Baseball | 5/26/2017 10:02:00 AM

OMAHA, Neb. -- Junior Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) has been named a finalist for the Josh Willingham Award, which honors DII college baseball's most valuable player - an individual who not only excels on the field, but in the dugout, clubhouse and practice field as well and leads his team to national championship caliber status.

The determination of the finalist candidates and initial voting for the award has been made by a select panel of baseball sports information contacts and media members.

Baldwin started 53 games and led the team with a .359 batting average (.436 in league contests). He finished with 22 doubles, two triples and three home runs, while driving in 41 and 36 runs scored. He tallied 105 total bases and posted a .538 slugging percentage as well as a .442 on-base percentage. Baldwin tallied 19 multiple-hit games, including a team-high three four-hit games and nine multiple-RBI contests, including two four-RBI performances.  He helped lead the Green & Gold to 34 wins and nearly advanced to the regional title game as the sixth seed in the Midwest Region.

The annual honor is named after the former North Alabama All-American and former Major League Baseball star, Josh Willingham. While playing baseball at UNA, Willingham was a two-time All-American and tied or broke fourteen school single-game, season and career records. After his junior season, Willingham was selected by the Florida Marlins in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He played 11 seasons for the Marlins, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Kansas City Royals.

The winner of the 2017 Josh Willingham Award will announced following the Division II College World Series in Grand Prairie, Texas, which begins on May 27th. 

AWARD FINALISTS
- Brad Baldwin, Wayne State
- Brandon Benson, Georgia College
- Jancarlos Cintron Torres, Nova Southeastern
- Ryan Colombo, Drury
- Bryant Haralson, Henderson State
- Zack Mozingo, Mount Olive
- Pablo O'Connor, Azusa Pacific
- Adrian Orozco, UC San Diego
- Joseph Pena, St. Thomas Aquinas
- Logan Porter, Dixie State
- Trevor Rucker, Southern Arkansas
- Kyle Teter, Lindenwood
- Jake Walters, Quincy
- Tim Wages, Lincoln Memorial