T.J. Collett Named to Bobby Bragan Award Watch List

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky first baseman T.J. Collett has been named to the 2020 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats watch list, the award unveiled this week. The Bragan Award, created by the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation, is based on performance at the plate, academics and personal integrity.
 
The list consists of 36 players nationwide, a departure from previous years when the award annually was given to the top collegiate hitter in Texas and then regionally in 2019.
 
“Our first national watch list for the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award presented by SR Bats is outstanding.” said Tracy Taylor, executive director of the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award.  “Going national is a big step for us and to have the quality of student-athletes nominated by their programs was extremely rewarding. It is a testament to Bobby Bragan and his vision that his foundation and namesake award are thriving.”
  
Collett has long been known for his prodigious power, swatting double-digit home runs each of the past two seasons despite battling a myriad of injuries, including one that caused him to miss the final 20 games of the 2018 season. He needs 13 hits to join Kentucky’s career 100-hit club and 40 percent of his career hits have gone for extra bases.
 
The senior from Terre Haute, Indiana is expected to play first base this season after primarily serving as the team’s DH his first three seasons. He turned in a tremendous summer, shining in the prestigious Cape Cod League while being named to the All-Cape Cod League Team and a league all-star. His nine home runs tied for the league lead and were the most in the CCBL since 2012, and he ranked third with 32 RBI. Collett also competed in the Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans College Home Run Derby.
 
Collett clubbed 10 home runs and drove in a team-high 40 runs for UK last season, earning SEC Player of the Week honors after belting game-winning home runs in both ends of a doubleheader at No. 10 Ole Miss on April 14. He also hit the first home run in Kentucky Proud Park history and one of just two round-trippers to centerfield in the new park.
 
In addition to his on-field ability, Collett has twice been named to the SEC Community Service Team for his work in the community and was recently announced as a 2020 inductee into UK Athletics’ Frank G. Ham Society of Character.