Braithwaite, Davis Headline WVU’s All-Big 12 Selections
May 24, 2022 01:02 PM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Fifth-year senior right-handed pitcher Trey Braithwaite and senior outfielder Austin Davis of the West Virginia University baseball team have been named to the 2022 All-Big 12 First Team, while six others also earned all-conference recognition, the conference announced on Tuesday.
Along with Braithwaite and Davis, sophomore catcher McGwire Holbrook was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, while redshirt junior right-hander Noah Short, junior right-hander Jacob Watters, sophomore left-hander Ben Hampton and freshman infielder JJ Wetherholt received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades. Additionally, freshman right-hander Chris Sleeper and Wetherholt each earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.
With the honors, WVU earned multiple first-team selections for the first time since 2014. The squad also has had at least one player on the All-Big 12 Second Team each year since joining the conference in 2013.
The all-conference honor marks the second for Davis, who was an honorable-mention selection in 2021. It's also the second for Hampton, who was a member of the 2021 all-freshman team, and the first for the rest of the WVU contingent.
A native of Winchester, Virginia, Braithwaite has a 3-0 record with a 1.54 ERA and eight saves in 21 appearances for the Mountaineers this season. The Navy transfer and NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year candidate has allowed just six earned runs in 35.0 innings of work, totaling 33 strikeouts and 20 walks. Additionally, opponents are hitting just .149 against the right-hander.
Of note, Braithwaite's eight saves sit at No. 3 in the Big 12 this season, as well as tied for No. 2 in WVU's single-season history.
Davis, who hails from Orlando, Florida, co-leads West Virginia with a .336 average at the plate this spring. He has hit four home runs, 11 doubles and one triple with 26 RBI and 55 runs scored.
Davis has started all 53 games for WVU this season and ranks No. 3 in the Big 12 in stolen bases, with 28, as well as No. 8 in hits (72) and No. 10 in runs (55). Additionally, Davis ranks No. 2 in WVU's all-time record book with 63 career stolen bases.
Holbrook is hitting .325 for West Virginia this season. The Orlando, Florida, native has homered six times with 12 doubles and 42 RBI. He also has scored 27 runs in 52 games played, including 45 starts. Additionally, he hit safely in 24 of his final 28 games to close the regular season.
A native of Scott Depot, West Virginia, Short is 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 29.1 innings this season. The right-hander has appeared in 23 games – all out of the bullpen – to issue 33 strikeouts with 12 walks. He also has two saves this season. Additionally, he has held opponents to just a .221 clip against him this spring.
Watters, who hails from Rocky Gap, Virginia, is 3-6 with a 5.65 ERA in 57.1 innings of work in 2022. After seven appearances out of the bullpen to begin the year, the right-hander has made 10 starts on the mound. For the year, he has 72 strikeouts, including a career-high 15 against Texas on May 7, with 36 walks while allowing 36 earned runs.
A native of De Pere, Wisconsin, Hampton is 8-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 14 starts this season. He has tallied eight quality starts for the Mountaineers and has fanned at least five batters in 13 of his 14 outings. He also has limited his walks to one or fewer in nine of his starts. In all, he has 85 strikeouts, good for No. 5 in the Big 12, with 23 walks in 78.0 innings of work. Additionally, his eight wins are tied for No. 2 in the league.
Wetherholt is hitting .308 with four home runs, 17 doubles, a triple and 36 RBI in 52 games played. The Mars, Pennsylvania, native also has 48 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in his debut season. Additionally, he has 19 multi-hit games with 10 multi-RBI performances on his freshman resume. His 17 doubles are good for No. 8 in the Big 12.
Sleeper, a Henrietta, New York, native is 3-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 18 appearances, including four starts, this season. He has 28 strikeouts and has only allowed 17 earned runs in 42.1 innings of work, while limiting opponents to just a .237 average against him.
