DURHAM, N.C. – Three LSU players are on the 60-man midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List released by USA Baseball, bringing the organization one step closer to naming the top amateur baseball player in the country.
Junior outfielder Raph Rhymes, sophomore right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman and junior right-handed pitcher Nick Goody are the LSU representatives on the Golden Spikes list.
The watch list will continue to be a “rolling” list until May 29 — when the final 30 semifinalists for the award are announced — ensuring that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the award. The Golden Spikes Award trophy will be awarded live at MLB Network’s studios for the second year in a row, with a presentation scheduled for Friday, July 6.
Rhymes, a native of Monroe, La., leads the nation in hitting with a remarkable .503 (80-for-159) average, and he has collected 11 doubles, three homers, 46 RBI and 34 runs.
Gausman, a product of Centennial, Colo., leads the SEC and is No. 3 in the nation in strikeouts with 97 while compiling a 7-1 record and a 3.12 ERA in 75 innings.
Goody, an Orlando, Fla. native, has eight saves and a 0.77 ERA as the Tigers’ closer with 34 strikeouts in 23.1 innings.
The list of 30 semifinalists announced on May 29 will be sent to a voting body consisting of past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of media that closely follow the amateur game, select professional baseball personnel and current USA Baseball staff, representing a group of more than 200 voters in total.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2012. May 29 marks the day when amateur baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalist on GoldenSpikesAward.com. As part of this selection process all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list of 30 names. On Tuesday, June 5, USA Baseball will announce the three finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
Important 2012 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award dates include:
Tuesday, May 29 — 30 semifinalists announced, selected by USA Baseball officials, semifinalist voting begins, voters select three
Friday, June 1 — Deadline to vote for finalists, 5 p.m. ET
Tuesday, June 5 — Three finalists announced, finalist voting begins, voters to select one
Friday, June 15 — Deadline to vote for winner, 5 p.m. ET
Friday, July 6 — Live Golden Spikes Award presentation from MLB Network studios
The complete 2012 60-man midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List is as follows:
2012 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List
Name, Position, Class, School, Conference
Justin Amlung, RHP, Junior, Louisville, Big East
Mark Appel, RHP, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12
Adam Brett Walker, OF/C, Junior, Jacksonville, Atlantic Sun
Kris Bryant, IF, Sophomore, San Diego, WCC
J.T. Chargois, RHP/IF, Junior, Rice, C-USA
Jason Coats, OF, Senior, Texas Christian, Mountain West
Joey DeMichele, IF, Junior, Arizona State, Pac-12
Josh Elander, C/OF, Junior, Texas Christian, Mountain West
Austin Elkins, IF, Junior, Dallas Baptist, Independent
Kent Emanuel, LHP, Sophomore, North Carolina, ACC
Dylan Floro, RHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Marty Gantt, OF, Senior, College of Charleston, SoCon
Kevin Gausman, RHP, Sophomore, LSU, SEC
Jeff Gelalich, OF, Junior, UCLA, Pac-12
Marco Gonzales, LHP/IF, Sophomore, Gonzaga, WCC
Nick Goody, RHP, Junior, LSU, SEC
Trevor Gott, RHP, Sophomore, Kentucky, SEC
Andrew Heaney, LHP, Junior, Oklanhoma State, Big 12
Kurt Heyer, RHP, Junior, Arizona, Pac-12
D.J. Hicks, IF, Junior, Central Florida, C-USA
Travis Jankowski, OF, Junior, Stony Brook, America East
Brian Johnson, LHP/IF, Junior, Florida, SEC
Derek Jones, OF, Junior, Washington State, Pac-12
Corey Knebel, RHP, Sophomore, Texas, Big 12
Pat Light, RHP, Junior, Monmouth, Northeast
Michael Lorenzen, OF/RHP, Sophomore, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Josh Ludy, C, Senior, Baylor, Big 12
Austin Maddox, RHP/IF, Junior, Florida, SEC
Luke Maile, C/IF, Junior, Kentucky, SEC
Michael Morin, RHP, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
Trenton Moses, IF, Senior, Southeast Missouri State, Ohio Valley
Tyler Naquin, OF, Junior, Texas A&M, Big 12
T.J. Oakes, RHP, Junior, Minnesota, Big Ten
Peter O’Brien, C, Senior, Miami (Fla.), ACC
D.J. Peterson, IF, Sophomore, New Mexico, Mountain West
Stephen Piscotty, IF/RHP, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12
Danny Poma, OF, Senior, Hofstra, CAA
Matt Price, RHP, RS Junior, South Carolina, SEC
James Ramsey, OF, Senior, Florida State, ACC
Matthew Reckling, RHP , Senior, Rice, C-USA
Tony Renda, IF, Junior, California, Pac-12
Raph Rhymes, OF, Junior, LSU, SEC
Brady Rodgers, RHP, Junior, Arizona State, Pac-12
Carlos Rodon, LHP, Freshman, North Carolina State, ACC
Michael Roth, LHP/IF, Senior, South Carolina, SEC
Richie Shaffer, IF, Junior, Clemson, ACC
Ryne Stanek, RHP, Sophomore, Arkansas, SEC
Zach Stephens, IF, Sophomore, Tennessee Tech, Ohio Valley
Chris Stratton, RHP, Junior, Mississippi State, SEC
Ross Stripling, RHP, Senior, Texas A&M, Big 12
Marcus Stroman, RHP, Junior, Duke, ACC
Preston Tucker, IF, Senior, Florida, SEC
Josh Turley, LHP, Junior, Baylor, Big 12
Michael Wacha, RHP, Junior, Texas A&M, Big 12
Tyler Wagner, RHP, Sophomore, San Diego, WCC
Bobby Wahl, RHP, Sophomore, Mississippi, SEC
Christian Walker, IF, Junior, South Carolina, SEC
Alex Yarbrough, IF, Junior, Mississippi, SEC
Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Junior, San Francisco, WCC
Mike Zunino, C, Junior, Florida, SEC