LUBBOCK, Texas – Bethune-Cookman senior Brandon Wilkes was recently named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Watch List, announced by the College Baseball Foundation.

While a mix of starting pitchers and relievers lead the 25-player watch list for 2019, all are showing their prowess at the plate in contending for the Olerud Award, presented by the College Baseball Foundation. An almost entirely new group of players highlights the list, which features just four players who were on the watch list in 2018.

"There are a few familiar names on the list, but for the most part, it is completely wide open. I'm expecting the battle for the 2019 award to come right down to the very end," said George Watson, chairman of the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year selection committee. "We certainly have some outstanding candidates on this year's watch list representing both Power 5 and Group of 5 schools, each one playing a key role in their team's success this year. It's going to be fun watching these outstanding players progress over the final six weeks of the season."

Wilkes has starred as a closer, third baseman, and designated hitter in 2019. He enters Tuesday's game at UCF second on the team with a .300 average, .475 slugging mark, .833 OPS. He has seven doubles, a triple, a tied for a team-high four home runs in 120 at-bats. The Spruce Creek High School graduate leads the squad with 28 RBI. Wilkes also has four sacrifice flies and is perfect in six stolen base attempts.

On the mound, the Holly Hill native is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in 13 appearances. He owns a team-best four saves and his 32 strikeouts lead Wildcat relievers. He has pitched 25.1 innings with eight earned runs, eight walks, and a .237 opponents' average.

The award is named for the former Washington State University standout who achieved success both as a first baseman and left-handed pitcher during the late 1980s. He was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007. The award will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this summer.

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