MACON, Ga. – Mercer University sophomore Kyle Lewis was named one of 10 finalists for the 2015 Gregg Olson Award presented by Toolshed Sports on Tuesday. The annual award honors college baseball's breakout player of the year.
The Olson Award has been developed to honor college baseball's success stories and showcase players like former Auburn star Gregg Olson, who raised the level of their game through hard work, strength of mind and determination. Eligible players include those who have been omitted from major publication's preseason All American prognostications, but finished among the top amateur baseball players in the nation with an impressive season in 2015.
Lewis burst onto the scene in his first campaign as a full-time starter, putting together one of the best individual seasons at the plate since former Mercer star Jacob Tanis. The 2015 Southern Conference Player of the Year fell just shy of the league's triple crown in 2015, topping the conference in batting average (.367) and home runs (17) while finishing fifth in RBIs (56).
The Snellville, Ga., product earned Louisville Slugger Second Team All-America recognition, becoming the fourth Bear in the last four years to earn the honor. He also led the SoCon in slugging percentage and total bases, while posting 28 multiple-hit performances and 15 multiple-RBI efforts this season.
The winner of the 2015 Gregg Olson Award will be named in Omaha, Neb., during the 2015 NCAA College World Series which is to be held this season at TD Ameritrade Park from June 13-23/24.
