Golden Spikes Award 2017 Candidates
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- Brendan McKay
- Pitcher / First Base, Louisville
- winner
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- winner
- 2017
- Brendan McKay
- Pitcher / First Base, Louisville
- Bats/Throws: L/L | Avg: .361 | H: 66 | R: 50 | HR: 15 | RBI: 47
University of Louisville junior two-way standout Brendan McKay was named the 2017 ACC Player of the Year while also earning All-ACC First Team honors as both a starting pitcher and utility player/designated hitter. Offensively, McKay hit .361 with 15 home runs, 47 RBIs and a .683 slugging percentage in 53 starts as a hitter. A native of Darlington, Pennsylvania, McKay was equally effective on the mound, leading the ACC and ranking ninth in the NCAA in strikeouts with 116 while also accumulating an 8-3 record with a 2.22 ERA in 13 starts as the Friday-night ace for the Cardinals.
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- Adam Haseley
- Outfielder / Pitcher, Virginia
- finalist
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- finalist
- 2017
- Adam Haseley
- Outfielder / Pitcher, Virginia
- Bats/Throws: L/L | Avg: .400 | H: 82 | R: 64 | HR: 14 | RBI: 53
The 2017 ACC regular-season batting champion with a .400 average, Adam Haseley is having one of the top all-around seasons in Virginia baseball history. He was a First-Team All-ACC outfielder and a semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player Award. He led the ACC in batting average, runs and on-base percentage while ranking second in slugging and third in hits. He hit 14 home runs, tied for the fifth most in a season in school history. He also served as UVA's Sunday starting pitcher and went 7-1 with a 3.58 ERA.
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- Brent Rooker
- Outfielder, Mississippi State
- finalist
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- finalist
- 2017
- Brent Rooker
- Outfielder, Mississippi State
- Bats/Throws: R/R | Avg: .415 | H: 85 | R: 50 | HR: 20 | RBI: 73
The SEC Player of the Year, Brent Rooker is the first MSU player ever to reach 20+ home runs, 25+ doubles and 70+ RBIs in a single season, and the first SEC hitter since Auburn's Todd Faulkner in 2000 to accomplish the feat. As of May 23, Rooker led the SEC in nine offensive categories: batting average, slugging, on-base percentage, hits, RBIs, doubles, home runs, total bases and stolen bases. Through 60 games, Rooker has put up offensive numbers that haven't been seen from Golden Spikes Award winners in years: He has the highest batting average and slugging percentage since Bryce Harper in 2010, the most total bases since Kris Bryant in 2013 and the most doubles since Khalil Greene in 2002).
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- Jake Adams
- First Baseman, Iowa
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Jake Adams
- First Baseman, Iowa
- Bats/Throws: R/R | Avg: .344 | H: 73 | R: 48 | HR: 24 | RBI: 65
University of Iowa junior first baseman Jake Adams nearly pulled off a Big Ten triple crown in 2017. The unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year led the conference in home runs (24) and RBIs (65), while ranking fourth in batting average (.344). The South Dakota native was also tops in the Big Ten in hits (73), total bases (159) and slugging percentage (.750). His 24 home runs broke an Iowa record that stood since 1986, were second nationally in the regular season, and were the most home runs by a Big Ten player since 2010. He hit eight home runs in a seven-game stretch to close out the regular season.
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- J.B. Bukauskas
- Pitcher, North Carolina
- finalist
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- finalist
- 2017
- J.B. Bukauskas
- Pitcher, North Carolina
- Bats/Throws: R/R | IP: 82 | W-L: 8-0 | ERA: 1.87 | BB: 31 | SO: 106
J.B. Bukauskas has led a resurgent Carolina pitching staff that has ranked in the top 10 nationally in ERA all season. A 6-0, 201-pound junior right-hander from Ashburn, Virginia, Bukauskas enters the postseason 8-0 with an ACC-leading 1.87 ERA and 106 strikeouts over 82 innings of work as UNC's Friday-night starter. Bukauskas was recently named ACC Pitcher of the Year, becoming the fourth Tar Heel to garner that honor. With 284 career strikeouts at the end of the regular season, Bukauskas is poised to become the fifth pitcher in program history to reach 300 career Ks.
