Feb. 18, 2008
University Park, Pa. - Just a few days after being named to the preseason watch list for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year award that is given to the top relief pitcher in the country, Penn State relief pitcher Drew O'Neil was named to another preseason watch list on Monday as he was named to the watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, perhaps the most prestigious award in collegiate baseball.
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country by USA Baseball. The award is sponsored by Major League Baseball and is presented to the player that exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The preseason list includes 75 of the top collegiate baseball players in the country. This is the first year in which a preseason watch list has been announced for the Golden Spikes Award.
O'Neil, who was an eighth round pick of the Cincinnati Reds last year, set a school record for saves in a single season last year with 11 and with just five saves this year will break the school career record for saves. O'Neil did not allow a single earned run to Big Ten teams during the regular season last year as he compiled a 1.34 ERA and a 4-2 record in 33.2 innings to go along with a .188 opponents' batting average against.
In addition to watch lists for the Golden Spikes Award and the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, O'Neil is also on the preseason watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award, which is annually given to the top player in college baseball by the College Baseball Foundation and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. O'Neil is also a Louisville Slugger preseason third team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, a second team preseason All-American by Ping!Baseball, and first team preseason All-Big Ten by Rivals.com.
A list of 50 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award will be announced at the end of the regular season on May 20. From that list, a list of five finalists will be announced on June 3 while the winner of the 2008 Golden Spikes Award will be announced on July 16. The list of 50 semifinalists will be sent to a voting body that includes select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, members of the media, and more. For the first time this year, beginning on May 20, college baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player on usabaseball.com.
The Nittany Lions are now just four days from opening the 2008 season when they take on High Point on Friday at 4:00 p.m.
The entire Golden Spikes Award watch list can be viewed by clicking here.
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