USA Baseball announced the names of the thirty semifinalists for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award, and you can vote on GoldenSpikesAward.com, which is powered by MLB.com. Three finalists will be chose on the 5th of June, so get in your votes for this prestigious award. The MLB Network will have interviews on the 6th of July with the three finalists and will announce the winner. A panel of 215 voters will select the finalists and winner, with the winner being announced on MLB Network’s “The Rundown”.
The Big 12 has five semifinalists for the most prestigious award in amateur baseball in the award’s 35th straight year.
This is the list of the 30 semi-finalists, via College Baseball Daily.
"Mark Appel, RHP, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12Sean Bignall, OF, Senior, Arkansas-Little Rock, Sun BeltJayce Boyd, IF, Junior, Florida State, ACCKris Bryant, IF, Sophomore, San Diego, WCCKevin Gausman, RHP, Sophomore, Louisiana State, SECJeff Gelalich, OF, Junior, UCLA, Pac-12Marco Gonzales, LHP/IF, Sophomore, Gonzaga, WCCAndrew Heaney, LHP, Junior, Oklahoma State, Big 12Kurt Heyer, RHP, Junior, Arizona, Pac-12Goose Kallunki, IF, Senior, Utah Valley, Great WestDaniel Kassouf, IF, Senior, Appalachian State, SoConAlex Keudell, RHP, Senior, Oregon, Pac-12Trenton Moses, IF, Redshirt Junior, Southeast Missouri, Ohio ValleyTyler Naquin, OF, Junior, Texas A&M, Big 12D.J. Peterson, IF, Sophomore, New Mexico, Mountain WestNick Petree, RHP, Redshirt Sophomore, Missouri State, Missouri ValleyKevin Plawecki, C, Junior, Purdue, Big TenDanny Poma, OF, Senior, Hofstra, CAAJames Ramsey, OF, Senior, Florida State, ACCRaph Rhymes, OF, Junior, Louisiana State, SECCarlos Rodon, LHP, Freshman, North Carolina State, ACCMichael Roth, LHP/IF, Senior, South Carolina, SECRichie Shaffer, IF, Junior, Clemson, ACCChris Stratton, RHP, Junior, Mississippi State, SECRoss Stripling, RHP, Senior, Texas A&M, Big 12Marcus Stroman, RHP, Junior, Duke, ACCJosh Turley, LHP/OF, Junior, Baylor, Big 12Michael Wacha, RHP, Junior, Texas A&M, Big 12Alex Yarbrough, IF, Junior, Mississippi, SECMike Zunino, C, Junior, Florida, SEC"
Having followed the Oregon Ducks, I must say that Alex Keudell is a heckuva a pitcher, and the same can be said for Big 12 aces Michael Wacha and Josh Turley. Wacha is one of three Aggies players on the list of 30, as the team has the most semifinalists. Catcher Mike Zunino of Florida and South Carolina’s Michael Roth are on the ballot after making the 2011 ballot. Mark Appel, Nick Petree, and Ralp Rhymes are three other names to watch for.
The SEC leads all conferences with six selections, and the majority of the players on this list are juniors (16). N.C. State’s Carlos Rodon is the lone freshman on this list after a sensational season. Man, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the ACC star.
“USA Baseball congratulates each of the 30 student-athletes and their respective baseball programs,” said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler. “The move to MLB Network last year 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 2012. We wish all of the semifinalists the best of luck.”