Feb. 14, 2013
DURHAM, N.C. -- USA Baseball announced its preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List on Thursday, marking the organization's first step toward identifying the top amateur baseball player in the country. Sponsored by Major League Baseball, the Golden Spikes Award will be presented in 2013 for the 36th time.
Five Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes are included, including 2012 ACC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year Carlos Rodon of NC State and his teammate, shortstop Trea Turner. North Carolina pitcher Kent Emanuel and third baseman Colin Moran also made the list, as did Georgia Tech pitcher Buck Farmer.
The Watch List features 50 of the nation's top amateur players, and it will be a "rolling" list to ensure that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the Golden Spikes Award. The Golden Spikes Award trophy will be awarded live on MLB Network for the third year in a row, with a live presentation scheduled during "The Rundown" on Friday, July 19. Through USA Baseball's partnership with Major League Baseball Advanced Media (MLBAM), the presentation will also be simulcast with a live stream available from GoldenSpikesAward.com and USABaseball.com.
Headlining the 2013 Watch List are seven athletes who finished among the 30 semifinalists for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award, including Mark Appel (RHP, Senior, Stanford), Kris Bryant (OF/3B/1B, Junior, San Diego), Marco Gonzales (LHP, Junior, Gonzaga), D.J. Peterson (3B/1B, Junior, New Mexico), Nick Petree (RHP, RS Junior, Missouri State), Raph Rhymes (OF, Senior, Louisiana State) and NC States’ Rodon.
"2013 marks the 36th year USA Baseball has presented the Golden Spikes Award, and with two of last year's finalists on this year's preseason Watch List, it should be another exciting year for amateur baseball," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball executive director/CEO. "We look forward to an exciting start to the college baseball season this weekend and to following all of these players in the coming months."
Following the release of a second, 60-player Watch List on Thursday, May 2, USA Baseball officials will announce the 30 semifinalists for the 2013 Golden Spikes Award on Tuesday, May 28. The list of 30 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media that closely follow the amateur game, select professional baseball personnel and current USA Baseball staff, representing a group of more than 200 voters in total.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2013. Tuesday, May 28, marks the day when amateur baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalist on GoldenSpikesAward.com. As part of this selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list of 30 names. On Tuesday, June 4, USA Baseball will announce the three finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
Beginning with Florida State's Buster Posey in New York in 2008, USA Baseball partnered with MLBAM to create GoldenSpikesAward.com, and until 2011, streamed its annual presentations online live from MLB All-Star FanFest. Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State won the award in 2009 in St. Louis, and Bryce Harper of Southern Nevada took home the trophy from Anaheim, Calif., in 2010. UCLA's Trevor Bauer was the 2011 winner and Florida's Mike Zunino won the 2012 award. Both accepted the trophy as part of live presentations in MLB Network's Studio 42.
Other past winners of the Golden Spikes Award include Terry Francona (1980), Will Clark (1985), Robin Ventura (1988), Jason Varitek (1994), J.D. Drew (1997), Mark Prior (2001), Jered Weaver (2004), Tim Lincecum (2006) and David Price (2007).
