Golden Spikes Award Semifinalists
DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Michael Lorenzen and freshman Thomas Eshelman were selected by USA Baseball as semifinalists for the 2013 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award it was announced on Tuesday.
A ballot featuring the names and accomplishments of the 30 semifinalists will now be sent to a group of more than 220 voters which will select the three finalists and eventual winner. Beginning today fans will also be able to vote on the 2013 GSA by visiting GoldenSpikesAward.com and selecting their favorite amateur player.
On Tuesday, USA Baseball will announce the three remaining finalists for the Golden Spikes Award.
Eshelman is one of just two true freshmen on the list along with Alex Bregman from LSU, while five sophomores, 16 juniors, one redshirt junior and six seniors round out the semifinalists.
In his first season for Cal State Fullerton, Eshelman, the Titans' Friday-night starter, posts a record of 11-2 in 14 starts (15 appearances) and his miniscule 1.63 ERA leads the Big West, while ranking 18th in the country. Among, rookie weekend starters, Eshelman's ERA ranks second in the nation.
Eshelman leads the nation in walks allowed per nine innings (0.18), strikeout-to-walk-ratio (35.5) and WHIP (0.76). Eshelman has also totaled 11 quality starts in 2013.
In 99 and 2/3 innings, Eshelman has struck out 71 and walked just two.
In his first 63 and 1/3 innings as a collegiate pitcher, Eshelman did not issue a walk, a streak that fell just two innings short of Wes Roemer's program record of 65 and 1/3 innings in 2006. The main difference between the two streaks was that Eshelman plunked only two batters, while Roemer drilled 12.
On Feb. 15, 2013, Eshelman became the first freshman to start a season opener for the Titans since Feb. 5, 1987 when Mark Beck took the mound vs. Saint Mary's. Eshelman didn't disappoint the sellout crowd of 3,508 as CSF edged USC, 3-2.
In addition to being named a Golden Spikes semifinalist, Lorenzen has been named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award watch list as well as the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason watch list. In addition, Lorenzen was named a semifinalist for the NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy.
The starting center fielder and closer is 18-for-21 in save attempts this season, but in three blown save attempts, kept the Titans within reach to record the win. His 18 saves in 2013 rank second in Fullerton single-season history, and currently ties for third in the country.
In two years on the mound, Lorenzen has totaled 34 saves, a number that matches Chad Cordero and Nick Ramirez for first all-time at Fullerton.
In 21 appearances this season, Lorenzen has tossed 22 innings, striking out 18 and managing a 2.05 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .210 clip, and adding a 3-0 record to his 18 saves.
Lorenzen has driven in the game-winning run for the Titans a team-leading seven times in 2013.
At the plate, Lorenzen is batting .335 and ties for the conference lead with 50 RBIs while managing a .534 slugging percentage, with 40 runs scored, 69 hits, 12 doubles, four triples and a team-leading seven home runs. Lorenzen has also totaled 19 multiple-hit games and 11 multiple-RBI games. His 13-game hitting streak from March 15-April 2 was the longest for any Titan this season, as Fullerton went 12-1 during that stretch while Lorenzen batted .469 with 19 RBIs, three doubles, three home runs and 13 runs scored.
For the third year in a row, the GSA will be awarded live on MLB Network. On Friday, July 19, the three finalists for the award will be at the live presentation, which will air during The Rundown – at 2 p.m. ET – featuring interviews, video highlights and the announcement of the winner. The presentation will also be simulcast live on GoldenSpikesAward.com and USABaseball.com.
The SEC leads 14 different conferences represented on the list with eight semifinalists, highlighted by three from Louisiana State and three from Vanderbilt. The Atlantic Coast Conference is represented by four players and the Pac-12 earned three nominations.
Eshelman and Lorenzen are the only representatives from the Big West Conference.
Important 2013 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award dates include:
Thursday, Feb. 14 -- 50-man preseason Watch List released, shaped by USA Baseball officials and advisors
Thursday, May 2 -- 60-man midseason Watch List released, shaped by USA Baseball officials and advisors
Tuesday, May 28 -- 30 semifinalists announced, selected by USA Baseball officials, semifinalist voting begins, voters select three
Friday, May 31 -- Deadline to vote for finalists, 5 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 4 -- Three finalists announced, finalist voting begins, voters to select one
Friday, June 14 -- Deadline to vote for winner, 5 p.m. ET
Friday, July 19 -- Live Golden Spikes Award presentation airing on MLB Network's The Rundown and simulcast on GoldenSpikesAward.com and USABaseball.com
A complete list of the 30 2013 Golden Spikes Award semifinalists is as follows:
Name, Position, Class, School, Conference
Mark Appel, RHP, Senior, Stanford, Pac-12
Tyler Beede, RHP, Sophomore, Vanderbilt, SEC
David Berg, RHP, Sophomore, UCLA, Pac-12
Alex Bregman, IF, Freshman, Louisiana State, SEC
Kris Bryant, UTIL, Junior, San Diego, West Coast
Kerry Doane, RHP, Senior, East Tennessee State, Atlantic Sun
Hunter Dozier, IF, Senior, Stephen F. Austin, Southland
Kent Emanuel, LHP, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
Thomas Eshelman, RHP, Freshman, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Zane Evans, C/RHP, Junior, Georgia Tech, ACC
Marco Gonzales, LHP, Junior, Gonzaga, West Coast
Jonathan Gray, RHP, Junior, Oklahoma, Big 12
Eric Jagielo, IF/OF, Junior, Notre Dame, Big East
Mason Katz, IF, Sr, Louisiana State, SEC
Tony Kemp, OF, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
Michael Lorenzen, OF/RHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Kyle McGowin, RHP, Sophomore, Savannah State, Mid-Eastern
Colin Moran, IF, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
Aaron Nola, RHP, Sophomore, Louisiana State, SEC
Justin Parr, OF, Senior, Illinois, Big 10
D.J. Peterson, IF, Junior, New Mexico, Mountain West
Nick Petree, RHP, RS Junior, Missouri State, Missouri Valley
Jimmie Sherfy, RHP , Junior, Oregon, Pac-12
Ryne Stanek, RHP, Junior, Arkansas, SEC
Mike Tauchman, OF, Senior, Bradley, Missouri Valley
Jeff Thompson, RHP, Junior, Louisville, Big East
Trea Turner, IF, Sophomore, NC State, ACC
Bobby Wahl, RHP, Junior, Mississippi, SEC
Jimmy Yezzo, IF, Junior, Delaware, Colonial Athletic
Kevin Ziomek, LHP, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
About the Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, 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, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2012 Golden Spikes Award winner was Mike Zunino of the University of Florida. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as Bryce Harper ('10), Stephen Strasburg ('09), Buster Posey ('08), David Price ('07), Tim Lincecum ('06), Alex Gordon ('05), Jered Weaver ('04), Rickie Weeks ('03) and Mark Kotsay ('95). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Pat Burrell ('98), Robin Ventura ('88), Jim Abbott ('87), Will Clark ('8 5), Dave Magadan ('83), Te rry Francona ('80), Tim Wallach ('79), and Horner ('78). For more information, please visit GoldenSpikesAward.com. Fans can follow the Golden Spikes Award on Twitter @USAGoldenSpikes.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U 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 the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information,