CARY, N.C. – San Diego State starting pitcher Troy Melton (Anaheim, Calif.) added to his growing 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 2021 season.
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. The 43rd Golden Spikes Award will be presented in July.
A redshirt sophomore, Melton becomes the fifth Aztec player since 2008 to land on the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, joining Casey Schmitt (2020), Michael Cederoth (2014), Addison Reed (2010) and Stephen Strasburg, who captured the top honor in 2009. In addition, Tyler Adkison landed on the GSA mid-season watch list in 2017.
A native of Anaheim, California, Melton garnered all-Mountain West accolades in the abbreviated 2020 campaign after posting a 3-1 record with a 3.22 ERA and 26 strikeouts. The SDSU right-hander shared the conference lead with three victories, which was tied for 23rd nationally, while his strikeouts and opposing batting average (.192) ranked second and third in the MW, respectively. He also found himself among the MW leaders in fewest hits allowed (4th - 15), runs allowed (T4th - 9), ERA (7th) and innings pitched (7th - 22.1) while limiting opponents to a .185 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Last season, Melton earned Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honors after combining on the Aztecs' 6-0 home shutout of 2018 national champion Oregon State on Feb. 29, 2020. In that contest, he held the Beavers to four hits in that game while striking out a career-high nine batters against only one walk in six scoreless innings.
Prior to the upcoming campaign, Melton was rated 79th on D1Baseball.com's Top 100 List of collegiate draft prospects for 2021 and was heralded as the preseason Mountain West Pitcher of the Year by the same website, as well as Baseball America.
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 16 different collegiate athletic conferences are represented on the 2021 preseason watch list, with eight of those conferences boasting multiple selections, including the American Athletic, Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Big West, Pac-12, Sun Belt and Southeastern Conferences. Melton is the lone player representing the Mountain West on the 2021 preseason watch list.
Oregon State's Adley Rutschman claimed the prestigious award in 2019, 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).
No award was presented last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the cancellation of the 2020 season.
Fan voting will once again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2021. Amateur baseball fans will be able to vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, starting on June 8 with the naming of the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists.
USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 24, and fan voting will open at GoldenSpikesAward.com concurrently, remaining open through July 2.
San Diego State opens its highly anticipated 2021 schedule this weekend when it takes on the University of San Diego for a three-game set, Feb. 19-21. The Aztecs and Toreros will clash at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Friday and Saturday, starting at 1 p.m., before the series wraps up at USD's Fowler Park on Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m.