DURHAM, N.C. – San Diego State's Casey Schmitt (San Diego, Calif./Eastlake HS) added to his already lengthy list of preseason accolades on Thursday when he earned a spot on the USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award Watch List, beginning the process of identifying the nation's top amateur player for the 2020 season.
The 43rd annual Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 11 in Omaha, Nebraska, for the second year in a row.
The preseason watch list features 55 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 players, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award throughout the season.
A consensus preseason All-American, Schmitt becomes the fourth Aztec player since 2008 to land on the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, joining Michael Cederoth (2014), Addison Reed (2010) and Stephen Strasburg, who took home the top prize in 2009. In addition, Tyler Adkison landed on the GSA mid-season watch list in 2017.
As SDSU's starting third baseman in 2019, Schmitt finished second on the team with a .315 batting average, adding eight doubles, five home runs and 36 RBI to merit second-team all-Mountain West distinction. He also appeared in 21 games with four starts as a pitcher, posting a 3-3 record and a 3.77 ERA in 43.0 innings to go with a team-high eight saves.
In 2018, Schmitt was a consensus freshman All-American, setting an Aztec single-season record with a 0.28 ERA (min. 30 IP) while allowing just one earned run in 32 innings pitched. He also posted a .264 batting average with one home run and 32 RBI, finishing the year as one of only two players nationally to maintain a 2.00 ERA or lower (min. 15 IP) and drive in more than 30 runs.
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the GSA. Following the first ever presentation of the trophy to Bob Horner of Arizona State, the GSA has been awarded each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
A total of 18 different collegiate athletic conferences are represented on the 2020 preseason watch list with six of those conferences boasting multiple selections, including the American Athletic, Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conferences. Schmitt is the lone player representing the Mountain West.
Oregon State's Adley Rutschman claimed the prestigious award last year, joining a group of recent winners that include Andrew Vaughn (2018), Brendan McKay (2017), Kyle Lewis (2016), Andrew Benintendi (2015), A.J. Reed (2014), Kris Bryant (2013), Mike Zunino (2012), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008) and David Price (2007).
Fan nominations and voting will once again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2020. Amateur baseball fans will be able to nominate their favorite players to be in consideration for the 2020 award starting February 14 until April 6 on GoldenSpikesAward.com, prior to the announcement of the Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list. In addition, fans will once again be able to vote for their favorite players, starting on May 14 with the naming of the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists.
USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on May 28 and fan voting will open at GoldenSpikesAward.com concurrently, remaining open through June 7.
San Diego State, which was picked first in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll, begins its season on Friday when it faces Virginia Tech in the opener of the Brittain Resorts Baseball by the Beach event in Conway, South Carolina.