TYLER -- UT Tyler third baseman T.J. Martin has been awarded the 2012 American Baseball Coaches Association Gold Glove Award, which was announced earlier this Summer.  Martin joins just eight other NCAA Division-III players named as winners of the prestigious award.

"Obviously winning this award means a lot to me.  To be recognized for the hard work I put in each day is truly special", said Martin.  "Even though this is an individual award, my teammates and coaches deserve a lot of the credit for the encouragment and motivation they gave me."

Martin, who will be a senior this upcoming season, was stellar in the field for the Patriots in 2012, leading the team with 152 putouts and boasting a .955 fielding percentage.

The third-baseman from Plano was named first-team All-American Southwest Conference after his junior season, and garnered First Round MVP honors in the ASC-playoffs against Hardin-Simmons.  In the series, Martin made numerous plays that wowed the crowed and prevented multiple runs from scoring.

The ABCA Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position from high school to the Major Leagues.  The NCAA D-3 Award is voted on by a nine-member committee, made up of head coaches from around the nation.

Past Gold Glove winners from the major leagues include Ivan Rodriguez, Brooks Robinson, Willie Mays, Ozzie Smith and Adrian Beltre.

Martin is the first-player in UT Tyler program history to win the prestigious award, which fans can see at halftime of the UT Tyler men's basketball game on December 6 at 7:30 pm when Martin will be presented with the award.  Fans will also have an opportunity to have their picture taken with the award during the game.  

2012 ABCA NCAA D3 Gold Glove Team: