FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 14, 2014

Contact: Cody Wilcoxson – codywilcoxson@usabaseball.com, (919) 474-8721 x225

USA BASEBALL REVEALS 60-MAN PRESEASON

GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD WATCH LIST

2012 finalist, Carlos Rodon, and 2013 finalist, Tyler Beede, headline watch list

DURHAM, N.C. -- USA Baseball released its 60-man preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list on Friday, launching the organization’s journey to naming the top amateur baseball player in the country on July 17. Sponsored by Major League Baseball, the Golden Spikes Award will be presented in 2014 for the 37th time.

The watch list features 60 of the nation’s top amateur players, and will be a “rolling” list until May 27 -- when the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists are announced -- ensuring that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the award throughout the collegiate and high school seasons.

“USA Baseball is excited to present the Golden Spikes Award for the 37th time in 2014,” said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball’s executive director/CEO. “With two former finalists on the preseason watch list, we look forward to a competitive year across all levels of amateur baseball.”

Headlining the 2014 watch list are the athletes that were previously finalists for the award. NC State left-handed pitcher, Carlos Rodon (Junior), was a finalist for the award in 2012 as a freshman, while Vanderbilt right-hander, Tyler Beede (Junior), was a finalist in 2013.

In addition to the former finalists, five athletes return to the list after being named semifinalists in 2013: David Berg (RHP, Junior, UCLA), Alex Bregman (IF, Sophomore, Louisiana State), Thomas Eshelman (RHP, Sophomore, Cal State Fullerton), Aaron Nola (RHP, Junior, Louisiana State) and Trea Turner (IF, Junior, NC State).

The Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with 13 players named to the watch list. The PAC 12 has 10 players named to the list, while the Atlantic Coast and Big West have eight and six representatives. Cal State Fullerton and Oregon State lead all schools with four representatives each.

Also appearing on the list are seven non-NCAA Division I athletes. Three NCAA Division II athletes appear on the preseason list, headlined by Minnesota State’s Jason Hoppe. Hoppe set the NCAA all-division record for consecutive scoreless innings in 2013 when he fired 55.1 consecutive shutout frames. Also on the list is reigning NCAA Division III pitcher of the year, Chris Haddeland (Linfield), who was named the most valuable player of the 2013 NCAA Division III baseball championships. A trio of high school seniors round out the non-Division I nominations to the list. Bryce Harper (2010) and Alex Fernandez (1990) are the only two non-D1 winners of the award.

On April 10, USA Baseball will release its 50-man midseason watch list, shaped by USA Baseball staff and its committee of amateur baseball experts and media. On May 27, USA Baseball will announce the semifinalists for the 2014 Golden Spikes Award. 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 36 previous winners of the award, representing a group of more than 200 voters.

Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2014. Tuesday, May 27, marks the day when amateur baseball fans across the country will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalists at GoldenSpikesAward.com. As part of this selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list. On Tuesday, June 3, USA Baseball will announce the finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.

Last year, University of San Diego’s infielder, Kris Bryant, took home the prestigious award, joining a group of recent winners that includes Mike Zunino (2012), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Buster Posey (2008).

Other past winners of the Golden Spikes Award include Terry Francona (1980), Will Clark (1985), Jim Abbott (1987), Robin Ventura (1988), Ben McDonald (1989), Jason Varitek (1994), J.D. Drew (1997), Mark Prior (2001), Jered Weaver (2004), Tim Lincecum (2006) and David Price (2007).

Important 2014 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award dates include:

Friday, Feb. 14: 60-man preseason watch list released, shaped by USA Baseball officials and advisors

Thursday, April 10: 50-man midseason watch list released, shaped by USA Baseball officials and advisors

Thursday, May 8: 30-man watch list, shaped by USA Baseball officials and advisors

Tuesday, May 27: Semifinalists announced, selected by USA Baseball officials; semifinalist voting begins; voters to select three

Friday, May 30: Deadline to vote for finalists, 5 p.m. ET

Tuesday, June 3: Finalists announced; finalist voting begins; voters to select one

Friday, June 13: Deadline to vote for winner, 5 p.m. ET

Thursday, July 17: Golden Spikes Award presentation

The complete 2014 preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list is as follows:

Name, Position, Class, School

Brian Anderson, IF, Junior, Arkansas

Tyler Beede, RHP, Junior, Vanderbilt

David Berg, RHP, Junior, UCLA

Alex Blandino, IF, Junior, Stanford

Skye Bolt, OF, Sophomore, North Carolina

Alex Bregman, IF, Sophomore, Louisiana State

Nick Burdi, RHP, Junior, Louisville

Ryan Burr, RHP, Sophomore, Arizona State

Matt Chapman, IF, Junior, Cal State Fullerton

Kyle Cody, RHP, Sophomore, Kentucky

Michael Cederoth, RHP, Junior, San Diego State

Michael Conforto, OF, Junior, Oregon State

Austin Cousino, OF, Junior, Kentucky

Kevin Cron, IF, Junior, TCU

J.D. Davis, OF/RHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton

Dylan Davis, OF, Junior, Oregon State

Brannon Easterling, RHP, Junior, St. Edward’s

Thomas Eshelman, RHP, Sophomore, Cal State Fullerton

Erick Fedde, RHP, Junior, UNLV

Brandon Finnegan, LHP, Junior, TCU

Derek Fisher, OF, Junior, Virginia

Jack Flaherty, IF/RHP, Senior, Harvard-Westlake (Calif.) HS

Kyle Freeland, LHP, Junior, Evansville

Justin Garza, RHP, Sophomore, Cal State Fullerton

Michael Gettys, OF, Senior, Gainesville (Ga.) HS

Casey Gillaspie, IF, Junior, Wichita State

Grayson Greiner, C, Junior, South Carolina

Chris Haddeland, RHP, Junior, Linfield

Ian Happ, IF, Sophomore, Cincinnati

Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Junior, East Carolina

Jonathan Holder, RHP, Junior, Mississippi State

Jason Hoppe, RHP, Senior, Minnesota State

Matt Imhof, LHP, Junior, Cal Poly

Alex Jackson, C, Senior, Rancho Bernardo (Calif.) HS

Ryan Kellogg, LHP, Sophomore, Arizona State

Ross Kivett, IF, Senior, Kansas State

Zech Lemond, RHP, Sophomore, Rice

Patrick Mazeika, C/OF, Sophomore, Stetson

Daniel Mengden, RHP/C, Texas A&M

Andrew Moore, RHP, Sophomore, Oregon State

Harrison Musgrave, LHP, RS-Junior, West Virginia

Kevin Newman, IF, Sophomore, Arizona

Aaron Nola, RHP, Junior, Louisiana State

Joey Pankake, IF, Junior, South Carolina

Mike Papi, OF, Junior, Virginia

Max Pentecost, C, Junior, Kennesaw State

A.J. Reed, LHP/1B, Junior, Kentucky

Carlos Rodon, LHP, Junior, NC State

Kyle Schwarber, C, Junior, Indiana

Nick Sell, IF, Junior, Seton Hill

Taylor Sparks, IF, Junior, UC Irvine

DJ Stewart, OF, Sophomore, Florida State

Trent Thornton, RHP, Sophomore, North Carolina

Tommy Thorpe, LHP, Junior, Oregon

Sam Travis, IF, Junior, Indiana

Trea Turner, IF, Junior, NC State

Luke Weaver, RHP, Junior, Florida State

Ben Wetzler, LHP, Senior, Oregon State

Mikey White, IF, Sophomore, Alabama

Bradley Zimmer, OF, Junior, San Francisco