Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
JB Middleton Named 2025 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist by USA Baseball
5/18/2025 1:15:00 PM | Baseball
The 47th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 21 on ESPN
CARY, N.C. – USA Baseball announced Sunday the 25 semifinalists for the 2025 Golden Spikes Award presented by Chinook Seedery, which includes Southern Miss junior right-handed pitcher JB Middleton (Yazoo City, Miss.), moving one step closer to identifying the top amateur baseball player in the nation. The 47th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 21 on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. ET prior to first pitch of Game 1 of the Men's College World Series finals.
Twenty-three different schools are represented in this year's semifinalist group, including two schools that placed two players each on the list: Georgia Tech and Florida State.
"With another terrific amateur baseball season nearing the finish line, we are thrilled to honor the twenty-five best players in the country as Golden Spikes Award semifinalists," said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. "These athletes have put together tremendous seasons and are extremely deserving of this honor. We are excited to watch the remainder of season and to name the forty-seventh winner of the Golden Spikes Award next month."
Middleton finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and a 2.07 ERA with 104 strikeouts and only 23 walks and 53 hits in 91 1/3 innings, while opponents hit .169 against him. He led the Sun Belt in innings pitched and ranked second in both ERA and wins.
Through Saturday's games, Middleton ranked No. 2 nationally in WHIP (0.83), No. 3 in hits allowed by nine innings (5.22), fifth in ERA, No. 12 in wins and No. 15 in strikeouts. During the year, he pitched at least five innings in 13 of 14 starts, while posting 10 or more strikeout games four times during the year including a career-high 12 against both South Alabama and Georgia State.
Middleton won his last seven decisions and allowed zero or one earned run in an outing eight times. He was the only two-time Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week and is a finalist for Ferriss Trophy, the award for top collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi, semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and a member of the College Pitcher of the Year Watch List.
Overall, nine different conferences are represented among the 25 semifinalists. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) features eight players, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with seven and the Big Ten with four. Additionally, the Sun Belt has two athletes and the Atlantic-10 (A-10), Big 12, Ivy League, and Pac-12 have one player apiece.
Georgia's Charlie Condon is the most recent winner of the Golden Spikes Award, earning the prestigious honor after a record-setting season in 2024. He joins an elite group of recent winners including Dylan Crews (2023), Ivan Melendez (2022), Kevin Kopps (2021), Adley Rutschman (2019), Andrew Vaughn (2018), Brendan McKay (2017), Kyle Lewis (2016), Andrew Benintendi (2015), A.J. Reed (2014), Kris Bryant (2013), Mike Zunino (2012), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), and David Price (2007).
The 2025 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
• May 18: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
• May 28: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
• June 4: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
• June 20: Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
• June 21: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2025. Baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning today with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 4, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 20.
To stay up to date on the 2025 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter/X.
A complete list of the 25-player 2025 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists is as follows:
Name; School; Year; Position; Conference
Wehiwa Aloy - Arkansas - JR - SS – SEC
Kade Anderson - LSU - SO - LHP – SEC
Jamie Arnold - Florida State - JR - LHP – ACC
Aiva Arquette - Oregon State - JR - SS - Pac-12
Robbie Burnett - Georgia - SR - INF/OF – SEC
Drew Burress - Georgia Tech - SO - OF – ACC
Roch Cholowsky - UCLA - SO - SS - Big Ten
Kerrington Cross - Cincinnati - SR - 3B - Big 12
Daniel Cuvet - Miami - SO - 3B – ACC
Liam Doyle - Tennessee - JR - RHP – SEC
Joseph Dzierwa - Michigan State - JR - LHP - Big Ten
Ike Irish - Auburn - JR - OF/C – SEC
Jake Knapp - UNC - GR - RHP – ACC
Justin Lebron - Alabama - SO - SS – SEC
Kade Lewis - Wake Forest - SO - INF – ACC
Alex Lodise - Florida State - JR - INF – ACC
Kyle Lodise - Georgia Tech - JR - INF – ACC
JB Middleton - Southern Miss - JR - RHP – Sun Belt
Jacob Morrison - Coastal Carolina - R-SO - RHP - Sun Belt
Mason Neville - Oregon - JR - CF - Big Ten
Jack Ohman - Yale - FR - RHP - Ivy League
James Quinn-Irons - George Mason - JR - CF - A-10
Devin Taylor - Indiana - JR - OF - Big Ten
Dylan Volantis - Texas - FR - LHP – SEC
Kyson Witherspoon - Oklahoma - JR - RHP - SEC
About Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award, which is presented on ESPN annually, goes to the amateur baseball player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner was Charlie Condon from the University of Georgia. Winners of this prestigious award from the past 20 years include Major League Baseball All-Stars such as Adley Rutschman ('19), 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), Alex Gordon ('05), and Jered Weaver ('04). Fans can follow the Golden Spikes Award on Instagram and Twitter @USAGoldenSpikes.
About USA Baseball
Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, USA Baseball serves as the national governing body for baseball in the United States. Since 1978, the organization has been dedicated to Leading the Growth of Our Pastime's Future, supporting and protecting the game for its 15.6 million participants nationwide. A proud member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), USA Baseball's national teams have earned 70 gold medals in international competition, including two Olympic gold medals and a World Baseball Classic title. Beyond competition, USA Baseball champions the sport's growth and wellbeing through initiatives such as BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education), Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL, the Prospect Development Pipeline, and USABat.