Important 2013 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award dates include:
- Thursday, Feb. 14: 50-man preseason Watch List released, shaped by USA Baseball officials and advisors
- Thursday, May 2: 60-man midseason Watch List released, shaped by USA Baseball officials and advisors
- Tuesday, May 28: 30 semifinalists announced, selected by USA Baseball officials; semifinalist voting begins; voters select three
- Friday, May 31: Deadline to vote for finalists, 5 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, June 4: Three finalists announced; finalist voting begins; voters to select one
- Friday, June 14: Deadline to vote for winner, 5 p.m. ET
- Friday, July 19: Live Golden Spikes Award presentation airing on MLB Network
The complete 2013 preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List is as follows:
| Name |
Position |
Class |
School |
Conference |
| Mark Appel |
RHP |
Senior |
Stanford |
Pac-12 |
| Aaron Blair |
RHP |
Junior |
Marshall |
C-USA |
| Kris Bryant |
OF/3B/1B |
Junior |
San Diego |
West Coast |
| Boomer Collins |
OF |
RS Senior |
Dallas Baptist |
WAC |
| Michael Conforto |
OF |
Sophomore |
Oregon State |
Pac-12 |
| Austin Cousino |
OF |
Sophomore |
Kentucky |
SEC |
| Jonathon Crawford |
RHP |
Junior |
Florida |
SEC |
| Josh Deezse |
RHP/DH |
Junior |
Ohio State |
Big 10 |
| Kent Emanuel |
LHP |
Junior |
North Carolina |
ACC |
| Phillip Ervin |
OF |
Junior |
Samford |
SoCon |
| Buck Farmer |
RHP |
Senior |
Georgia Tech |
ACC |
| Johnny Field |
OF/INF |
Junior |
Arizona |
Pac-12 |
| Adam Frazier |
SS |
Junior |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
| Scott Frazier |
RHP |
Junior |
Pepperdine |
West Coast |
| Mitchell Garver |
C |
Senior |
New Mexico |
Mountain West |
| Marco Gonzales |
LHP/1B |
Junior |
Gonzaga |
West Coast |
| Jonathan Gray |
RHP |
Junior |
Oklahoma |
Big 12 |
| Conrad Gregor |
1B |
Junior |
Vanderbilt |
SEC |
| Eric Jagielo |
3B/OF |
Junior |
Notre Dame |
Big East |
| JaCoby Jones |
2B/OF |
Junior |
Louisiana State |
SEC |
| Aaron Judge |
OF |
Junior |
Fresno State |
Mountain West |
| Jared King |
OF |
Junior |
Kansas State |
Big 12 |
| Andrew Knapp |
C |
Junior |
California |
Pac-12 |
| Corey Knebel |
RHP |
Junior |
Texas |
Big 12 |
| Corey Littrell |
LHP |
Junior |
Kentucky |
SEC |
| Michael Lorenzen |
OF/RHP |
Junior |
Cal State Fullerton |
Big West |
| Sean Manaea |
LHP |
Junior |
Indiana State |
Missouri Valley |
| Colin Moran |
3B |
Junior |
North Carolina |
ACC |
| Aaron Nola |
RHP |
Sophomore |
Louisiana State |
SEC |
| Michael O'Neill |
OF |
Junior |
Michigan |
Big 10 |
| Dillon Overton |
LHP |
Junior |
Oklahoma |
Big 12 |
| D.J. Peterson |
3B/1B |
Junior |
New Mexico |
Mountain West |
| Nick Petree |
RHP |
RS Junior |
Missouri State |
Missouri Valley |
| Adam Plutko |
RHP |
Junior |
UCLA |
Pac-12 |
| Brian Ragira |
1B |
Junior |
Stanford |
Pac-12 |
| Hunter Renfroe |
OF |
Junior |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
| Raph Rhymes |
OF |
Senior |
Louisiana State |
SEC |
| George Roberts |
RHP/INF |
Senior |
Kent State |
Mid-American |
| Carlos Rodon |
LHP |
Sophomore |
NC State |
ACC |
| Jimmie Sherfy |
RHP |
Junior |
Oregon |
Pac-12 |
| Ryne Stanek |
RHP |
Junior |
Arkansas |
SEC |
| Trea Turner |
SS |
Sophomore |
NC State |
ACC |
| Konner Wade |
RHP |
Junior |
Arizona |
Pac-12 |
| Michael Wagner |
RHP |
Junior |
San Diego |
WCC |
| Bobby Wahl |
RHP |
Junior |
Mississippi |
SEC |
| Ben Wetzler |
LHP |
Junior |
Oregon State |
Pac-12 |
| Trevor Williams |
RHP |
Junior |
Arizona State |
Pac-12 |
| Austin Wilson |
OF |
Junior |
Stanford |
Pac-12 |
| Tom Windle |
LHP |
Junior |
Minnesota |
Big 10 |
| Kevin Ziomek |
LHP |
Junior |
Vanderbilt |
SEC |
