CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia baseball outfielder AJ Gracia was one of the 45 amateur baseball players included on USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List. The Golden Spikes Award is annually presented to the Country’s top amateur baseball player.
Gracia, who has started all 30 games for the Cavaliers and enters the weekend batting .352 (38-for-108) with nine home runs and 28 RBIs. The outfielder leads UVA in on-base percentage (.500) and total plate appearances (144). The outfielder ranks top 50 nationally in walks (27/34th) and runs scored (39/19th).
The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will continue maintaining a rolling list of athletes throughout the season, allowing players to play themselves into consideration for the award before the announcement of the semifinalists on May 14. Following the 25-player semifinalist announcement, the three finalists will be revealed on June 10, and then the winner will be named on June 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET during a presentation on MLB Network
About Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the most outstanding amateur baseball player in the nation with the Golden Spikes Award. The award is given each year to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability, exemplary sportsmanship and character, and an overall positive contribution to the sport. The 2025 Golden Spikes Award winner is Wehiwa Aloy from the University of Arkansas. 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/X @USAGoldenSpikes.