Feb. 17, 2009
DURHAM, N.C. - Texas A&M senior first baseman Luke Anders (College Station, Texas) was named to the preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list, USA Baseball announced Tuesday.
Sponsored by Major League Baseball, the Golden Spikes Award will be presented in 2009 for the 32nd time and marks the organization's first step toward identifying the top player in college baseball. The watch list features 50 of the nation's top collegiate talents, and it will be a "rolling" list to ensure that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the Golden Spikes Award.
Anders, a two-time All-Big 12 and All-Midwest Region selection, hit .349 with 58 RBI and a team-high 16 home runs in '08. The Aggies' leading returning hitter in '09, he also led last year's squad and the Big 12 in both slugging percentage (.660) and on-base percentage (.486). Anders is one of five Big 12 players on the list and the only position player selected from the league, joining pitchers Kendal Volz (Baylor), Kyle Gibson (Missouri), and Andrew Oliver and Tyler Lyons (Oklahoma State).
"We're very pleased to announce the 50 members of the preseason watch list for the 2009 Golden Spikes Award," said Paul Seiler, Executive Director/CEO of USA Baseball. "The talent in college baseball is growing exponentially and to see quality players such as these recognized for this prestigious award speaks highly in regards to the caliber of athletes playing the game of baseball today."
On May 26, USA Baseball officials will cut the watch list of players to 30 names. The final list of 30 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors, and current USA Baseball staff - close to 150 voters in total.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2009. May 26 will also mark the day when college baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player for the Golden Spikes Award on www.goldenspikesaward.com. As part of this selection process all voters will be asked to choose five players from the list of 30 names. On June 2, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
The 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award will be presented nationally July 15 on an award show via live telecast from St. Louis in conjunction with the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Weekend Festivities.
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), David Price (2007), and last year's winner Buster Posey (2008).
For more information, please visit www.goldenspikesaward.com.
2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Important Dates
• Friday, February 20 - NCAA baseball season opens • Tuesday, May 26 - 30 semifinalists announced • Tuesday, June 2 - Five finalists announced • Tuesday, July 14 - 2009 MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis • Wednesday, July 15 - Golden Spikes Award presentation live from St. Louis
2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Watch List
Name School Pos Class Jason Stoffel Arizona RHP Jr. Jason Kipnis Arizona State OF Jr. Mike Leake Arizona State RHP/IF Jr. Kendal Volz Baylor RHP Jr. Josh Fellhauer Cal State Fullerton OF Jr. Blake Smith California OF/RHP Jr. Brett Jackson California OF Jr. Shane Davis Canisius LHP So. Rob Lyerly Charlotte OF/1B Jr. Scott Woodward Coastal Carolina 3B So. Brandon Sizemore College of Charleston 2B Sr. Cory Harrilchak Elon OF Sr. Matt den Dekker Florida OF Jr. Robbie Shields Florida Southern SS Jr. Tommy Mendonca Fresno State 3B Jr. Alan Ahmady Fresno State 1B Jr. Rich Poythress Georgia 1B Jr. Derek Dietrich Georgia Tech SS So. Josh Phegley Indiana C Jr. Ben Tootle Jacksonville State RHP Jr. Greg Rohan Kent State 1B Sr. Chris Dominguez Louisville 3B Jr. Justin Marks Louisville LHP Jr. Blake Dean LSU OF Jr. D.J. LeMahieu LSU SS So. Micah Gibbs LSU C So. Nate Lape Marshall OF Sr. Chris Hernandez Miami LHP So. Ryan Jackson Miami SS Jr. Chris Fetter Michigan RHP Sr. Scott Bittle Mississippi RHP Sr. Kyle Gibson Missouri RHP Jr. Tim Clubb Missouri State RHP Jr. A.J. Pollock Notre Dame OF Jr. Andrew Oliver Oklahoma State LHP Jr. Tyler Lyons Oklahoma State LHP Jr. Jerry Sulivan Oral Roberts RHP Jr. Ryan Ortiz Oregon State C Jr. Diego Seastrunk Rice C Jr. A.J. Griffin San Diego RHP Jr. Stephen Strasburg San Diego State RHP Jr. Grant Green Southern Cal SS Jr. Jeff Inman Stanford RHP Jr. Kentrail Davis Tennessee OF So. Luke Anders Texas A&M 1B Sr. Eric Pettis UC Irvine RHP Jr. Alex White UNC RHP Jr. Dustin Ackley UNC 1B Jr. Matt Harvey UNC RHP So. Mike Minor Vanderbilt LHP Jr.