Indiana University Athletics
Taylor Named to Golden Spikes Watch List
2/7/2025 3:04:00 PM | Baseball
CARY, N.C. – Junior outfielder Devin Taylor was one of 55 players selected to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, the organization announced on Friday (Feb. 7) morning. He was one of three Big Ten players to make the preseason list.
Taylor is the first IU player – since the organization started tracking the preseason information in 2008 – to be named twice to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. He was also named to the list before a standout sophomore season in 2024. Taylor is one of six IU players to make the preseason watch list in the last 17 years.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native slashed .357/.449/.660 last season en route to unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors. Taylor led the Big Ten with 20 home runs, hitting 12 of those over the final 18 games of the season. In addition to home runs and batting average, he led the team in hits (86) and runs scored (67).
Preseason honors have rolled in for the expected First Round draft pick in this year's MLB Draft. He was a unanimous preseason All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year by the three major media outlets (D1 Baseball, Perfect Game and Baseball America).
Taylor is one of six returning players to start in at least 40 games a season ago. All six players are expected to be in the lineup again at some point on opening weekend. Head coach Jeff Mercer and the Hoosiers begin the season with a quartet of games in Surprise, Arizona. A pair of games against UNLV will bookend the weekend around contests with Xavier and No. 7 Oregon State.
Taylor is the first IU player – since the organization started tracking the preseason information in 2008 – to be named twice to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List. He was also named to the list before a standout sophomore season in 2024. Taylor is one of six IU players to make the preseason watch list in the last 17 years.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native slashed .357/.449/.660 last season en route to unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors. Taylor led the Big Ten with 20 home runs, hitting 12 of those over the final 18 games of the season. In addition to home runs and batting average, he led the team in hits (86) and runs scored (67).
Preseason honors have rolled in for the expected First Round draft pick in this year's MLB Draft. He was a unanimous preseason All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year by the three major media outlets (D1 Baseball, Perfect Game and Baseball America).
Taylor is one of six returning players to start in at least 40 games a season ago. All six players are expected to be in the lineup again at some point on opening weekend. Head coach Jeff Mercer and the Hoosiers begin the season with a quartet of games in Surprise, Arizona. A pair of games against UNLV will bookend the weekend around contests with Xavier and No. 7 Oregon State.
Players Mentioned
OF
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