Ruhlman Named Olson Award Semifinalist
6/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 3, 2014
OMAHA, NEB. - Junior D.J. Ruhlman (Belle Mead, N.J.) has been named a semifinalist for the 2014 Gregg Olson Award, presented by Toolshed Sports. Through hard work, strength of mind and determination the award honors college baseball's "Breakout Player of the Year".
Ruhlman had been named to the award's initial watch list of 80 candidates, but now that list has been trimmed to only 36 semifinalists.
The award is named after former Auburn Tiger star pitcher Gregg Olson, who became one of the top collegiate players in the nation after an initial season filled with only mixed success. Olson went on to become a two-time All American, first round draft pick, American League Rookie of the Year and MLB All Star. Like Olson, these players have elevated their game to an elite level and in many instances their team has mirrored their success as a direct result.
Initial nominations were made by sports information/media contacts from schools across the country. The finalists and winner will be determined by an independent panel.
Semifinalists are slated to be named, Friday, May 30th at the start of NCAA Regional play and the finalists are scheduled to be announced on Friday, June 6th at the beginning of Super Regional action. The winner of the 2014 Gregg Olson Award will be named in Omaha, Nebraska during the College World Series which is to be held this season at TD Ameritrade Park from June 14-June 24/25.
Perhaps no Seton Hall player in recent memory had a greater "breakout season" than Ruhlman did in 2014. After batting just .159 in primarily backup roles in his first two seasons in South Orange, the shortstop cemented himself as one of the BIG EAST Conference's elite hitters this season. Recently named BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year, Ruhlman has been a force in the middle of the Pirates' batting order all season long. A candidate for the Brooks Wallace National Shortstop of the Year Award, he led the BIG EAST in batting average for most of the season, before dropping to second with a .351 batting average over the last couple of weeks. Ruhlman was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll three times and finished among the conference's top-five in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits and stolen bases. Possessing a unique blend of power and speed, Ruhlman belted three home runs, third-most on the team, and stole 15 bases, second-most in the BIG EAST. Defensively, Ruhlman took over as the everyday shortstop at the start of the season and committed the fewest errors at that position of any regular in the BIG EAST.