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- Jake Burger
- Infielder, Missouri State
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Jake Burger
- Infielder, Missouri State
- Bats/Throws: R/R | Avg: .346 | H: 71 | R: 62 | HR: 20 | RBI: 57
A semifinalist for the NCBWA's Dick Howser Trophy for the second year in a row, Jake Burger became the fifth Missouri State standout to earn MVC Player of the Year recognition. The two-time All-American leads the Valley and ranks fourth nationally with 22 home runs, combining with fellow Bear Jeremy Eierman to form the top power combination at the Division I level this season (41 homers) while leading the Bears to an MVC regular-season title and top-20 national ranking. Burger also paces the circuit in on-base percentage, runs scored and RBIs, while ranking among the nation's top 15 hitters in slugging, as well.
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- Griffin Canning
- Pitcher, UCLA
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Griffin Canning
- Pitcher, UCLA
- Bats/Throws: R/R | IP: 102.1 | W-L: 6-3 | ERA: 2.55 | BB: 28 | SO: 124
UCLA's Griffin Canning has become one the country's top starting pitchers. He has compiled a 7-3 record with a 2.34 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings pitched. He is top-10 in the NCAA in strikeouts, complete games and games started. This season he has thrown shutouts, all on the road during Pac-12 play. Canning has recorded double-digit strikeouts in eight starts, including three games in which he tied a career high with 12 punchouts. He is looking to become just the sixth UCLA player in program history to surpass 300 career strikeouts. Canning also ranks top-10 on the NCAA's active career list for shutouts, complete games and strikeouts.
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- Morgan Cooper
- Pitcher, Texas
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Morgan Cooper
- Pitcher, Texas
- Bats/Throws: R/R | IP: 77.1 | W-L: 6-3 | ERA: 2.33 | BB: 31 | SO: 96
Right-hander Morgan Cooper has compiled a 2.33 ERA in 77 1/3 innings pitched for the Longhorns this season. The redshirt junior has fanned 96 hitters, most in the Big 12 Conference, and has recorded double-digit strikeouts in three starts this year. He has allowed more than two runs in just two outings this season for the Longhorns, amassing a 1.45 ERA through his first 11 starts. Cooper has given up six hits or fewer in 12 of his 13 starts while limiting the opposition to a .200 batting average against.
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- Drew Ellis
- Infielder, Louisville
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Drew Ellis
- Infielder, Louisville
- Bats/Throws: R/R | Avg: .387 | H: 75 | R: 50 | HR: 16 | RBI: 51
Louisville junior infielder Drew Ellis was an All-ACC First Team selection after leading the conference in slugging percentage (.737) while also ranking second in batting average (.387) and on-base percentage (.481), and third in home runs (16). He also added 18 doubles and 51 RBIs and started all 55 games for the Cardinals. The Jeffersonville, Indiana, native was selected as the National Player of the Month in April by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after hitting .455 (30-for-66) in 19 games with five doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 22 RBIs and a .532 on-base percentage.
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- Greg Deichmann
- Outfielder, LSU
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Greg Deichmann
- Outfielder, LSU
- Bats/Throws: L/R | Avg: .320 | H: 66 | R: 42 | HR: 17 | RBI: 63
Greg Deichmann is No. 2 in the SEC this season in homers (17), No. 3 in RBIs (63), No. 4 in slugging pct. (.617) and No. 5 in total bases (127). He posted a career-best 11-game hitting streak from April 4-21. He collected 26 RBIs in his final 21 games of the 2016 season and was LSU's leading hitter in postseason games in 2016 (SEC and NCAA Tournament combined), batting .385 (15-for-39) with one double, five homers, 16 RBIs and seven runs.
