Big 12

WVU Baseball’s JJ Wetherholt, Blaine Traxel Rack Up Big 12 Weekly Awards

Published

12 months ago

May 2, 2023

Photo credit to WVSN's Kelsie LeRose

It’s becoming a regular occurrence this season, but the WVU baseball program is home to multiple Big 12 weekly award winners again.

For the second time this season, JJ Wetherholt and Blaine Traxel were named Big 12 Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. Traxel also received the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honor as well.

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫, 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫
A big week for @jj_wetherholt and @moneytraxel12 nets them Big 12 honors!
📰https://t.co/rpk8niprb4 #HailWV pic.twitter.com/8mwsA1y39r
— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) May 2, 2023

West Virginia was 4-0 last week, beating Penn State before sweeping conference opponent Baylor in Waco. Wetherholt’s big week came upon his return to the lineup after missing a few games. He hit .529 (9-for-17) with three home runs, a triple, nine RBI, and eight runs scored while putting up a 1.726 OPS.

The Mars, Pennsylvania native started his week with a grand slam and five RBI against the Nittany Lions. he then hit a home run in each win over the Bears. Wetherholt is now tied for the team lead in home runs with 11, becoming the first player in program history to have double-digit home runs and 30 stolen bases.

JJ Wetherholt’s Return Powers WVU Baseball 14-2 Over PSU for Fifth Straight Win

For Traxel, these awards come on the heels of his complete-game shutout win in Waco. He struck out six, walked none, and allowed just six hits for his nation-leading fifth complete game of the season. Traxel now has 10 complete games in his college career after throwing five at CSUN before transferring to WVU.

The Mountaineers now own seven Big 12 weekly awards this season. Wetherholt and Traxel both won on Feb. 27, freshman Robby Porco claimed Pitcher of the Week April 10 and Tevin Tucker won Player of the Week on April 24.

WVU baseball’s next game is on Wednesday in the Backyard Brawl, a rematch of the Mountaineers win at PNC Park a couple weeks ago. First pitch from Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark is scheduled for 6:30 pm.