DURHAM, N.C. – Junior right-handed hurler Colton Eastman has earned a spot on USA Baseball's 40-player midseason Golden Spikes Award watch list, the organization unveiled on Tuesday. The Golden Spikes Award is given out to the top amateur baseball player in the country for the 2017 season. The 41st Golden Spikes Award will be presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation on June 28 in Los Angeles.
The Fresno, California native has proved he's one of the best pitchers in the country all season long, as he recorded the fifth no-hitter in program history on March 28, 2018 at UC Santa Barbara (W, 3-0). He pitched easily his best game of his collegiate baseball career, tossing 9.0 shutout innings, without allowing a run or hit, while striking out seven and just walking one. The no-hitter marked Fullerton's first since Justin Garza also recorded one in a 3-0 win over CSUN on May 24, 2014. The no-no was just the Titans' first no-hitter on the road, as the previous four came at home.
Fullerton's no-no was the 17th in DI baseball so far this year, which already breaks the all-time record for no-hitters in a single season set in 2013. Eastman also wears No. 17. He was named Perfect Game's National Player of the Week, NCBWA's National Player of the Week and the Big West Pitcher of the Week on April 2 thanks to the historic performance.
If that wasn't enough, he nearly did it again last Friday vs. Cal Poly, as he tossed 5.2 innings of no-hit baseball to begin the game. Before Cal Poly's Kyle Marinconz finally got a hit in the sixth, Eastman had faced 55 consecutive batters without surrendering a hit. In all Eastman (4-2) tossed 8.0 innings while recording the win, allowing just three hits, one run, but zero earned and fanned eight in what was another unbelievable performance.
Overall Eastman boats a 4-1 record with a 2.11 ERA which is ninth best in the conference, while he's fanned 52 batters in 55.1 innings pitched this season.
The midseason watch list features 40 of the nation's top amateur players from the college ranks. The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will continue to maintain a rolling list of athletes, allowing players to play themselves into consideration for the award before announcing the semifinalists on May 21.
"We are excited to announce the forty players on the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list," said Paul Seiler, USA Baseball's Executive Director and CEO. "These athletes have proven themselves worthy of consideration for this prestigious award through the eyes of the advisory board and from the overwhelming fan support through our nomination process."
On Monday, May 21, USA Baseball will announce the semifinalists for the 2018 Golden Spikes Award. The list of semifinalists will then be sent to a voting body consisting of baseball media members, select professional baseball personnel, current USA Baseball staff and the 40 previous winners of the award, representing a group of more than 200 voters. As part of this selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list of semifinalists. On June 6, USA Baseball will announce the finalists, and voting for the winner will begin that same day.
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2018. Beginning with the semifinalist announcement and continuing through the finalist round voting deadline, fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player on GoldenSpikesAward.com.
The winner of the 41st Golden Spikes Award will be named on Thursday, June 28, at a presentation in Los Angeles. The finalists and their families will be honored at the Rod Dedeaux Foundation Award Dinner that evening at Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles.
USA Baseball has partnered with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation to host the Golden Spikes Award since 2013. The Foundation was formed to honor legendary USC and USA Baseball Olympic team coach, Rod Dedeaux, and supports youth baseball and softball programs in underserved communities throughout Southern California.
Last year, Louisville's Brendan McKay took home the prestigious award, joining a group of recent winners that include Kyle Lewis (2016), Andrew Benintendi (2015), A.J. Reed (2014), Kris Bryant (2013), Mike Zunino (2012), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), and David Price (2007).