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- Alex Faedo
- Pitcher, Florida
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Alex Faedo
- Pitcher, Florida
- Bats/Throws: R/R | IP: 90.1 | W-L: 7-2 | ERA: 2.89 | BB: 30 | SO: 106
Junior Alex Faedo earned his First All-SEC selection in 2017 after finishing the regular season with a 7-2 record and 2.89 earned run average, 10th best in the Southeastern Conference. He totaled 106 strikeouts, second most in the SEC, and 90 1/3 innings pitched, fourth-most in the conference. Faedo has 10 quality starts on the season as the Gators' Friday-night starter. He was named the SEC Pitcher of the Week twice this season: going 8 2/3 scoreless vs. Miami and 8 2/3 scoreless vs. South Carolina. Faedo's career winning percentage of .813 (26-6) ranks first in school history for pitchers with at least 20 decisions.
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![Fairchild.Stuart.17[1]](https://img.mlbstatic.com/opprops-images/image/private/t_4x5/w_372/opprops/t4bmz9n0zq70dxn1ynds.jpg)
- Stuart Fairchild
- Outfielder, Wake Forest
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Stuart Fairchild
- Outfielder, Wake Forest
- Bats/Throws: R/R | Avg: .350 | H: 79 | R: 59 | HR: 13 | RBI: 57
The only player in the ACC with at least 15 home runs and 15 doubles, Stuart Fairchild is a true five-tool competitor. The junior center fielder has yet to commit an error in nearly 150 defensive chances and has a .353 average at the plate. A three-time All-ACC honoree, Fairchild has surpassed 200 career hits, 50 doubles, 25 homers and 40 stolen bases in his three-year career. He is best when the light shines the brightest, with a better-than-.300 average, 14 extra-base hits and eight steals in ACC play, not including a two-homer game against Miami in the ACC Baseball Championship.
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- Steven Gingery
- Pitcher, Texas Tech
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Steven Gingery
- Pitcher, Texas Tech
- Bats/Throws: R/L | IP: 79.1 | W-L: 8-1 | ERA: 1.82 | BB: 24 | SO: 93
Sophomore left-hander Steven Gingery has been masterful on the mound for the Red Raiders in 2017, putting together a 9-1 mark in 14 starts. Over 85 1/3 innings pitched, Gingery has struck out 99 batters, allowing only 16 runs for a 1.69 ERA. He has five or more strikeouts in all 14 appearances this season, including two cases of 10 K's, both on the road, at Oklahoma (April 1) and Kansas State (April 14). His strikeout total is the most by a Red Raiders pitcher since Chad Bettis (102) in 2010. He needs only 10 more strikeouts to crack the top-10 list for strikeouts in a single season at Texas Tech, while his ERA is on pace to make the list, currently sitting seventh all time.
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- Nate Harris
- Pitcher, Louisiana Tech
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Nate Harris
- Pitcher, Louisiana Tech
- Bats/Throws: R/R | IP: 87.2 | W-L: 9-0 | ERA: 1.75 | BB: 10 | SO: 90
Nate Harris ended the regular season leading Conference USA in wins (8), saves (8), ERA (1.75), complete games (3), WHIP (0.90), walks allowed per nine innings (1.03) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.0). On top of leading Conference USA in those categories, he ranks top-15 in the nation in wins, ERA, WHIP and walks allowed per nine. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is second in the nation. Harris is the ONLY player in college baseball with three complete games and seven or more saves this season, highlighting his one-of-a-kind versatility on the mound. Of his 90 strikeouts this season, 77 have been swinging. He tossed a shutout in each of his first two career starts this season.
