Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
Vradenburg On 2023 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List
4/5/2023 3:28:00 PM | Baseball
Spartan first baseman leads the B1G and ranks 12th in NCAA in batting average.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball's Brock Vradenburg has been named to the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, announced Wednesday by USA Baseball, continuing the process of identifying the top amateur baseball player in the country. The list features 45 of the nation's best athletes from both college and high school baseball.
Vradenburg is one of only two players from Big Ten Conference teams on the 45-player list, joined by Iowa pitcher Brody Brecht.
Twenty-four athletes have played their way onto the list since the announcement of the Preseason Watch List on February 10. 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 22.
Vradenburg, a junior infielder from Pasadena, Calif., leads the B1G and ranks 12th in the NCAA in batting average (.442). He also leads the B1G and ranks fifth in the NCAA in hits per game (1.84), while also leading the conference and 23rd in the country overall in hits (46). The Spartan first baseman also leads the B1G in on-base + slugging pct (OPS) at 1.294. Vradenburg also tops the B1G and ranks 29th in the NCAA in on-base percentage (.525) along with second in the league and ranking 38th in the nation in slugging percentage (.769), as well as tied for sixth in the conference in home runs (7). He also ranks fourth in the league and 39th in the nation in total bases (80).Â
He is also fourth in the B1G and 62nd in the NCAA in RBI (34), while ranking fourth in the league and 39th in the country in RBI/game (1.36). He also is tied for third in the B1G and leads the team in runs (33), just ahead of teammate Trent Farquhar (29). Vradenburg is also third in the B1G in toughest to strikeout (10.4 AB per K). Additionally, Vradenburg also is tied for fifth in the league in triples (2), matching teammate Casey Mayes and trailing co-league leaders teammates Sam Busch and Mitch Jebb (3).
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.
Vradenburg and the Spartans host Ohio State in a three-game weekend series, Friday-Sunday, April 7-9. The MSU-OSU series opens on Friday with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch, before the middle game of the series on Saturday at 3:35 p.m. The Spartans and Buckeyes wrap up the weekend series on Sunday in a 1:05 p.m. contest.
Fans can follow Spartan baseball action with links at MSUSpartans.com.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.Â
Name; Position; School; Conference
Kris Armstrong; INF; Jacksonville; ASUN
Enrique Bradfield Jr.; OF; Vanderbilt; SEC
Brody Brecht; RHP; Iowa; Big Ten
Chase Burns; RHP; Tennessee; SEC
Homer Bush Jr.; OF; Grand Canyon; WAC
Jac Caglianone; LHP/1B; Florida; SEC
Ryan Campos; C; Arizona State; Pac-12
Gavin Casas; 1B; South Carolina; SEC
Brady Cerkownyk; C; Connors State; Region 2
Max Clark; INF; Franklin High School
Charlie Condon; 1B/OF; Georgia; SEC
Jacob Cozart; C; NC State; ACC
Dylan Crews; OF; LSU; SEC
Chase Davis; OF; Arizona; Pac-12
Chase Dollander; RHP; Tennessee; SEC
Mitch Farris; LHP; Wingate; South Atlantic
Cam Fisher; OF; Charlotte; C-USA
Jake Gelof; INF/OF; Virginia; ACC
Jacob Gonzalez; INF; Ole Miss; SEC
Mike Gutierrez; LHP; UC-Santa Barbara; Big West
Hunter Haas; INF; Texas A&M; SEC
Tanner Hall; RHP; Southern Miss; Sun Belt
Josh Hartle; LHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Hunter Hollan; LHP; Arkansas; SEC
Carter Holton; LHP; Vanderbilt; SEC
Walker Jenkins; OF; South Brunswick High School
Rhett Lowder; RHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Nolan McLean; RHP/OF/INF; Oklahoma State; Big 12
Noble Meyer; RHP; Jesuit High School
Braden Montgomery; RHP/OF; Stanford; Pac-12
Yohandy Morales; INF; Miami; ACC
Ethan Petry; OF; South Carolina; SEC
Josh Rivera; INF; Florida; SEC
Nolan Schanuel; INF/OF; FAU; C-USA
Nolan Schubart; OF/1B; Oklahoma State; Big 12
Paul Skenes; RHP; LSU; SEC
Sean Sullivan; LHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Kyle Teel; C/INF; Virginia; ACC
Tommy Troy; INF/OF; Stanford; Pac-12
Brock Vradenburg; INF; Michigan State; Big Ten
Bryson Ware; INF/OF; Auburn; SEC
JJ Wetherholt; INF; West Virginia; Big 12
Tommy White; 3B; LSU; SEC
Jacob Wilson; INF; Grand Canyon; WAC
Trey Yesavage; RHP; East Carolina; AAC
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 2022 Golden Spikes Award winner was Ivan Melendez from the University of Texas. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as Adley Rutschman ('19), Andrew Vaughn ('18), Brendan McKay ('17), Kyle Lewis ('16), Andrew Benintendi ('15), Kris Bryant ('13), Mike Zunino ('12), Bryce Harper ('10), and Stephen Strasburg ('09). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Buster Posey ('08), David Price ('07), 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.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for baseball in the United States and is committed to serving, protecting, and supporting the game of baseball and its 15.6 million participants. Founded in 1978, USA Baseball fields six national teams annually and is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). On the diamond, USA Baseball is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the reigning World Baseball Classic champion, and its national teams have won 66 gold medals in international competition. Off the field, the organization is dedicated to the proliferation and health of the sport through the creation and management of numerous development initiatives including BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education), Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL and the Prospect Development Pipeline. For more information on the organization, its national teams, and development-driven initiatives, visit the official website USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com.Â
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Vradenburg is one of only two players from Big Ten Conference teams on the 45-player list, joined by Iowa pitcher Brody Brecht.
