2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
CARY, N.C. – A program-record four Tennessee Volunteers have been named to the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball on Friday afternoon.
The pitching trio of Chase Dollander, Chase Burns and Drew Beam, along with newcomer Maui Ahuna, were all recognized on the 55-man preseason watch list for the award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top amateur baseball player.
The group of Dollander, Burns and Beam combined to make 43 starts last season, posting a 26-3 record with 273 strikeouts while issuing just 59 walks. Ahuna was a first-team All-Big 12 selection while at Kansas and played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team over the summer before joining the Vols’ program this fall.
With this year’s four selections, UT has now had at least one player named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List for four straight years and has had 13 total players named to the preseason list in the award’s history. Dollander, Burns and Beam all appeared on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List last season, with Burns also making the list of semifinalists in 2022.
Friday’s honor adds to a long list of preseason accolades for all four Vols, who have each garnered spots on multiple preseason All-America teams, as well.
In all, 40 different schools and 16 conferences are represented on this year’s preseason watch list. Tennessee and LSU led all programs with four selections apiece, while the SEC’s 17 players on the list led all conferences.
To view the full 2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, click HERE.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2023. Amateur baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning on May 22 with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 7, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 21.
The 2023 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
• April 5: Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List announced
• May 22: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced and fan voting begins
• June 5: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
• June 7: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced and fan voting begins
• June 21: Golden Spikes Award finalists’ fan voting ends
• June 25: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
To stay up to date on the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter.
2023 Tennessee Baseball Preseason Honors
INF Maui Ahuna
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America Second Team – NCBWA
Preseason All-America Third Team – D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball News, Perfect Game
Preseason All-SEC Second Team – SS
RHP Drew Beam
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America First Team – NCBWA
Preseason All-America Second Team – Collegiate Baseball News, Perfect Game
Preseason All-America Third Team – D1Baseball
RHP Chase Burns
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Preseason All-America First Team – D1Baseball, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball News, NCBWA, Perfect Game
Preseason All-SEC First Team – SP
LHP Kirby Connell
Preseason All-America Second Team – NCBWA
OF/C Jared Dickey
Preseason All-America Third Team – Baseball America
RHP Chase Dollander
Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
Perfect Game Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Preseason All-America First Team – D1Baseball, Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball News, NCBWA, Perfect Game
Preseason All-SEC First Team – SP
RHP Camden Sewell
Preseason All-America Second Team – Collegiate Baseball News
Preseason All-America Third Team – NCBWA
Preseason All-SEC Second Team – RP
-UT Athletics
