PHOENIX – Spencer Torkelson will have a shot at two of NCAA College Baseball's most prestigious Player of the Year Awards as he has been named a semifinalist for both USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America's Dick Howser Trophy, the two organizations have announced.
The Golden Spikes award released it 25-member semifinalist list on Monday while the Dick Howser Trophy announced 35 semifinalists late last week. Torkelson is the only freshman in the country to be represented on either list.
Torkelson is the NCAA's current national leader in home runs with 25 in 2018 – two more than any other player - as he attempts to become the first freshman player in NCAA history to lead the country in home runs. Torkelson needs just one homer to tie the NCAA freshman record of 26 set by Georgia Southern's Todd Green in 1990.
Torkelson's 25 homers obliterated the previous Sun Devil Freshman record of 11 set by Barry Bonds in 1983 and also broke the Pac-12 freshman record of 22 that was previously held by USC's Jeff Clement.
The freshman is just the sixth player to reach 25 home runs since the BBCOR batting technology changes took effect in 2011 and the only freshman in the NCAA to reach the milestone in that time.
The frosh became the first Pac-12 player to reach 25 home runs since fellow Sun Devil Mitch Jones set a ASU school record with 27 in 2000. Torkelson is now tied for 11th in Pac-12 history for single season home runs.
A native of Petaluma, Calif., Torkelson is slashing .323/.443/.769 on the season with a team-best 53 RBIs – the first Sun Devil to eclipse 50 RBIs since 2012 – a total good for sixth in the Pac-12. He has multiple RBI in a team-best 15 games this season – three more than any other Sun Devil.
Torkelson's .769 slugging percentage is third nationally while his 56 runs are third in the Pac-12 and 37th nationally. That slugging percentage is actually higher in league-only games, where his .786 in Pac-12 games is first in the conference by over 70 points. The .443 on-base percentage is ninth in the Pac-12.
Torkelson has reached 150 total bases on the season, good for sixth nationally. He has 33 runs scored in Pac-12 only games, a total that leads the league by five runs. He has reached base in 36 consecutive games entering the final weekend – one of the 10 longest active streaks in the nation.
Since the Golden Spikes Award began releasing a semifinalist list in 2007, Torkelson is just the ninth freshman player to earn the honor and the first to do so since 2016. He is the first Sun Devil player to be named a semifinalist since Zack MacPhee did so in 2010. He is the eighth Sun Devil overall to be named a semifinalist for the award.
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.
About the Dick Howser Trophy
This is the 32nd year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists will be announced on Friday, June 8. The 2018 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the seventh year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Friday, June 15 and then a press conference with the winner will be held on Saturday, June 16 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the opening day of the 2018 CWS.
The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager, who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.
The winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg - home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.
The Golden Spikes award released it 25-member semifinalist list on Monday while the Dick Howser Trophy announced 35 semifinalists late last week. Torkelson is the only freshman in the country to be represented on either list.
Torkelson is the NCAA's current national leader in home runs with 25 in 2018 – two more than any other player - as he attempts to become the first freshman player in NCAA history to lead the country in home runs. Torkelson needs just one homer to tie the NCAA freshman record of 26 set by Georgia Southern's Todd Green in 1990.
Torkelson's 25 homers obliterated the previous Sun Devil Freshman record of 11 set by Barry Bonds in 1983 and also broke the Pac-12 freshman record of 22 that was previously held by USC's Jeff Clement.
The freshman is just the sixth player to reach 25 home runs since the BBCOR batting technology changes took effect in 2011 and the only freshman in the NCAA to reach the milestone in that time.
The frosh became the first Pac-12 player to reach 25 home runs since fellow Sun Devil Mitch Jones set a ASU school record with 27 in 2000. Torkelson is now tied for 11th in Pac-12 history for single season home runs.
A native of Petaluma, Calif., Torkelson is slashing .323/.443/.769 on the season with a team-best 53 RBIs – the first Sun Devil to eclipse 50 RBIs since 2012 – a total good for sixth in the Pac-12. He has multiple RBI in a team-best 15 games this season – three more than any other Sun Devil.
Torkelson's .769 slugging percentage is third nationally while his 56 runs are third in the Pac-12 and 37th nationally. That slugging percentage is actually higher in league-only games, where his .786 in Pac-12 games is first in the conference by over 70 points. The .443 on-base percentage is ninth in the Pac-12.
Torkelson has reached 150 total bases on the season, good for sixth nationally. He has 33 runs scored in Pac-12 only games, a total that leads the league by five runs. He has reached base in 36 consecutive games entering the final weekend – one of the 10 longest active streaks in the nation.
Since the Golden Spikes Award began releasing a semifinalist list in 2007, Torkelson is just the ninth freshman player to earn the honor and the first to do so since 2016. He is the first Sun Devil player to be named a semifinalist since Zack MacPhee did so in 2010. He is the eighth Sun Devil overall to be named a semifinalist for the award.
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.
About the Dick Howser Trophy
This is the 32nd year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists will be announced on Friday, June 8. The 2018 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the seventh year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Friday, June 15 and then a press conference with the winner will be held on Saturday, June 16 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the opening day of the 2018 CWS.
The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major league player and manager, who died of brain cancer in 1987, is regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.
The winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze bust of Howser displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg - home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Both the winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists. Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.