The four finalists for the Golden Spikes Award were announced by USA Baseball on Wednesday, with UNC junior right-hander JB Bukauskas becoming the seventh Tar Heel in school history to make the final cut.
For the last 40 years, the award has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country–based on their ability, sportsmanship, character and overall contributions to the sport.
Bukauskas was named a First Team All-American and the ACC Pitcher of the Year after posting an 8-0 record with 106 strikeouts during the regular season. His 1.87 ERA also ranked in the top five nationally.
With a fastball that sits in the mid-90’s and arguably the best slider in America, the Houston Astros selected Bukauskas on Monday with the 15th overall pick in the MLB Draft.
He joins Colin Moran (2013), Dustin Ackley (2009), Andrew Miller (2006), Russ Adams (2002), B.J. Surhoff (1985) and Scott Bankhead (1984) as the only UNC players to become a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
This season’s other Golden Spikes Award finalists include: Virginia’s Adam Haseley, Louisville’s Brendan McKay and Mississippi State’s Brent Rooker.
Haseley led the ACC with a .400 batting average, while also posting a 7-1 record as a starting pitcher for Virginia.
McKay was named the ACC Player of the Year after posting a fantastic two-way season of his own at Louisville–hitting .361 with 15 home runs, and posting a 2.22 ERA in 13 starts on the mound.
Rooker earned SEC Player of the Year honors for Mississippi State after hitting .415 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs.
All four finalists were selected within the first 35 picks of the MLB Draft.
The award will be determined by a committee of more than 200 voters–and by fans at GoldenSpikesAward.com who will see their choice count as a single vote toward the final tally.
A winner will be announced live on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Thursday, June 29.
Comments on Chapelboro are moderated according to our Community Guidelines