Gelof, Savino Added to Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Jake Gelof and junior Nate Savino were each included on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch list announced by USA Baseball on Tuesday (April 5). Gelof and Savino were among 45 featured on the midseason watch list for the award annually presented the top amateur baseball player in the country.

Virginia was one of eight programs nationally with multiple players on the midseason watch list. All-time, UVA has produced 12 midseason watch list selections, the sixth most of any school in the country. The Cavaliers have been represented six times since 2013, tied for the ninth most in college baseball.

Gelof has put up historic numbers through his first 28 games of the 2022 season. Going into midweek action he leads the country in home runs (14), RBI (51), RBI per game (1.82), slugging percentage (1.010) and total bases (99). He leads the Cavaliers and ranks eighth nationally with a .439 batting average (43-for-98). His 14 home runs in 2022 are tied for the sixth-most in a single season in school history.

Gelof was named ACC Player of the Week, NCBWA co-National Player of the Week and listed as a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Player of the Week back on Feb. 28 after going 9-for-10 with four home runs in a four-game stretch, including UVA’s first cycle since 2002. He has reached base in all but one game this season and sports an on-base percentage of .539, the sixth highest in the NCAA.

Savino is in the midst of a career year posting a 4-1 record with a 3.00 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched his season. The Cavalier ace has produced a quality start in all but three starts this season. He earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors on March 14 after tossing a complete game shutout in the ACC opener against Duke on March 11. He needed just 103 pitches, fanned seven batters and did not allow a runner to reach second base in the contest. He second start of the season he struck out a career-high, 11 batters in just four innings pitched.

The 2022 Golden Spikes Award timeline:
May 24: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, fan voting begins
June 6: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
June 8: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, fan voting begins
June 14: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
June 24: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award trophy presentation

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 2021 Golden Spikes Award winner was Kevin Kopps from the University of Arkansas. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as Andrew Vaughn (’18), Brendan McKay (’17), Kyle Lewis (’16), Andrew Benintendi (’15), Kris Bryant (’13), Mike Zunino (’12), Bryce Harper (’10), Stephen Strasburg (’09), and David Price (’07). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Buster Posey (’08), Tim Lincecum (’06), Alex Gordon (’05), 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.