by DURHAM, N.C. – University of South Alabama baseball right-hander Kevin Hill (Muscgoee Creek Nation) was named to the 2016 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball Tuesday.
Hill, the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year and preseason first-team All-America selection by Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, was one of 50 players selected to the watch list which features the nation’s top amateur players from high school and college baseball. He is the lone Sun Belt Conference representative on the list, as well as the only player from the state of Alabama.
The Oklahoma City, Okla., native was named the 2015 SBC Pitcher of the Year, first-team all-South Central Region, first-team all-SBC and earned All-America honors from three different organizations after leading the league in wins (10), ERA (1.73), strikeouts (107), runs allowed (20) and opposing batting average (.208). He tossed four complete games, all of which came in succession against SBC opponents, and recorded two shutouts as a redshirt junior last year. Hill enters the 2016 season ranked 12th in career strikeouts (200) at USA, and his 1.73 ERA from last year ranks as the ninth-lowest by a Jaguar in a single season.
From April 11-17, fans will be allowed to nominate players for the Golden Spikes Award for the first time ever prior to the announcement of the Midseason Watch List on April 20. The list of semifinalists will be sent to a voting body consisting of past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media who follow the game closely, select professional baseball personnel, current USA Baseball staff and the 38 previous winners of the award which represents a group of more than 200 voters.
The semifinalists will be announced on June 1, while the finalists will be named on June 13. The winner of the 39th Golden Spikes Award will be named Thu., June 30, at a presentation in Los Angeles.
Arkansas outfielder Andrew Benintendi won the award last season, and joined a recent group of winners that includes A.J. Reed (2014), Kris Bryant (2013), Mike Zunino (2012), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008) and David Price (2007).
USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award each year since 1978, and is presented to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
South Alabama will open the 2016 season Fri., Feb. 19, when it hosts Evansville in a 6:30 p.m. contest at Stanky Field.
