Alonso, Weeks Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List
Feb. 18, 2008
CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – University of Miami juniors Yonder Alonso and Jemile Weeks have been named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List released by USA Baseball. The release of the watch list marks USA Baseball’s first step toward identifying the top player in college baseball.
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Alonso is a Baseball America Preseason First Team All-American. He has already been named to the 2008 Preseason Watch List for the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award and was named a 2008 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball. Alonso earned second team All-ACC honors, second team All-America honors from Baseball America and Louisville Slugger third-team All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball in 2007. He led the team hitting .376 with an ACC-best 18 home runs and 74 RBIs. He had a good summer playing with the Brewster Whitecaps in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League and is rated as the fifth best college prospect in the 2008 Major League Baseball amateur draft by Baseball America.
Weeks is also a Baseball America Preseason First Team All-American. He played in only 50 games for the Hurricanes due to injury, but hit .298 with 56 hits, 20 extra-base hits and 27 RBI. He had an ACC-best six triples and hit five home runs. He was named preseason All-American in 2007 and was on the 2007 Preseason Wallace Watch List. He was named second team All-ACC following his freshman season in 2006 and earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America honors. He is rated as the 19th best college prospect in the 2008 MLB amateur draft by Baseball America.
The initial list – the first ever of its kind for the Golden Spikes Award – features 75 of the nation’s top collegiate talents, as nominated by baseball sports information directors across the country. The watch list will also be “rolling” to ensure that athletes who play themselves into consideration by USA Baseball for the Golden Spikes Award are not ignored. The Golden Spikes Award is sponsored by Major League Baseball, and 2008 marks the 31st installment of the award.
Conferences boasting the most watch list nominations include the SEC with 15 names, the ACC and PAC 10 each have 10 members, and the Big 12 has eight (8) nominees.
On May 20, USA Baseball officials will cut the watch list of players to 50 names. The final list of 50 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors, and current USA Baseball staff – close to 150 voters in total. Additionally, for the first time ever, fan voting will be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2008. May 20 will also mark the day when college baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player for the Golden Spikes Award on www.usabaseball.com. As part of this May selection process all voters will be asked to choose five players from the list of 50 names. On June 3, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
Miami opens its 2008 regular season Feb. 22-24 when the Hurricanes host Cincinnati for a three-game series at Mark Light Field.
