Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

CARY, N.C. – Tennessee junior Jordan Beck was one of 55 players named to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list, which was announced by USA Baseball on Tuesday afternoon.

Beck’s selection marks the third consecutive year that the Vols have had a player named to the award’s preseason watch list. He joins the likes of Max Ferguson (2021), Connor Pavolony (2021), Garrett Crochet (2020) and Alerick Soularie (2020) as UT players that have earned that distinction in recent years. Liam Spence was also named to the award’s midseason watch list last season.

The Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country and consists of players from amateur levels ranging from high school to NCAA Division I. To see the full Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list, click HERE.

Vols OF Jordan Beck / Credit: UT Athletics

Beck has racked up the preseason honors this year, earning preseason All-SEC acclaim as well as preseason All-America recognition from multiple outlets. The Hazel Green, Alabama, native enters the year with high expectations after a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him lead the team with 15 home runs and 64 runs batted in.

The junior outfielder is regarded as one of the most talented players in the country and is as a potential first-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. Beck is rated as the No. 17 overall prospect for the 2022 draft by D1Baseball.com.

Fan voting will once again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2022. Amateur baseball fans will be able to vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, starting on May 24 with the naming of the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 8 and fan voting will open at GoldenSpikesAward.com concurrently, remaining open through June 12.

To stay up-to-date on the 2022 Golden Spikes Award visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Twitter and Instagram.

2022 Golden Spikes Award Timeline:
April 5: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list announced
May 24: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, fan voting begins
May 29: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
June 8: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, fan voting begins
June 12: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends

Tennessee Baseball 2022 Preseason Honors

OF Jordan Beck
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
NCBWA Preseason All-American – Second Team
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – Second Team
Baseball America Preseason All-American – Third Team
Preseason All-SEC – Second Team

OF Drew Gilbert
Preseason All-SEC – Second Team

C Evan Russell
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – Third Team

RHP Blade Tidwell
Baseball America Preseason All-American – First Team
NCBWA Preseason All-American – First Team
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason All-American – First Team
Perfect Game Preseason All-American – Second Team