Feb. 16, 2012

2012 Golden Spikes Watch List released

USA Baseball revealed its preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List. The award, sponsored by Major League Baseball, goes to the nation’s top amateur player.

Among the 50 players on the list are six of the 30 semifinalists from a year ago: Daniel Aldrich of College of Charleston, D.J. Baxendale of Arkansas, Adam Brett Walker (right) of Jacksonville, Victor Roache of Georgia Southern, Michael Roth of South Carolina and Mike Zunino of Florida.

The Gators have seven players on the Watch List, while Arizona State, South Carolina, Stanford and Texas A&M each have three. There are 13 players from the SEC, nine from the Pac-12 and seven from the ACC. There are nine seniors, 31 juniors and 10 sophomores.

After a second 60-player Watch List is announced on May 1, the 30 semifinalists will be released on May 29. The three finalists will be announced on June 5, with the award being presented during MLB’s All-Star Week, July 9-13.

2012 Golden Spikes Award Watch List

Name, Position, Class, School, Conference

Daniel Aldrich, OF, RS Sophomore, College of Charleston, SoCon
Mark Appel, RHP, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12
Jeremy Baltz, OF, Junior, St. John's, Big East
D.J. Baxendale, RHP, Junior, Arkansas, SEC
Chris Beck, RHP, Junior, Georgia Southern, SoCon
Adam Brett Walker, OF/C, Junior, Jacksonville, Atlantic Sun
Tony Bryant, RHP, Junior, Oregon State, Pac-12
Jason Coats, OF, Senior, TCU, Mountain West
Bo Cuthbertson, IF, Senior, Southern Utah, Summit
Joey DeMichele, IF, Junior, Arizona State, Pac-12
Josh Dezse, RHP/IF, Sophomore, Ohio State, Big Ten
Kenny Diekroeger, IF, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12
Taylor Dugas, OF, Senior, Alabama, SEC
Josh Elander, C/OF, Junior, TCU, Mountain West
Kent Emanuel, LHP, Sophomore, North Carolina, ACC
Dylan Floro, RHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Nolan Fontana, IF, Junior, Florida, SEC
Kevin Gausman, RHP, Sophomore, LSU, SEC
Kurt Heyer, RHP, Junior, Arizona, Pac-12
Travis Jankowski, OF, Junior, Stony Brook, America East
Brian Johnson, LHP/IF, Junior, Florida, SEC
Branden Kline, RHP, Junior, Virginia, ACC
Corey Knebel, RHP, Sophomore, Texas, Big 12
Austin Kubitza, RHP, Sophomore, Rice, C-USA
Michael Lorenzen, OF, Sophomore, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Austin Maddox, RHP/IF, Junior, Florida, SEC
Deven Marrero, IF, Junior, Arizona State, Pac-12
Hoby Milner, LHP, Junior, Texas, Big 12
Colin Moran, IF, Sophomore, North Carolina, ACC
Tom Murphy, C, Junior, Buffalo, Mid-American
Tyler Naquin, OF, Junior, Texas A&M, Big 12
Peter O'Brien, C, Senior, Miami (Fla.), ACC
Stephen Piscotty, IF, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12
Matt Price, RHP, RS Junior, South Carolina, SEC
James Ramsey, OF, Senior, Florida State, ACC
Hudson Randall, RHP, Junior, Florida, SEC
Tyler Ray, RHP, Senior, Troy, Sun Belt
Tony Renda, IF, Junior, California, Pac-12
Victor Roache, OF, Junior, Georgia Southern, SoCon
Brady Rodgers, RHP, Junior, Arizona State, Pac-12
Michael Roth, LHP/IF, Senior, South Carolina, SEC
Richie Shaffer, IF, Junior, Clemson, ACC
Ross Stripling, RHP, Senior, Texas A&M, Big 12
Marcus Stroman, RHP, Junior, Duke, ACC
Preston Tucker, IF, Senior, Florida, SEC
Michael Wacha, RHP, Junior, Texas A&M, Big 12
Christian Walker, IF, Junior, South Carolina, SEC
Karsten Whitson, RHP, Sophomore, Florida, SEC
Brad Zebedis, C/IF, Sophomore, Presbyterian, Big South
Mike Zunino, C, Junior, Florida, SEC

(photo courtesy of Jacksonville Media Relations Office)