Additionally, it recognizes the nation's top amateur baseball player each year with the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. For more information about USA Baseball, its national teams, or its development initiatives, visit USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com.
Twenty-three different schools are represented in this year's semifinalist group, including two schools that placed two players each on the list: Georgia Tech and Florida State.
"With another terrific amateur baseball season nearing the finish line, we are thrilled to honor the twenty-five best players in the country as Golden Spikes Award semifinalists," said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. "These athletes have put together tremendous seasons and are extremely deserving of this honor. We are excited to watch the remainder of season and to name the forty-seventh winner of the Golden Spikes Award next month."
Middleton finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and a 2.07 ERA with 104 strikeouts and only 23 walks and 53 hits in 91 1/3 innings, while opponents hit .169 against him. He led the Sun Belt in innings pitched and ranked second in both ERA and wins.
Through Saturday's games, Middleton ranked No. 2 nationally in WHIP (0.83), No. 3 in hits allowed by nine innings (5.22), fifth in ERA, No. 12 in wins and No. 15 in strikeouts. During the year, he pitched at least five innings in 13 of 14 starts, while posting 10 or more strikeout games four times during the year including a career-high 12 against both South Alabama and Georgia State.
Middleton won his last seven decisions and allowed zero or one earned run in an outing eight times. He was the only two-time Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week and is a finalist for Ferriss Trophy, the award for top collegiate baseball player in the state of Mississippi, semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and a member of the College Pitcher of the Year Watch List.
Overall, nine different conferences are represented among the 25 semifinalists. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) features eight players, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with seven and the Big Ten with four. Additionally, the Sun Belt has two athletes and the Atlantic-10 (A-10), Big 12, Ivy League, and Pac-12 have one player apiece.
Georgia's Charlie Condon is the most recent winner of the Golden Spikes Award, earning the prestigious honor after a record-setting season in 2024. He joins an elite group of recent winners including Dylan Crews (2023), Ivan Melendez (2022), Kevin Kopps (2021), Adley Rutschman (2019), Andrew Vaughn (2018), Brendan McKay (2017), Kyle Lewis (2016), Andrew Benintendi (2015), A.J. Reed (2014), Kris Bryant (2013), Mike Zunino (2012), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), and David Price (2007).
The 2025 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
• May 18: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
• May 28: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
• June 4: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
• June 20: Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
• June 21: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2025. Baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning today with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 4, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 20.
To stay up to date on the 2025 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter/X.
A complete list of the 25-player 2025 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists is as follows:
Name; School; Year; Position; Conference
Wehiwa Aloy - Arkansas - JR - SS – SEC
Kade Anderson - LSU - SO - LHP – SEC
Jamie Arnold - Florida State - JR - LHP – ACC
Aiva Arquette - Oregon State - JR - SS - Pac-12
Robbie Burnett - Georgia - SR - INF/OF – SEC
Drew Burress - Georgia Tech - SO - OF – ACC
Roch Cholowsky - UCLA - SO - SS - Big Ten
Kerrington Cross - Cincinnati - SR - 3B - Big 12
Daniel Cuvet - Miami - SO - 3B – ACC
Liam Doyle - Tennessee - JR - RHP – SEC
Joseph Dzierwa - Michigan State - JR - LHP - Big Ten
Ike Irish - Auburn - JR - OF/C – SEC
Jake Knapp - UNC - GR - RHP – ACC
Justin Lebron - Alabama - SO - SS – SEC
Kade Lewis - Wake Forest - SO - INF – ACC
Alex Lodise - Florida State - JR - INF – ACC
Kyle Lodise - Georgia Tech - JR - INF – ACC
JB Middleton - Southern Miss - JR - RHP – Sun Belt
Jacob Morrison - Coastal Carolina - R-SO - RHP - Sun Belt
Mason Neville - Oregon - JR - CF - Big Ten
Jack Ohman - Yale - FR - RHP - Ivy League
James Quinn-Irons - George Mason - JR - CF - A-10
Devin Taylor - Indiana - JR - OF - Big Ten
Dylan Volantis - Texas - FR - LHP – SEC
Kyson Witherspoon - Oklahoma - JR - RHP - SEC
About Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award, which is presented on ESPN annually, goes to the amateur baseball player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner was Charlie Condon from the University of Georgia. Winners of this prestigious award from the past 20 years include Major League Baseball All-Stars such as Adley Rutschman ('19), 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), Alex Gordon ('05), and Jered Weaver ('04). Fans can follow the Golden Spikes Award on Instagram and Twitter @USAGoldenSpikes.
About USA Baseball
Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, USA Baseball serves as the national governing body for baseball in the United States. Since 1978, the organization has been dedicated to Leading the Growth of Our Pastime's Future, supporting and protecting the game for its 15.6 million participants nationwide. A proud member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), USA Baseball's national teams have earned 70 gold medals in international competition, including two Olympic gold medals and a World Baseball Classic title. Beyond competition, USA Baseball champions the sport's growth and wellbeing through initiatives such as BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education), Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL, the Prospect Development Pipeline, and USABat.
Additionally, it recognizes the nation's top amateur baseball player each year with the prestigious Golden Spikes Award. For more information about USA Baseball, its national teams, or its development initiatives, visit USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com.
Players Mentioned
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