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- Keston Hiura
- Infielder / Outfielder, UC Irvine
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Keston Hiura
- Infielder / Outfielder, UC Irvine
- Bats/Throws: R/R | Avg: .411 | H: 74 | R: 43 | HR: 8 | RBI: 35
Junior Keston Hiura has made the most of his situation, as he's been hampered by a nagging arm injury that arose in the 2016 season. Despite only being able to DH, he's performed at his full potential, commanding every Big West offensive category and presiding among the national leaders in batting average, slugging, and on-base percentage. He's hit for power, with eight home runs and 23 doubles, honed his plate vision and discipline with 50 walks, and even leads the team on the basepaths with nine stolen bases.
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- J.J. Matijevic
- Infielder, Arizona
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- J.J. Matijevic
- Infielder, Arizona
- Bats/Throws: L/R | Avg: .400 | H: 86 | R: 53 | HR: 10 | RBI: 61
The Pac-12 leader in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles and RBIs, J.J. Matijevic is having one of the finest seasons in the country. The junior first baseman is hitting .400 with 27 doubles (second in the nation), 10 home runs and 61 RBIs. He's also 9-for-9 in stolen bases and has scored 53 runs. Matijevic has 27 multi-hit games this season, including five four-hit games. He has 13 multi-RBI games, including four games where he's had five or more RBIs in a game. He's three doubles away from tying the Arizona single-season record of 30.
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- Nick Madrigal
- Infielder, Oregon State
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Nick Madrigal
- Infielder, Oregon State
- Bats/Throws: R/R | Avg: .386 | H: 76 | R: 46 | HR: 4 | RBI: 31
Nick Madrigal has been described as the best player in college baseball by multiple head coaches -- and for good reason. He's been a dynamic offensive and defensive force for the Beavers this season. He's in the top five in the Pac-12 in average (.386), slugging percentage (.558), on-base percentage (.451), runs (46), hits (76), doubles (18), total bases (110) and stolen bases (15) -- the only player in the conference who can make that claim. He's done so at the plate while splitting time between shortstop and second base, where he's among the Pac-12's leaders with 136 assists and has committed just four errors in 206 chances for a .981 fielding percentage.
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- Gunner Leger
- Pitcher, Louisiana Lafayette
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Gunner Leger
- Pitcher, Louisiana Lafayette
- Bats/Throws: L/L | IP: 84.1 | W-L: 10-2 | ERA: 2.03 | BB: 24 | SO: 77
Gunner Leger is a three-time all-conference performer in a league that has consistently produced top-end starting pitching. The 2017 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year, Leger has combined to post six shutouts on the season and has ten quality starts in 14 outings. The left-hander has limited opponents to two or fewer earned runs in all but three starts this year, and has wins against Southern Miss, South Alabama, Coastal Carolina and Sam Houston State. Leger's 10 victories rank fourth in the nation. He also ranks top 50 in the country in ERA, starts, hits allowed per nine innings, and WHIP.
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- Luke Heimlich
- Pitcher, Oregon State
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Luke Heimlich
- Pitcher, Oregon State
- Bats/Throws: L/L | IP: 103.1 | W-L: 9-1 | ERA: 0.87 | BB: 20 | SO: 114
Luke Heimlich has dominated as the Friday-night starter for the nation's top pitching staff. He holds a 9-1 record and a 0.87 ERA, which is the lowest in the nation. Heimlich went 6-1 against conference competition, holding Pac-12 teams to a .187 batting average, just a shade above his .178 average against overall. The Puyallup, Washington, native has finished with 13 quality starts this season in 14 appearances, and has kept opponents to one earned run or none 12 times. The other two? He allowed just two earned runs. Oh, and he was a three-time Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week.
