DURHAM, N.C. – Mercer University junior Kyle Lewis has been named one of four finalists for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award, as announced Monday afternoon. Sponsored by Major League Baseball and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the 39th Golden Spikes Award – bestowed annually to the best amateur baseball player in the United States – will be presented on June 30 in Los Angeles.
Lewis, the No. 11 overall pick by the Seattle Mariners in last week’s 2016 MLB Draft, joins Clemson’s Seth Beer, Louisville’s Corey Ray and Florida’s Logan Shore as the award’s four finalists.
The 2016 Baseball America Player of the Year and Louisville Slugger first-team All-American established himself as one of college baseball’s premier position players with an excellent junior campaign for the Bears. Lewis led the nation’s second-best power-hitting program with 20 home runs and 72 RBIs, which rank sixth and fifth nationally.
He additionally ranked fourth nationally with a program-record 66 walks while ranking top-15 nationally in batting average (.395) and top-five nationally in on-base percentage (.535) and runs (70). He compiled a 48-game on-base streak and 27 multi-hit performances this season, as well.
He also helped the Bears to a 38-23 record – Mercer’s seventh straight season with 35 wins or more – and a second straight SoCon regular-season championship.
The Snellville, Ga., native was recognized with numerous other accolades this past spring, including being named the Southern Conference Player of the Year for a second straight season and being recognized as a semifinalist for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Dick Howser Trophy.
Fans can continue to stay up to date on the Golden Spikes Award by visiting GoldenSpikesAward.com – powered by MLBAM – which serves as the online home for the award. The website features content devoted exclusively to the Golden Spikes Award, including news, voting history, past winner photo galleries and photographs of the 2016 finalists.
The award presentation will air on ESPN’s flagship program, SportsCenter, for the third consecutive year, during the 7 p.m. EDT show. Following the announcement of the award on June 30, all four finalists will be celebrated at the Jonathan Club Los Angeles as part of the 2016 Rod Dedeaux Award Dinner. Hosted by the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the dinner will honor the Golden Spikes Award finalists, the Rod Dedeaux Award winner and the Rod Dedeaux USA Baseball Coach of the Year award winner, Willie Randolph.
Fans will be able to vote for Lewis by visiting GoldenSpikesAward.com. Voting for fans and the voting body ends at 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 24.