Feb. 10, 2015
Juniors Walker Buehler, Carson Fulmer and Dansby Swanson have been named to the 50-player Golden Spikes Award watch list.
The Golden Spikes Award is given annually by USA Baseball to the nation’s top amateur player. Players on the list represent 17 different conferences led by 12 from the Southeastern Conference. The three Commodores on the list are the most from any school in the nation. The list will be expanded to 60 players in April before semifinalists are announced on May 22, finalists June 3 and the winner on June 23 at a presentation in Los Angeles.
Landing on the Golden Spikes Award watch list adds to a lengthy preseason of honors for the Vandy trio. All three have been named preseason first team All-Americans by every media outlet in the nation and are considered three of the top prospects in college baseball.
Buehler led Vanderbilt with 12 wins last season and his 111 strikeouts from a year ago are tops on the roster entering this season. A productive summer in the Cape Cod League and for Team USA led to him being named the No. 1 prospect in the Cape Cod League.
Fulmer’s transition from the Vandy bullpen to the starting rotation last year helped turn the season around for the eventual national champs. The right-hander went 7-1 with 10 saves and a 1.98 ERA, the fifth-lowest in school history and lowest since 1973. He was named the No. 2 prospect on Team USA.
Swanson produced one of the greatest seasons ever by a Commodore in 2014 leading the nation with 27 doubles to match the VU record. He earned Most Outstanding Player Award honors at the College World Series after being named an All-American second baseman. He was the top position prospect on Team USA last summer.
David Price is the only Vanderbilt player to ever win the Golden Spikes Award taking home the trophy after his outstanding 2007 season when the lefty fanned a school record 194 batters.
The top-ranked Commodores open the season Friday against Santa Clara at 4 p.m. inside Hawkins Field.