FROM USA BASEBALL RELEASE
DURHAM, N.C. — USA Baseball announced Tuesday the names of the 30 semifinalists for the 2013 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. This marks the 36th consecutive year that the award has been presented to the nation’s top amateur baseball player.
GoldenSpikesAward.com — powered by MLB Advanced Media — will once again be the online home for the award. The website features content devoted exclusively to the GSA, including news, voting history, past winner photo galleries, and photographs and biographical information for the 2013 semifinalists. Fans can follow online at GoldenSpikesAward.com as the list of 30 players is narrowed to three finalists on Tuesday, June 4.
For the third year in a row, the GSA will be awarded live on MLB Network. On Friday, July 19, the three finalists for the award will be at the live presentation, which will air during The Rundown – at 2 p.m. ET – featuring interviews, video highlights and the announcement of the winner. The presentation will also be simulcast live on GoldenSpikesAward.com and USABaseball.com.
The 2013 semifinalists include five players that were named GSA semifinalists in 2012, including Mark Appel (Stanford), a 2012 finalist. Joining Appel as repeat semifinalists are Kris Bryant (San Diego), Marco Gonzales (Gonzaga), D.J. Peterson (New Mexico) and Nick Petree (Missouri State).
The SEC leads 14 different conferences represented on the list with eight semifinalists, highlighted by three from Louisiana State and three from Vanderbilt. The Atlantic Coast Conference is represented by four players and the Pac-12 earned three nominations.
Two freshmen were included on the list in Alex Bregman (Louisiana State) and Thomas Eshelman (Cal State Fullerton), while five sophomores, 16 juniors, one redshirt junior and six seniors round out the semifinalists.
The list includes several NCAA Division I statistical leaders including batting average (Mike Tauchman; Bradley), homeruns (Kris Bryant; San Diego), RBIs (Colin Moran; North Carolina), ERA (David Berg; UCLA) and complete games (Kerry Doane; East Tennessee State).
In 2007, USA Baseball instituted a new selection and balloting procedure for the most prestigious award in amateur baseball, and it will follow the same model again in 2013. After working closely with sports information directors and amateur baseball media across the country to determine watch lists and the top-performing athletes, a committee voted to determine the 30 semifinalists. A ballot featuring the names and accomplishments of the 30 semifinalists will now be sent to a group of more than 220 voters which will select the three finalists and eventual winner. Beginning today fans will also be able to vote on the 2013 GSA by visiting GoldenSpikesAward.com and selecting their favorite amateur player.
“USA Baseball congratulates each of the 30 student-athletes and their respective baseball programs,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO. “The move to MLB Network two years ago was a significant step toward increasing exposure for the award among players, schools and fans, and we look forward to building on that excitement for 2013. We wish all of the semifinalists the best of luck.”
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’s The Rundown and simulcast on GoldenSpikesAward.com and USABaseball.com
A complete list of the 30 2013 Golden Spikes Award semifinalists is as follows:
Name, Position, Class, School, Conference
Mark Appel, RHP, Senior, Stanford, Pac-12
Tyler Beede, RHP, Sophomore, Vanderbilt, SEC
David Berg, RHP, Sophomore, UCLA, Pac-12
Alex Bregman, IF, Freshman, Louisiana State, SEC
Kris Bryant, UTIL, Junior, San Diego, West Coast
Kerry Doane, RHP, Senior, East Tennessee State, Atlantic Sun
Hunter Dozier, IF, Senior, Stephen F. Austin, Southland
Kent Emanuel, LHP, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
Thomas Eshelman, RHP, Freshman, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Zane Evans, C/RHP, Junior, Georgia Tech, ACC
Marco Gonzales, LHP, Junior, Gonzaga, West Coast
Jonathan Gray, RHP, Junior, Oklahoma, Big 12
Eric Jagielo, IF/OF, Junior, Notre Dame, Big East
Mason Katz, IF, Sr, Louisiana State, SEC
Tony Kemp, OF, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
Michael Lorenzen, OF/RHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Kyle McGowin, RHP, Sophomore, Savannah State, Mid-Eastern
Colin Moran, IF, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
Aaron Nola, RHP, Sophomore, Louisiana State, SEC
Justin Parr, OF, Senior, Illinois, Big 10
D.J. Peterson, IF, Junior, New Mexico, Mountain West
Nick Petree, RHP, RS Junior, Missouri State, Missouri Valley
Jimmie Sherfy, RHP , Junior, Oregon, Pac-12
Ryne Stanek, RHP, Junior, Arkansas, SEC
Mike Tauchman, OF, Senior, Bradley, Missouri Valley
Jeff Thompson, RHP, Junior, Louisville, Big East
Trea Turner, IF, Sophomore, NC State, ACC
Bobby Wahl, RHP, Junior, Mississippi, SEC
Jimmy Yezzo, IF, Junior, Delaware, Colonial Athletic
Kevin Ziomek, LHP, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