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- Nate Pearson
- Pitcher, College of Central Florida
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Nate Pearson
- Pitcher, College of Central Florida
- Bats/Throws: R/R | IP: 81 | W-L: 5-2 | ERA: 1.56 | BB: 23 | SO: 118
The College of Central Florida's Nate Pearson was a force on the mound in 2017. The 6-6, 245-pound right-hander from Tampa dominated opponents, allowing one earned run or none in nine of his 13 starts. His 1.56 ERA (0.85 in conference) ranks second all time in Patriots history. In 2017, Nate held opponents to a .194 batting average while striking out 118 in 81 innings. He also had nine or more strikeouts in nine of his 13 starts, as his fastball sat between 94-98 mph. Pearson is an LSU signee and is also projected by numerous publications to be taken in the top 35 picks in the upcoming 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
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- Brian Shaffer
- Pitcher, Maryland
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Brian Shaffer
- Pitcher, Maryland
- Bats/Throws: R/R | IP: 97 | W-L: 7-3 | ERA: 1.67 | BB: 17 | SO: 98
Brian Shaffer has put together one of the top pitching seasons in Maryland history, sporting a Big Ten-best 1.67 ERA (ninth in the country) in 97 innings pitched. He is the only player in the conference to toss more than 90 innings this season. Shaffer is second in the conference in strikeouts (98) and third in opposing batting average (.206). Shaffer's 0.91 WHIP Is the best in the Big Ten and 17th in the country. He was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and was a two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Week. He is the first Maryland player in 25 years to win an overall conference player award.
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- Pavin Smith
- First Base / Outfielder, Virginia
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Pavin Smith
- First Base / Outfielder, Virginia
- Bats/Throws: L/L | Avg: .348 | H: 73 | R: 50 | HR: 12 | RBI: 70
Pavin Smith was a First-Team All-ACC honoree in 2017 after hitting 12 home runs and racking up a program-record 70 RBIs in the regular season. Despite his power numbers, he has struck out only nine times this year and ranks as the second toughest player to strike out in Division I baseball. He now has 27 career home runs, which is tied for eighth in school history. Smith owns a .347 batting average this season while primarily playing first base.
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- David Peterson
- Pitcher, Oregon
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- David Peterson
- Pitcher, Oregon
- Bats/Throws: L/L | IP: 93.1 | W-L: 11-3 | ERA: 2.31 | BB: 13 | SO: 131
David Peterson has been dominant in 2017 for Oregon. The Ducks' lefty is the only pitcher in the country to rank in the top six in four separate pitching categories heading into the regular season's final weekend. Peterson is second in the nation in wins (11), third in strikeouts (131), fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.08) and sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (12.63). Oregon's ace was named the NCBWA National Pitcher of the Month in March, while also being named a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week three times, the Pac-12 Conference Pitcher of the Week three times and a NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week once. He has an Oregon record six double-digit-strikeout games in 2017.
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- JP Sears
- Pitcher, The Citadel
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- JP Sears
- Pitcher, The Citadel
- Bats/Throws: L/L | IP: 93 | W-L: 7-2 | ERA: 2.03 | BB: 22 | SO: 138
JP Sears was selected the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year after leading the nation in strikeouts through the regular season with 138. After his start in the SoCon Championship, Sears still leads Division I in strikeouts with 142. He struck out at least 10 batters on seven different occasions, highlighted by a 20-strikeout performance in a two-hit shutout over VMI on March 24. Sears is also third in Division I with 13.41 strikeouts per nine innings and allowed just 27 walks in 95 innings pitched. He finished the regular season with a 2.03 earned run average and held opponents to a .198 batting average.
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- Evan White
- Infielder, Kentucky
- 2017
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- 2017 CandidatesGSA Winners
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- 2017
- Evan White
- Infielder, Kentucky
- Bats/Throws: R/L | Avg: .385 | H: 67 | R: 39 | HR: 8 | RBI: 34
Evan White was named second-team All-SEC in 2017 and is a three-time SEC All-Defensive Team member. Despite missing 13 games early in the season, he has 25 multithit games, nine multi-RBI games, four game-winning RBIs and led the nation in doubles per game. He ranks 23rd nationally in batting average and has hit safely in 30 of his last 34 games, including a streak of 22 games where he reached base safely. White currently ranks ninth on Kentucky's all-time career hits list and fifth in career batting average.
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