Central Michigan University Athletics
Smith Named to Olerud, Wallace Watch Lists
3/4/2026 2:25:00 PM | Baseball
Chippewa sophomore among nation's top shortstops, two-way players
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan's Cayden Smith has been named to two annual award watch lists by the College Baseball Foundation.
Smith, a sophomore pitcher/shortstop from Beal City, was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Award and the Brooks Wallace Award watch lists for the 2026 season.
The Wallace Award goes to the nation's top shortstop and is named for the late Brooks Wallace, a standout shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977-80 who died of leukemia at age 27. The Olerud Award goes to the best dual-role player in the nation and is named for Olerud, a standout pitcher/first baseman at Washington State who went on to a standout career in the major leagues.
Smith is 3-3 as a pitcher in 15 career appearances on the mound. He has hit .250 with four home runs and 28 RBI in 60 career games as a shortstop.
The Wallace and Olerud awards are two of four that are handed out weekly by the College Baseball Foundation throughout the season. The others are the National Pitcher of the Week and the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Week awards.
Smith is one of 100 players on the Wallace Award Watch List and one of 49 on the Olerud Award Watch List. John Dempsey of Florida Gulf Coast won the 2025 Olerud Award and Roch Cholowsky of UCLA captured the 2025 Wallace Award.
Smith, a sophomore pitcher/shortstop from Beal City, was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Award and the Brooks Wallace Award watch lists for the 2026 season.
The Wallace Award goes to the nation's top shortstop and is named for the late Brooks Wallace, a standout shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977-80 who died of leukemia at age 27. The Olerud Award goes to the best dual-role player in the nation and is named for Olerud, a standout pitcher/first baseman at Washington State who went on to a standout career in the major leagues.
Smith is 3-3 as a pitcher in 15 career appearances on the mound. He has hit .250 with four home runs and 28 RBI in 60 career games as a shortstop.
The Wallace and Olerud awards are two of four that are handed out weekly by the College Baseball Foundation throughout the season. The others are the National Pitcher of the Week and the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Week awards.
Smith is one of 100 players on the Wallace Award Watch List and one of 49 on the Olerud Award Watch List. John Dempsey of Florida Gulf Coast won the 2025 Olerud Award and Roch Cholowsky of UCLA captured the 2025 Wallace Award.
Players Mentioned
IF/RHP
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