Indiana University Athletics
Schwarber, Travis On Golden Spikes Watch List
2/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 14, 2014
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana's Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis were both placed on the Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List, an award given annually by USA Baseball to the country's best amateur baseball player.
The Hoosier duo competed for Team USA's Collegiate National Team this summer, traveling across the globe to play in Japan as well as games on American soil. The Hoosier duo combined for 34 starts in 23 games, Schwarber getting the nod 18 times and Travis seeing action in 19 contests, including 16 starts. Schwarber led the squad with seven doubles and ranked second with 16 RBI as the Stars & Stripes went 20-3. Indiana was the only school in the country to place two student-athletes on the USA Collegiate National Team.
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."
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 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).