Twenty-four athletes have played their way onto the list since the announcement of the Preseason Watch List on February 10. 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 22.
Vradenburg, a junior infielder from Pasadena, Calif., leads the B1G and ranks 12th in the NCAA in batting average (.442). He also leads the B1G and ranks fifth in the NCAA in hits per game (1.84), while also leading the conference and 23rd in the country overall in hits (46). The Spartan first baseman also leads the B1G in on-base + slugging pct (OPS) at 1.294. Vradenburg also tops the B1G and ranks 29th in the NCAA in on-base percentage (.525) along with second in the league and ranking 38th in the nation in slugging percentage (.769), as well as tied for sixth in the conference in home runs (7). He also ranks fourth in the league and 39th in the nation in total bases (80).Â
He is also fourth in the B1G and 62nd in the NCAA in RBI (34), while ranking fourth in the league and 39th in the country in RBI/game (1.36). He also is tied for third in the B1G and leads the team in runs (33), just ahead of teammate Trent Farquhar (29). Vradenburg is also third in the B1G in toughest to strikeout (10.4 AB per K). Additionally, Vradenburg also is tied for fifth in the league in triples (2), matching teammate Casey Mayes and trailing co-league leaders teammates Sam Busch and Mitch Jebb (3).
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.
Vradenburg and the Spartans host Ohio State in a three-game weekend series, Friday-Sunday, April 7-9. The MSU-OSU series opens on Friday with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch, before the middle game of the series on Saturday at 3:35 p.m. The Spartans and Buckeyes wrap up the weekend series on Sunday in a 1:05 p.m. contest.
Fans can follow Spartan baseball action with links at MSUSpartans.com.
MSU's schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.Â
Name; Position; School; Conference
Kris Armstrong; INF; Jacksonville; ASUN
Enrique Bradfield Jr.; OF; Vanderbilt; SEC
Brody Brecht; RHP; Iowa; Big Ten
Chase Burns; RHP; Tennessee; SEC
Homer Bush Jr.; OF; Grand Canyon; WAC
Jac Caglianone; LHP/1B; Florida; SEC
Ryan Campos; C; Arizona State; Pac-12
Gavin Casas; 1B; South Carolina; SEC
Brady Cerkownyk; C; Connors State; Region 2
Max Clark; INF; Franklin High School
Charlie Condon; 1B/OF; Georgia; SEC
Jacob Cozart; C; NC State; ACC
Dylan Crews; OF; LSU; SEC
Chase Davis; OF; Arizona; Pac-12
Chase Dollander; RHP; Tennessee; SEC
Mitch Farris; LHP; Wingate; South Atlantic
Cam Fisher; OF; Charlotte; C-USA
Jake Gelof; INF/OF; Virginia; ACC
Jacob Gonzalez; INF; Ole Miss; SEC
Mike Gutierrez; LHP; UC-Santa Barbara; Big West
Hunter Haas; INF; Texas A&M; SEC
Tanner Hall; RHP; Southern Miss; Sun Belt
Josh Hartle; LHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Hunter Hollan; LHP; Arkansas; SEC
Carter Holton; LHP; Vanderbilt; SEC
Walker Jenkins; OF; South Brunswick High School
Rhett Lowder; RHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Nolan McLean; RHP/OF/INF; Oklahoma State; Big 12
Noble Meyer; RHP; Jesuit High School
Braden Montgomery; RHP/OF; Stanford; Pac-12
Yohandy Morales; INF; Miami; ACC
Ethan Petry; OF; South Carolina; SEC
Josh Rivera; INF; Florida; SEC
Nolan Schanuel; INF/OF; FAU; C-USA
Nolan Schubart; OF/1B; Oklahoma State; Big 12
Paul Skenes; RHP; LSU; SEC
Sean Sullivan; LHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Kyle Teel; C/INF; Virginia; ACC
Tommy Troy; INF/OF; Stanford; Pac-12
Brock Vradenburg; INF; Michigan State; Big Ten
Bryson Ware; INF/OF; Auburn; SEC
JJ Wetherholt; INF; West Virginia; Big 12
Tommy White; 3B; LSU; SEC
Jacob Wilson; INF; Grand Canyon; WAC
Trey Yesavage; RHP; East Carolina; AAC
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 2022 Golden Spikes Award winner was Ivan Melendez from the University of Texas. Past winners of this prestigious award include current Major League Baseball players such as Adley Rutschman ('19), Andrew Vaughn ('18), Brendan McKay ('17), Kyle Lewis ('16), Andrew Benintendi ('15), Kris Bryant ('13), Mike Zunino ('12), Bryce Harper ('10), and Stephen Strasburg ('09). Former Major League stars that have captured the award include Buster Posey ('08), David Price ('07), 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.
About USA Baseball
USA Baseball is the national governing body for baseball in the United States and is committed to serving, protecting, and supporting the game of baseball and its 15.6 million participants. Founded in 1978, USA Baseball fields six national teams annually and is a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). On the diamond, USA Baseball is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the reigning World Baseball Classic champion, and its national teams have won 66 gold medals in international competition. Off the field, the organization is dedicated to the proliferation and health of the sport through the creation and management of numerous development initiatives including BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education), Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL and the Prospect Development Pipeline. For more information on the organization, its national teams, and development-driven initiatives, visit the official website USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com.Â
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Players Mentioned
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