DURHAM, N.C. – After helping lead the second-ranked NC State baseball team to its highest-ever ranking, NC State baseball’s Brian Brown and Brett Kinneman have been named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, announced Tuesday by the organization.
The Wolfpack is one of just six teams in the nation to have more than one player earn a spot on the list and the only program from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Brown and Kinneman are the fourth and fifth players in program history to be named to the distinguished list, joining Carlos Rodon, Trea Turner and Brett Austin.
Presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the top amateur player in college baseball and will be presented on June 28 in Los Angeles.
Brown has turned in a fantastic senior season and ranks among the top NCAA Division I pitchers with a 1.11 earned run average (ERA), as he has allowed just six earned runs in 48.2 innings. The Glenmoore, Pa., native also owns a perfect 4-0 record in eight starts this season.
He has struck out 45 batters to rank sixth among active NCAA Division I pitchers with 265 career strikeouts. Additionally, Brown has started 53 career games on the mound, which leads the nation.
Kinneman has continued to swing a hot bat at the plate for the Wolfpack, as he owns a team-high .336 batting average complemented by 13 home runs, which ties as the fourth most in the NCAA and leads the ACC. Hailing from York, Pa., he leads the nation with 44 RBI, after driving in eight runs over the weekend.
Earlier this season, he collected National and ACC Player of Week twice in addition to being named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) February Player of the Month.
As a team, NC State leads the ACC and ranks fifth in the country with 47 home runs, while compiling the second-best team earned run average (ERA) on the mound with a 3.25 clip.
The Wolfpack returns to action Wednesday evening when the squad travels to UNCW for a 6 p.m. first pitch before hosting Notre Dame at Doak Field at Dail Park this weekend.
The 2018 Golden Spikes Award timeline:
Monday, May 21: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, voting begins
Sunday, June 3: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists voting ends
Wednesday, June 6: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, voting begins
Friday, June 22: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists voting ends
Thursday, June 28: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award trophy presentation
A complete list of the 40-player Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list is as follows:
Name, Class, Position, School, Conference
Luken Baker; Jr.; IF/DH; TCU; Big 12
Joey Bart; Jr.; C; Georgia Tech; ACC
Seth Beer; Jr.; IF/OF; Clemson; ACC
Alec Bohm; Jr.; IF; Wichita State; American Athletic
Kyle Brnovich; So.; RHP; Elon; Colonial Athletic
Brian Brown; Sr.; LHP; NC State; ACC
Logan Browning; Sr.; LHP/OF; Florida Southern; Sunshine State
Kris Bubic; Jr.; LHP; Stanford; Pac-12
Michael Busch; So.; IF; North Carolina; ACC
Michael Byrne; Jr.; RHP; Florida; SEC
Gage Canning; Jr.; OF; Arizona State; Pac-12
Kody Clemens; Jr.; IF; Texas; Big 12
Joe DeMers; Jr.; RHP; Washington; Pac-12
Colton Eastman; Jr.; RHP; Cal State Fullerton; Big West
Jeremy Eierman; Jr.; IF; Missouri State; Missouri Valley
Tyler Frank; Jr.; IF; Florida Atlantic; Conference USA
Logan Gilbert; Jr.; RHP; Stetson; Atlantic Sun
Luke Heyer; Sr.; IF/OF; Kentucky; SEC
Chris Holba; Jr.; RHP; ECU; American Athletic
Jonathan India; Jr.; IF; Florida; SEC
Jake Irvin; Jr.; RHP; Oklahoma; Big 12
Mitchell Kilkenny; Jr.; RHP; Texas A&M; SEC
Brett Kinneman; Jr.; OF; NC State; ACC
Blaine Knight; Jr.; RHP; Arkansas; SEC
Trevor Larnach; Jr.; OF; Oregon State; Pac-12
Davis Martin; Jr.; RHP; Texas Tech; Big 12
Shane McClanahan; Jr.; LHP; South Florida; American Athletic
Keegan McGovern; Sr.; OF; Georgia; SEC
Drew Mendoza; So.; IF; Florida State; ACC
Casey Mize; Jr.; RHP; Auburn; SEC
Tristan Pompey; Jr.; OF; Kentucky; SEC
Griffin Roberts; Jr.; RHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Adley Rutschman; So.; C/IF; Oregon State; Pac-12
Nick Sandlin; Jr.; RHP; Southern Mississippi; Conference USA
Zack Shannon; Sr.; RHP/IF; Delta State; Gulf South
Brady Singer; Jr.; RHP; Florida; SEC
Bren Spillane; Jr.; IF/OF; Illinois; Big Ten
Spencer Torkelson; Fr.; IF; Arizona State; Pac-12
Andrew Vaughn; So.; IF; California; Pac-12
Matt Wallner; So.; UT; Southern Mississippi; Conference USA
About Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. Following the first-ever presentation of the Award to Bob Horner of Arizona State, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2017 Golden Spikes Award winner was Brendan McKay from the University of Louisville. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as Andrew Benintendi (’15), Kris Bryant (’13), Mike Zunino (’12), Trevor Bauer (’11), Bryce Harper (’10), Stephen Strasburg (’09), Buster Posey (’08), David Price (’07) Tim Lincecum (’06) and Alex Gordon (’05). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Pat Burrell (’98), Mark Kotsay (’95), Robin Ventura (’88), Jim Abbott (’87), Will Clark (’85), Dave Magadan (’83), Terry Francona (’80), Tim Wallach (’79), and Horner (’78). For more information, please visit GoldenSpikesAward.com.
Fans can follow the Golden Spikes Award on Twitter @USAGoldenSpikes.
About Rod Dedeaux Foundation
The Rod Dedeaux Foundation was formed to continue Rod’s spirit by supporting youth baseball and softball programs in underserved areas. Currently, inner city organizations are fighting for survival as public funding is drying up, coupled with the game’s waning popularity with children in Urban areas. Through the efforts of the Foundation, youth receive more than just uniforms and renovated facilities, they receive a sanctuary from challenging environments and a support system specifically designed to build character and academic support to enable underprivileged youth to achieve their dreams. For more information, please visit DedeauxFoundation.org.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for the sport of baseball in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The organization selects and trains the World Baseball Classic, Premier12 and Pan Am teams (and all other USA Baseball Professional Teams); the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team; the USA Baseball 18U, 15U and 12U National Teams; and the USA Baseball Women’s National Team, all of which participate in various international competitions each year. The organization is responsible for the continued proliferation and health of the sport, and leads a number of amateur initiatives including PLAYBALL and Pitch Smart. USA Baseball also presents the Golden Spikes Award annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. For more information, please visit the organization’s official websites: USABaseball.com, PLAYBALL.org, PitchSmart.org, GoldenSpikesAward.com and USABaseballShop.com.