The 2018 Golden Spikes Award timeline:
- Monday, May 21: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, voting begins
- Sunday, June 3: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists voting ends
- Wednesday, June 6: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, voting begins
- Friday, June 22: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists voting ends
- Thursday, June 28: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award trophy presentation
A complete list of the 40-player Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list is as follows:
Name, Class, Position, School, Conference
Luken Baker; Jr.; IF/DH; TCU; Big 12 - Joey Bart; Jr.; C; Georgia Tech; ACC
- Seth Beer; Jr.; IF/OF; Clemson; ACC
- Alec Bohm; Jr.; IF; Wichita State; American Athletic
Kyle Brnovich; So.; RHP; Elon; Colonial Athletic
Brian Brown; Sr.; LHP; NC State; ACC
Logan Browning; Sr.; LHP/OF; Florida Southern; Sunshine State
Kris Bubic; Jr.; LHP; Stanford; Pac-12 - Michael Busch; So.; IF; North Carolina; ACC
- Michael Byrne; Jr.; RHP; Florida; SEC
Gage Canning; Jr.; OF; Arizona State; Pac-12 - Kody Clemens; Jr.; IF; Texas; Big 12
- Joe DeMers; Jr.; RHP; Washington; Pac-12
- Colton Eastman; Jr.; RHP; Cal State Fullerton; Big West
Jeremy Eierman; Jr.; IF; Missouri State; Missouri Valley
Tyler Frank; Jr.; IF; Florida Atlantic; Conference USA
Logan Gilbert; Jr.; RHP; Stetson; Atlantic Sun
Luke Heyer; Sr.; IF/OF; Kentucky; SEC - Chris Holba; Jr.; RHP; ECU; American Athletic
- Jonathan India; Jr.; IF; Florida; SEC
- Jake Irvin; Jr.; RHP; Oklahoma; Big 12
- Mitchell Kilkenny; Jr.; RHP; Texas A&M; SEC
- Brett Kinneman; Jr.; OF; NC State; ACC
- Blaine Knight; Jr.; RHP; Arkansas; SEC
- Trevor Larnach; Jr.; OF; Oregon State; Pac-12
- Davis Martin; Jr.; RHP; Texas Tech; Big 12
- Shane McClanahan; Jr.; LHP; South Florida; American Athletic
Keegan McGovern; Sr.; OF; Georgia; SEC - Drew Mendoza; So.; IF; Florida State; ACC
- Casey Mize; Jr.; RHP; Auburn; SEC
- Tristan Pompey; Jr.; OF; Kentucky; SEC
- Griffin Roberts; Jr.; RHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Adley Rutschman; So.; C/IF; Oregon State; Pac-12
Nick Sandlin; Jr.; RHP; Southern Mississippi; Conference USA
Zack Shannon; Sr.; RHP/IF; Delta State; Gulf South
Brady Singer; Jr.; RHP; Florida; SEC
Bren Spillane; Jr.; IF/OF; Illinois; Big Ten
Spencer Torkelson; Fr.; IF; Arizona State; Pac-12
Andrew Vaughn; So.; IF; California; Pac-12
Matt Wallner; So.; UT; Southern Mississippi; Conference USA
About 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 2017 Golden Spikes Award winner was Brendan McKay from the University of Louisville. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as Andrew Benintendi ('15), Kris Bryant ('13), Mike Zunino ('12), Trevor Bauer ('11), Bryce Harper ('10), Stephen Strasburg ('09), Buster Posey ('08), David Price ('07) Tim Lincecum ('06) and Alex Gordon ('05). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Pat Burrell ('98), Mark Kotsay ('95), Robin Ventura ('88), Jim Abbott ('87), Will Clark ('85), Dave Magadan ('83), Terry 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 Rod Dedeaux Foundation
The Rod Dedeaux Foundation was formed to continue Rod's spirit by supporting youth baseball and softball programs in underserved areas. Currently, inner city organizations are fighting for survival as public funding is drying up, coupled with the game's waning popularity with children in Urban areas. Through the efforts of the Foundation, youth receive more than just uniforms and renovated facilities, they receive a sanctuary from challenging environments and a support system specifically designed to build character and academic support to enable underprivileged youth to achieve their dreams. For more information, please visit DedeauxFoundation.org.
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 and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, Premier12 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. The organization is responsible for the continued proliferation and health of the sport, and leads a number of amateur initiatives including PLAYBALL and Pitch Smart. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit the organization's official websites: USABaseball.com, PLAYBALL.org, PitchSmart.org, GoldenSpikesAward.com and USABaseballShop.com.
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