CARY, N.C. – Tennessee sophomore infielder Dean Curley was one of 55 players named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Golden Spikes Award presented by Chinook Seedery, USA Baseball announced on Friday.
Widely considered the most prestigious award in amateur baseball, the preseason watch list includes players across the high school and collegiate levels. The Golden Spikes Advisory Board will maintain the award’s watch list on a rolling basis, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award based on in-season performance.
Overall, 41 schools and 12 conferences are represented on the 2025 preseason watch list. The SEC leads all conferences with 17 players, followed by the ACC with 14 and the Big 12 with six.
Curley is making his first appearance on any Golden Spikes Award list after posting any impressive freshman campaign as the Vols’ starting shortstop. The California native is expected to be one of UT’s top players as he enters his sophomore year after earning Freshman All-SEC honors as well as Freshman All-America recognition from multiple outlets in 2024.
Curley participated with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team over the summer after batting .285 with 51 runs scored, 10 doubles, 12 home runs, 50 RBIs and nine stolen bases during his debut season on Rocky Top. He was also named to the 2024 Men’s College World Series All-Tournament team after helping lead Tennessee to its first national championship in program history.
With Curley’s selection this year, the Vols have had at least one player named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List for seven straight seasons.
The full preseason watch list can be seen HERE.
2025 Tennessee Baseball Preseason Honors
INF Dean Curley
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America First Team – Baseball America
Preseason All-America Second Team – Perfect Game
Preseason All-SEC First Team – SS
LHP Liam Doyle
Preseason All-America Third Team – Baseball America
Preseason All-SEC First Team – SP
OF Hunter Ensley
Preseason All-SEC Second Team – OF
INF Andrew Fischer
Preseason All-America Third Team – Baseball America
Preseason All-SEC Second Team – 3B
INF Gavin Kilen
Preseason All-America Second Team – Baseball America
Preseason All-SEC Second Team – 2B
RHP AJ Russell
Preseason All-America First Team – Baseball America
RHP Nate Snead
Preseason All-America First Team – Baseball America, NCWA
Preseason All-America Second Team – Perfect Game
Preseason All-SEC First Team – RP
