ChrisWade

• 2008 Freshman All-America, SS (Louisville Slugger)

Outlook
One of the better all-around shortstops in the SEC, Wade returns after earning freshman All-America honors in 2008 … Led the SEC in doubles a year ago, cranking out 24 two baggers and ranking fourth on the club with 51 RBI … Hit five homers, including UK’s only two grand slams, in 2008 … Began the preseason of 2008 competing for the starting job and his defensive skill set earned him the full-time shortstop position, where his offensive output came as an added bonus … Started all 63 games at shortstop in 2008 … Owns the school record for sacrifices in a season (20).

Summer
Played in the Northwoods League, teaming with Clint Tilford and Troy Frazier … Batted .228 (37-for-162) in 44 games, ripping three doubles, one triple, one homer and 21 RBI … Drew 23 walks to just 13 strikeouts, earning a .337 on-base percentage … Stole 14-of-14 bases on the summer.

2008
Freshman All-America selection at shortstop … Led the SEC in doubles (24) … Hit .296 (67-for-226) with five homers and 51 RBI, while starting all 63 games at shortstop … Fielded .944 on the year, ranking third in the league in assists and 11th in the SEC in double plays … Registered 19 multi-hit games, 14 multi-RBI games, running up a 13 game hit streak … Hit UK’s only two grand slams of the season, one vs. Purdue and one at South Carolina … 13-game hit streak came early in the season, which saw average climb to .364 … Hit .259 in SEC games, with two homers and 15 RBI … Stole 6-of-8 bases on the year …Totaled four RBI three times … Had four three-hit games … Had an average above .300 after 56 of UK’s 63 games … Set the school record for sac bunts in a season, a total of 20, shattering the previous record of 14 held by Ryan Wilkes.

2007
Redshirted season.

High School
Four-year letterman for coach Keith Galloway at Lexington Christian Academy … Batted .346 with 36 hits, 36 runs scored, five doubles, 17 RBI, and 14 stolen bases as a junior … Batted .388 with 38 hits, 32 runs scored, 12 doubles, four home runs, 21 RBI and 14 stolen bases as a senior … Named first-team All-City senior year … Won the Gold Glove award at LCA during senior and sophomore years … Selected to participate in the East-West All-Star game … Led team to 2005 State Championship as a junior … Two-time member of the All-“A” State Tournament team (2005,’06) … Named to the third-team All-City as a junior … Led basketball team in scoring as a junior … Named Player of the Game during All-“A” State basketball Tournament … Named to the All-“A” basketball All-Tournament team during sophomore and junior seasons … Named academic All-State for four consecutive years … Named to the National Honor Roll and LCA Honor Roll … Member of the Who’s Who Among High School Students.

Personal
Full name is Thomas Christopher Wade … Born September 25, 1987 … Son of Kent and Brynn Wade … Has two older sisters, Kelley (26) and Kacey (24) … Comes from an athletic family as mother played tennis at Transylvania, sister Kelly played basketball and soccer at Lipscomb University, sister Kacey also played soccer at Lipscomb … Cousin of former UK standout and current MLB player Andy Green … Also a cousin of Doug Flynn, former Kentucky star and Major League infielder.