Smith Named to Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List

Oliver Grigg April 4, 2024

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ Hagen Smith has been named to the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award.

The Golden Spikes Award, considered the most prestigious among college baseball’s national player of the year honors, recognizes the top amateur baseball player in the United States based on their athletic ability, sportsmanship, character and overall contribution to the sport. Smith is one of 45 players featured on this year’s midseason watch list.

Smith, the junior left-hander from Bullard, Texas, has lived up to lofty preseason expectations, boasting a perfect 5-0 record with a 1.54 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 35.0 innings through his first seven starts of the year. The Razorback ace has turned in a team-leading five quality starts while also recording a team-high five double-digit strikeout games.

A two-time SEC Pitcher of the Week this season, Smith currently leads the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (18.5) and is ranked third nationally in WHIP (0.74) and fourth nationally in total strikeouts (72). In his second start of the season, Smith tied an Arkansas school record with 17 strikeouts on 78 pitches over six shutout innings against nationally ranked Oregon State (Feb. 23) in the Kubota College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Arkansas has had two Golden Spikes Award winners in program history: outfielder Andrew Benintendi (2015) and pitcher Kevin Kopps (2021). Arkansas is one of only six schools, along with Florida State (4), Arizona State (3), Cal State Fullerton (3), LSU (2) and San Diego State (2), with multiple Golden Spikes Award winners.

The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will maintain a rolling list of athletes throughout the season, allowing players to play themselves into consideration for the award before the announcement of the semifinalists on May 20.

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

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