Kyle Bellamy Named Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist

May 26, 2009

 DURHAM, N.C. – University of Miami junior closer Kyle Bellamy has been named one of 30 semifinalists for the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award (GSA), as announced by USA Baseball on Tuesday.

Bellamy, who was recently named both a Dick Howser Award Semifinalist and a College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Semifinalist, is among the national leaders with 16 saves this season. In 43 1/3 innings pitched, the Davie, Fla. native has allowed just five earned runs while striking out 60 and holding his opponents to a .151 batting average against him.

One of 16 pitchers named to the semifinalist list, Bellamy – an All-ACC First Team performer —

leads the Atlantic Coast Conference and ranks among the nation’s Top 5 in saves this season. His 16 saves also ranks him in a tie for 5^th all-time in school history.

In a team-high 28 appearances, Bellamy (3-1) has allowed just two extra-base hits all season and is perfect 16-for-16 in save opportunities. Twelve of his 16 saves this season have come from more than an inning of work.

In his career, Bellamy owns a 9-2 record and a 2.08 ERA, striking out 150 batters in 116 2/3 innings.

 Today also marks the second year in a row that GoldenSpikesAward.com – powered by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), the interactive media and Internet company of Major League Baseball – will be the online home for the award.  The Web site features content devoted exclusively to the GSA, including news, voting history, past-winner photo galleries, and photographs and video highlights for the 2009 semifinalists.  Fans can follow online at GoldenSpikesAward.com as the list of 30 players is narrowed to five finalists on Tuesday, June 2, en route to the announcement of this year’s winner on Tuesday, July 14.

The 2009 GSA will be awarded live at MLB’s All-Star FanFest in St. Louis as part of a production by Major League Baseball and MLBAM.  Online footage of the event will be found shortly thereafter, exclusively at GoldenSpikesAward.com and MLB.com.

In 2007, USA Baseball instituted a new selection and balloting procedure for the most prestigious award in amateur baseball, and it will follow the same model again in 2009.  After accepting nominations from sports information directors across the country, a committee voted to determine the 30 semifinalists.  The names of the 30 semifinalists will now be forwarded to a voting body of 125 who will select the five finalists and the eventual 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award winner.

A list of the 30 semifinalists is below.

About the Golden Spikes Award

For the past 31 years, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. Following the first ever presentation of the Award to Bob Horner of Arizona State in 1978, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2008 Golden Spikes Award winner was Buster Posey of Florida State. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as David Price (’07), Tim Lincecum (’06), Alex Gordon (’05), Jered Weaver (’04), Rickie Weeks (’03), Khalil Greene (’02), Jason Jennings (’00), Pat Burrell (‘98), J.D. Drew (’97), Mark Kotsay (’95), and Jason Varitek (’94). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Robin Ventura (’88), Jim Abbott (’87), Will Clark (’85), Dave Magadan (’83), Terry Francona (’80), Tim Wallach (’79), and Bob Horner (’78).

About USA Baseball

USA Baseball is the National Governing Body of amateur baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).  The organization selects and trains the United States Olympic Baseball Team (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate); the USA Baseball 18U, 16U and 14U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year.  USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to top player in college baseball.  For more information, please visit www.usabaseball.com and www.goldenspikesaward.com.  To receive monthly USA Baseball E-mail newsletters delivered straight to your inbox, please visit www.usabaseball.com and register for free in the upper right-hand corner of the homepage.