Grandal, Hernandez Named to Golden Spikes Watch List
Feb. 18, 2010
DURHAM, N.C. – University of Miami juniors Yasmani Grandal and Chris Hernandez have been named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List, USA Baseball announced Thursday. The watch list, which marks the first step toward identifying the top amateur baseball player in the country, features 50 student-athletes and is sponsored by Major League Baseball.
Grandal emerged last season as one of the top power hitters in the Atlantic Coast Conference, leading the Hurricanes and all ACC catchers with 16 home runs. The Miami native led the `Canes with a 1.081 OPS in 2009 en route to earning All-ACC second team honors. He finished his sophomore season ranking second on the team in slugging percentage (.599) and total bases (118), while collecting 45 RBI and 48 runs scored in 59 games.
Hernandez – a left-handed starter for the `Canes – enters the 2010 season with a career record of 18-5 and a career ERA of 3.20. In 2008, Hernandez earned numerous national honors as a true freshman, including a first team All-America honor by Louisville Slugger and a National Freshman Pitcher of the Year honor by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Last season as a sophomore, he won a team-high seven games while striking out 93 batters in 90 2/3 innings of work.
Miami is one of just 11 schools nationally with multiple student-athletes represented on this year’s watch list. The “rolling” list ensures that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the award, to be presented live on Tuesday, July 13, at the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest in Anaheim, Calif.
On Tuesday, June 1, USA Baseball officials will cut the watch list of players to 30 names. The final list of 30 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.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2010. June 1 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 GoldenSpikesAward.com. As part of this selection process all voters will be asked to choose five players from the list of 30 names. On Tuesday, June 8, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
The 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award will be presented nationally July 13 on an award show via live telecast from Anaheim on GoldenSpikesAward.com, USABaseball.com and MLB.com in conjunction with All-Star FanFest.
Past winners of the Golden Spikes Award include Terry Francona (1980), Will Clark (1985), Robin Ventura (1988), Jason Varitek (1994), J.D. Drew (1997), Mark Prior (2001), Jered Weaver (2004), Tim Lincecum (2006), David Price (2007), Buster Posey (2008) and last year’s winner, Stephen Strasburg.
Last season, All-America closer Kyle Bellamy was one of 10 national semifinals for the award.
The ‘Canes will open their 2010 season Friday, Feb. 19 when they play host to Rutgers at 7 p.m. at Alex Rodriguez Park. For ticket information for the 2010 baseball season, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit www.hurricanesports.com.
