Eibner named to Olerud Watch List
FAYETTEVILLE – Brett Eibner, a member of the No. 10 University of Arkansas baseball team, was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List released Monday by the College Baseball Foundation. The Olerud Award will recognize a player who makes an impact both on the mound and at the plate. This is the inaugural season for the award. Eibner is one of 25 collegiate players named to the list for the award, which is named for Olerud who was a two-way player during his collegiate career at Washington State.
Eibner shares the Southeastern Conference lead with 17 home runs and is fourth in the league with a .703 slugging percentage. The Houston, Texas, native is third in the Razorback lineup with his .333 batting average. He is tied with Andy Wilkins for the team lead with 58 RBI, the fifth-highest total in the SEC. Eibner’s power numbers have received a boost during conference play as 10 of his 17 home runs this season have come against SEC teams, including a pair of two-homer performances against LSU and Georgia.
On the mound, Eibner carries a 3-4 record with a 4.30 ERA and has made a team-high 11 starts. In 52.1 innings of work, he has 47 strikeouts and has issued just nine walks, the second-lowest figure in the conference. Against Georgia, Eibner allowed two runs-one earned-on six hits in seven innings to help Arkansas to a 10-2 victory. He totaled a season-high 10 strikeouts at Mississippi State.
Eibner is one of four players from the SEC represented on the list, the highest number for any conference in the nation. The Ohio Valley Conference is second with three players.
In addition to its recognition of Eibner, the College Baseball Foundation has also named Razorbacks Drew Smyly and Tim Carver to other award watch lists. Smyly is a quarterfinalist for the Pitcher of the Year Award, while Carver is in the running for the Brooks Wallace Shortstop of the Year. These awards will be handed out July 2 at the College Baseball Awards Show in Lubbock, Texas.
Download: Olerud Watch-May 10.pdf
