COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M junior outfielder Nick Banks was one of 50 players tabbed to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list released by USA Baseball on Tuesday.
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The Golden Spikes Award is awarded to the top amateur baseball player in the country. Sponsored by Major League Baseball, and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the award will be presented on June 30 in Los Angeles.
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In 2015, Banks earned All-America honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (third team) and D1Baseball.com (third team) as a sophomore. The Tomball, Texas native also garnered All-SEC Second Team status in 2015. He batted .364 with 51 runs, 11 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 48 RBI and nine stolen bases as a sophomore.
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Entering the 2016 campaign, Banks has earned preseason All-America recognition from Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball (first team), D1Baseball.com (second team) and Baseball America (second team).
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Banks is one of 11 SEC players on the watch list.
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Starting on April 11 and ending April 17, fans will be able to nominate their favorite players for the Golden Spikes Award for the first time ever prior to the reveal of Midseason Watch List on April 20. The semifinalists list will be sent to a voting body consisting of past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media that follow the amateur game closely, select professional baseball personnel, current USA Baseball staff and the 38 previous winners of the award, representing a group of more than 200 voters.
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Fan voting will continue to be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2016, starting on June 1 with the naming of the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists. Amateur baseball fans across the country will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalists at GoldenSpikesAward.com. On June 13, USA Baseball will announce the finalists and voting will begin that day and last until June 25.
Texas A&M is coming off a 2015 campaign in which they finished 50-14, the highest win total for the Aggies since 1999. They extended their school-record string of consecutive NCAA Championship appearances to nine seasons and claimed their seventh overall NCAA Regional title. The Maroon and White started the 2015 season with an SEC-record 24-game win streak.
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Rob Childress' Aggies begin the 2016 season on February 19 as they host the Hofstra Pride in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
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The Golden Spikes Award is awarded to the top amateur baseball player in the country. Sponsored by Major League Baseball, and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the award will be presented on June 30 in Los Angeles.
Â
In 2015, Banks earned All-America honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (third team) and D1Baseball.com (third team) as a sophomore. The Tomball, Texas native also garnered All-SEC Second Team status in 2015. He batted .364 with 51 runs, 11 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 48 RBI and nine stolen bases as a sophomore.
Â
Entering the 2016 campaign, Banks has earned preseason All-America recognition from Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball (first team), D1Baseball.com (second team) and Baseball America (second team).
Â
Banks is one of 11 SEC players on the watch list.
Â
Starting on April 11 and ending April 17, fans will be able to nominate their favorite players for the Golden Spikes Award for the first time ever prior to the reveal of Midseason Watch List on April 20. The semifinalists list will be sent to a voting body consisting of past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media that follow the amateur game closely, select professional baseball personnel, current USA Baseball staff and the 38 previous winners of the award, representing a group of more than 200 voters.
Â
Fan voting will continue to be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2016, starting on June 1 with the naming of the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists. Amateur baseball fans across the country will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalists at GoldenSpikesAward.com. On June 13, USA Baseball will announce the finalists and voting will begin that day and last until June 25.
Texas A&M is coming off a 2015 campaign in which they finished 50-14, the highest win total for the Aggies since 1999. They extended their school-record string of consecutive NCAA Championship appearances to nine seasons and claimed their seventh overall NCAA Regional title. The Maroon and White started the 2015 season with an SEC-record 24-game win streak.
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Rob Childress' Aggies begin the 2016 season on February 19 as they host the Hofstra Pride in a three-game series on Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.