Sixth-seeded West Virginia opens play at the 2022 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship on Wednesday, May 25, against No. 3-seed Oklahoma. First pitch at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Along with Braithwaite and Davis, sophomore catcher McGwire Holbrook was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team, while redshirt junior right-hander Noah Short, junior right-hander Jacob Watters, sophomore left-hander Ben Hampton and freshman infielder JJ Wetherholt received All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades. Additionally, freshman right-hander Chris Sleeper and Wetherholt each earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.
With the honors, WVU earned multiple first-team selections for the first time since 2014. The squad also has had at least one player on the All-Big 12 Second Team each year since joining the conference in 2013.
The all-conference honor marks the second for Davis, who was an honorable-mention selection in 2021. It's also the second for Hampton, who was a member of the 2021 all-freshman team, and the first for the rest of the WVU contingent.
A native of Winchester, Virginia, Braithwaite has a 3-0 record with a 1.54 ERA and eight saves in 21 appearances for the Mountaineers this season. The Navy transfer and NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year candidate has allowed just six earned runs in 35.0 innings of work, totaling 33 strikeouts and 20 walks. Additionally, opponents are hitting just .149 against the right-hander.
Of note, Braithwaite's eight saves sit at No. 3 in the Big 12 this season, as well as tied for No. 2 in WVU's single-season history.
Davis, who hails from Orlando, Florida, co-leads West Virginia with a .336 average at the plate this spring. He has hit four home runs, 11 doubles and one triple with 26 RBI and 55 runs scored.
Davis has started all 53 games for WVU this season and ranks No. 3 in the Big 12 in stolen bases, with 28, as well as No. 8 in hits (72) and No. 10 in runs (55). Additionally, Davis ranks No. 2 in WVU's all-time record book with 63 career stolen bases.
Holbrook is hitting .325 for West Virginia this season. The Orlando, Florida, native has homered six times with 12 doubles and 42 RBI. He also has scored 27 runs in 52 games played, including 45 starts. Additionally, he hit safely in 24 of his final 28 games to close the regular season.
A native of Scott Depot, West Virginia, Short is 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 29.1 innings this season. The right-hander has appeared in 23 games – all out of the bullpen – to issue 33 strikeouts with 12 walks. He also has two saves this season. Additionally, he has held opponents to just a .221 clip against him this spring.
Watters, who hails from Rocky Gap, Virginia, is 3-6 with a 5.65 ERA in 57.1 innings of work in 2022. After seven appearances out of the bullpen to begin the year, the right-hander has made 10 starts on the mound. For the year, he has 72 strikeouts, including a career-high 15 against Texas on May 7, with 36 walks while allowing 36 earned runs.
A native of De Pere, Wisconsin, Hampton is 8-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 14 starts this season. He has tallied eight quality starts for the Mountaineers and has fanned at least five batters in 13 of his 14 outings. He also has limited his walks to one or fewer in nine of his starts. In all, he has 85 strikeouts, good for No. 5 in the Big 12, with 23 walks in 78.0 innings of work. Additionally, his eight wins are tied for No. 2 in the league.
Wetherholt is hitting .308 with four home runs, 17 doubles, a triple and 36 RBI in 52 games played. The Mars, Pennsylvania, native also has 48 runs scored and 14 stolen bases in his debut season. Additionally, he has 19 multi-hit games with 10 multi-RBI performances on his freshman resume. His 17 doubles are good for No. 8 in the Big 12.
Sleeper, a Henrietta, New York, native is 3-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 18 appearances, including four starts, this season. He has 28 strikeouts and has only allowed 17 earned runs in 42.1 innings of work, while limiting opponents to just a .237 average against him.
Sixth-seeded West Virginia opens play at the 2022 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship on Wednesday, May 25, against No. 3-seed Oklahoma. First pitch at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUBaseball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballSteve Sabins | Oct. 29
Wednesday, October 29
Kentucky TV Highlights (NCAA Clemson Regional Final) | June 1
Monday, June 02
Clemson TV Highlights (NCAA Clemson Regional) | May 31
Saturday, May 31
BSB: Clemson Regional Game 1 Recap (vs. Kentucky)
Saturday, May 31
