University of Georgia Athletics
Poythress Named To Golden Spikes Award Watch List
February 17, 2009 | Baseball
ATHENS-----Georgia junior first baseman Rich Poythress has been named to the 2009 Golden Spikes Award Watch list, USA Baseball announced Tuesday. The award is given annually to the top player in college baseball and is sponsored by Major League Baseball.
The watch list features 50 of the nation’s top collegiate talents, and it will be a “rolling” list to ensure that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the Golden Spikes Award.
A native of Grovetown, Ga., Poythress has been named preseason All-America by Baseball America and the Louisville Slugger. He has also been named to the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List. Poythress became the second Bulldog in school history to earn a Rawlings Gold Glove in 2008. With the award, Poythress was named the nation's top defensive first baseman and one of just nine Division I players to receive a Gold Glove. He was second on the team with a .374 average, 15 home runs and 75 RBI. He was also named to the All-SEC Defensive Team.
On May 26, USA Baseball officials will cut the watch list of players to 30 names. The final list of 30 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors, and current USA Baseball staff - close to 150 voters in total.
College baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player for the Golden Spikes Award May 26 via www.goldenspikesaward.com. On June 2, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
The 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award will be presented nationally July 15 on an award show via live telecast from St. Louis in conjunction with the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Weekend Festivities.
Past winners of the Golden Spikes Award include Terry Francona (1980), Will Clark (1985), Robin Ventura (1988), Jason Varitek (1994), J.D. Drew (1997), Mark Prior (2001), Jered Weaver (2004), Tim Lincecum (2006), David Price (2007), and last year’s winner Buster Posey (2008).
Last year, Georgia’s All-America shortstop Gordon Beckham was a finalist for the award.
Poythress was one of eight SEC players named to the list.
2009 PRESEASON GOLDEN SPIKES AWARD WATCH LIST
Name School Pos Class
Jason Stoffel Arizona RHP Jr.
Jason Kipnis Arizona State OF Jr.
Mike Leake Arizona State RHP/IF Jr.
Kendal Volz Baylor RHP Jr.
Josh Fellhauer Cal State Fullerton OF Jr.
Blake Smith California OF/RHP Jr.
Brett Jackson California OF Jr.
Shane Davis Canisius LHP So.
Rob Lyerly Charlotte OF/1B Jr.
Scott Woodward Coastal Carolina 3B So.
Brandon Sizemore College of Charleston 2B Sr.
Cory Harrilchak Elon OF Sr.
Matt den Dekker Florida OF Jr.
Robbie Shields Florida Southern SS Jr.
Tommy Mendonca Fresno State 3B Jr.
Alan Ahmady Fresno State 1B Jr.
Rich Poythress Georgia 1B Jr.
Derek Dietrich Georgia Tech SS So.
Josh Phegley Indiana C Jr.
Ben Tootle Jacksonville State RHP Jr.
Greg Rohan Kent State 1B Sr.
Chris Dominguez Louisville 3B Jr.
Justin Marks Louisville LHP Jr.
Blake Dean LSU OF Jr.
D.J. LeMahieu LSU SS So.
Micah Gibbs LSU C So.
Nate Lape Marshall OF Sr.
Chris Hernandez Miami LHP So.
Ryan Jackson Miami SS Jr.
Chris Fetter Michigan RHP Sr.
Scott Bittle Mississippi RHP Sr.
Kyle Gibson Missouri RHP Jr.
Tim Clubb Missouri State RHP Jr.
A.J. Pollock Notre Dame OF Jr.
Andrew Oliver Oklahoma State LHP Jr.
Tyler Lyons Oklahoma State LHP Jr.
Jerry Sulivan Oral Roberts RHP Jr.
Ryan Ortiz Oregon State C Jr.
Diego Seastrunk Rice C Jr.
A.J. Griffin San Diego RHP Jr.
Stephen Strasburg San Diego State RHP Jr.
Grant Green Southern Cal SS Jr.
Jeff Inman Stanford RHP Jr.
Kentrail Davis Tennessee OF So.
Luke Anders Texas A&M 1B Sr.
Eric Pettis UC Irvine RHP Jr.
Alex White UNC RHP Jr.
Dustin Ackley UNC 1B Jr.
Matt Harvey UNC RHP So.
Mike Minor Vanderbilt LHP Jr.
