baseball 2/18/2020 4:59:00 PM

FORT WORTH, TX – Bradley senior SS Luke Shadid (Peoria, IL/Notre Dame HS) is one of 36 players named to the first national watch list for the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award, presented by SR Bats, according to an announcement Tuesday from the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation.

In its first year as a national award after growing from a state honor in Texas, the BBCSA is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity.

"Our first national watch list for the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats is outstanding," said Tracy Taylor, executive director of the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award. "Going national is a big step for us and to have the quality of student-athletes nominated by their programs was extremely rewarding.

"The amount of All American and All Conference recognition these players have earned on the playing field is impressive. But just as important is the number of academic honors; Academic All American, Scholar of the Year, Academic All Conference, that sets these young men apart. For example, the 2020 Watch List includes the player with the best batting average in college baseball last season and another young man who graduated in three years with a degree in finance and is working on his MBA. It is a testament to Bobby Bragan and his vision that his foundation and namesake award are thriving."

Shadid is the player referenced as the three-year graduate now pursuing his MBA. His athletic accomplishment match his academic performance: batting .344 in 2019, Shadid led the Missouri Valley Conference in hits per game (1.44), runs per game (0.98) and runs produced per game (1.62) last season. The only player in Bradley Baseball history to produce two 5-hit games, including the only recorded cycle in program history in a 5-for-6 effort March 9, 2019 at UNLV, Shadid is on pace to set the Bradley career hits record.

He opened the 2020 season by reaching base safely in all three games last weekend at Incarnate Word, batting .455 (5-for-11) with a walk and a hit-by-pitch from his customary leadoff position.

The BBCSA was introduced in 2017 to recognize the top college hitter in the state of Texas. The BBCSA expanded in 2019 to becoming a regional award covering NCAA Division I programs in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma and now will recognize the top hitter in the nation for the first time in 2020. The first three winners were Texas Tech's Hunter Hargrove in 2017, Dallas Baptist's Devlin Granberg in 2018 and Texas Tech's Josh Jung in 2019.

The winner of the BBCSA will be announced in June and honored at a gala in the fall at the Fort Worth Club. DBU's Jimmy Glowenke joins Shadid as the two representatives of the Missouri Valley Conference named to the 2020 BBCSA Watch List.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Luke Shadid: IF; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#10 Luke Shadid
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: IF

Shadid Highlighted in Inaugural Bragan Award Watch List Reveal

Bradley senior shortstop one of 36 players named to the watch list recognizing the nation's top hitter

Players Mentioned

#10 Luke Shadid

Players Mentioned

#10 Luke Shadid