The two-way standout is the lone returning finalist from 2023.
HOOVER, Ala. – University of Florida first baseman/left-handed pitcher Jac Caglianone was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Golden Spikes Award, as announced by USA Baseball on Monday afternoon.
Caglianone is the lone returning finalist from last season of the 25 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award. He is one of four repeat semifinalists. The 46th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 22 at 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT) on ESPN ahead of Game 1 of the College World Series finals.
“With another terrific amateur baseball season nearing the finish line, we are thrilled to honor the twenty-five best players in the country as Golden Spikes Award semifinalists,” said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. “These athletes have put together tremendous seasons and are extremely deserving of this honor. We are excited to watch the remainder of season and to name the 46th winner of the Golden Spikes Award in June.”
Enjoying a magnificent campaign both in the batter’s box and on the hill, Caglianone has slashed n unearthly .413/.525/.851 with 29 home runs, 66 runs scored and 58 RBI – all of which lead the Gators. The two-way standout ranks third nationally in home runs (second in SEC), fifth in slugging (second in SEC), eighth in batting average (second in SEC) and 11th in on-base percentage (third in SEC). On top of that, the Tampa, Fla. native has draws 20 more walks (41) than strikeouts (21), ranking as the 59th-most-difficult hitter to strikeout in the nation with 9.9 at bats per strikeout and wielding a miniscule 8.2% punchout rate.
Caglianone delivered three extraordinary feats over the course of the regular season. After homering in an NCAA-record nine-straight games from April 6-19, Caglianone followed the act with an equally brilliant one by going 66-consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout from April 7-27. The slugger then proceeded to post a 30-game hitting streak from March 23 through May 12 to tie the all-time program mark.
On the mound, Caglianone wields 5-1 record, 4.35 ERA and 9.9 strikeouts per nine. In addition to pacing the Orange & Blue in ERA, he leads in innings pitched (62.), games started (13) and batting average against (.217), the latter of which ranks eighth in the SEC. Caglianone has also allowed the fifth-fewest hits (49) and second-fewest homers (four) among qualified SEC hurlers.
Overall, nine different conferences are represented among the 25 semifinalists. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) features nine players, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which has seven. The American Athletic Conference (AAC) and Conference USA both boast two players on the 2024 list, while the Big Ten, Big 12, Coastal Athletic Association (CAA), Pac-12, and Sun Belt have one player apiece.
The 2024 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
• May 20: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
• June 3: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
• June 5: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
• June 21: Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
• June 22: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2024. Baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning today with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 5, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 21.
A complete list of the 25-player 2024 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists is
as follows:
Name; Position; School; Conference
Jamie Arnold; LHP; Florida State; ACC
Travis Bazzana; INF; Oregon State; Pac-12
Brooks Bryan; C; Troy; Sun Belt
Blake Burke; 1B; Tennessee; SEC
Chase Burns; RHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Drew Burress; OF; Georgia Tech; ACC
Jac Caglianone; LHP/1B; Florida; SEC
Charlie Condon; 1B/OF; Georgia; SEC
Lawson Harrill; OF; Campbell; CAA
Luke Holman; RHP; LSU; SEC
Vance Honeycutt; OF; UNC; ACC
Walker Janek; C; Sam Houston; C-USA
Ryan Johnson; RHP; Dallas Baptist; C-USA
Dakota Jordan; OF; Mississippi State; SEC
Josh Kuroda-Grauer; INF; Rutgers; Big Ten
Nick Kurtz; 1B; Wake Forest; ACC
Jace LaViolette; OF; Texas A&M; SEC
Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman; RHP; ECU; AAC
Braden Montgomery; OF/RHP; Texas A&M; SEC
Christian Moore; INF; Tennessee; SEC
Hagen Smith; LHP; Arkansas; SEC
James Tibbs III; OF/1B; Florida State; ACC
Payton Tolle; LHP/INF; TCU; Big 12
Blake Wright; INF; Clemson; ACC
Trey Yesavage; RHP; ECU; AAC
About Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award, which is presented on ESPN annually, goes to the amateur baseball player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
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