Texas Tech freshman shortstop Linkin Garcia is crushing it early in 2026, hitting .400 with 3 HR and 20 RBI to earn Brooks Wallace Award watchlist honors.
Texas Tech baseball may have found its next star in freshman shortstop Linkin Garcia. The Red Raiders’ young infielder is off to a scorching start in the 2026 college baseball season, and the national spotlight is already finding him.
Garcia has been named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watchlist, which honors the best shortstop in college baseball each year.
For a freshman barely settling into his college career, Garcia is playing like a veteran.
Through his first 11 games with Texas Tech, the Huntington Beach, California native is batting .400, launching three home runs and driving in 20 RBIs.
His production has made him the most dangerous run producer in the Red Raiders' lineup early in the season.
His numbers certainly jump off the page. Garcia has racked up 17 runs scored and boasts an impressive 1.183 OPS, showing both power and consistency at the plate.
His 20 RBIs lead Texas Tech and rank among the top totals in the Big 12 Conference, where he currently sits fourth in runs batted in.
He’s not just driving in runs either. Garcia also ranks seventh in batting average in the Big 12 and third in total runs scored, proving he can impact games in multiple ways.
The Brooks Wallace Award Watchlist includes 100 of the best shortstops in the country, making Garcia’s inclusion even more impressive, considering he’s only weeks into his college career.
The award carries special significance in Lubbock. It’s named after Brooks Wallace, a legendary Texas Tech shortstop who starred for the program from 1977 to 1980. Wallace’s legacy remains deeply tied to Red Raider baseball, with his No. 22 jersey retired by the program.
For Garcia, the recognition is just the beginning. Texas Tech now turns its attention to a 15-game homestand, beginning with a weekend series against Penn State at Rip Griffin Park.
If Garcia keeps swinging like this, the Brooks Wallace conversation may only be getting started.