DURHAM, N.C. – Mercer outfielder Kyle Lewis and Samford outfielder Heath Quinn were named to the Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball on Wednesday afternoon. Sponsored by Major League Baseball and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the 39th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 30 in Los Angeles.
The midseason watch list features 60 of the nation's top amateur players, from high school and college baseball. The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will maintain a rolling list of athletes, allowing players to play themselves into consideration for the award throughout the season.
Lewis, a preseason All-American by five publications and the 2016 Southern Conference Preseason Player of the Year, is the only representative from an institution in the state of Georgia on the list.
Lewis is chasing the SoCon's triple crown, as he leads the league in home runs (15) and RBIs (55), while ranking third in batting average (.429). He is trying to become just the third player in SoCon history to accomplish the feat, while ranking in the top five nationally in eight different statistical categories.
The Snellville, Ga., junior is in the midst of a 47-game on-base streak, the second-longest active streak in NCAA Div. I baseball. He owns a team-leading 19 multiple-hit performances, including three or more hits in eighth contests.
Mercer returns to Claude Smith Field this weekend, as it hosts Furman for a three-game SoCon series that kicks off on Friday, Apr. 22 at 6 p.m.
Samford’s Quinn, the nation’s leader in home runs this season with 15, is also currently ranked among the top 10 players in the country in home runs per game, total bases, RBIs, RBIs per game and slugging percentage.
The junior also boasts a .353 batting average this season with 53 hits, 42 runs scored, 30 walks and a .465 on-base percentage.
The Samford University baseball team will next be in action Friday at 6 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs continue play in their six-game nonconference homestand with a series-opening matchup versus the Kansas Jayhawks to be held at Joe Lee Griffin Field.