Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell
Brock Vradenburg Garners Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist Accolades
5/22/2023 8:28:00 PM | Baseball
Spartan first baseman tabbed one of 25 semifinalist for 2023 Golden Spikes Award.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball player Brock Vradenburg was named a semifinalist for the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, announced Monday afternoon by USA Baseball, continuing the process of identifying the top amateur baseball player in the nation.Â
The 45th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 25 at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, leading into game two of the College World Series finals.
Vradenburg is one of 25 semifinalists, including one of three players from the Big Ten Conference, joined by Max Anderson of Nebraska and Matt Shaw of Maryland.
A native of Pasadena, Calif., Vradenburg was also on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, and was also tabbed a semifinalist for the NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy.
Vradenburg enters Tuesday's Big Ten Tournament game second the B1G and ranks 34th in the NCAA in batting average (.397). Vradenburg also ranks third in the B1G and 38th in the NCAA in hits per game (1.56), while also ranking sixth in the conference and 39th in the country overall in hits (81). The Spartan first baseman is third in the B1G in on-base + slugging pct (OPS) at 1.218. Vradenburg also is fourth in the B1G and 44th in the NCAA in on-base percentage (.488), along with ranking fourth in the league and 37th in the nation in slugging percentage (.730). He also ranks fourth in the league and 33rd in the nation in total bases (149). He is also third in the B1G and 31st in the NCAA in RBI (66), while ranking fourth in the league and 36th in the country in RBI/game (1.27)
Vradenburg helped lead the Spartans to their first Big Ten Tournament berth since 2018, and eighth-seeded MSU will take on regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Maryland in Game 3 of Tuesday's opening day, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT. The 41st Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament will be held Tuesday-Sunday, May 23-28, at Charles Schwab Field Omaha (formerly TD Ameritrade Park) in Omaha, Neb., site of the NCAA Men's College World Series.Â
The Spartans vs. Terrapins winner will face the winner between No. 4 Nebraska and No. 5 Rutgers in Game 8 on Thursday, May 25 at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT, while the losers of MSU-UMD and NEB-RUT play in Game 6 on Thursday, May 25 at 11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT.
Tuesday's MSU game and all of the 2023 B1G Baseball Tournament will be televised on Big Ten Network, and MSU's games will also be carried on the Spartan Media Network, and "Listen Live" links, as well as "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" will be available on MSUSpartans.com.
MSU's and the B1G Tournament schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.
Â
The 45th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 25 at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, leading into game two of the College World Series finals.
Vradenburg is one of 25 semifinalists, including one of three players from the Big Ten Conference, joined by Max Anderson of Nebraska and Matt Shaw of Maryland.
A native of Pasadena, Calif., Vradenburg was also on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, and was also tabbed a semifinalist for the NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy.
Vradenburg enters Tuesday's Big Ten Tournament game second the B1G and ranks 34th in the NCAA in batting average (.397). Vradenburg also ranks third in the B1G and 38th in the NCAA in hits per game (1.56), while also ranking sixth in the conference and 39th in the country overall in hits (81). The Spartan first baseman is third in the B1G in on-base + slugging pct (OPS) at 1.218. Vradenburg also is fourth in the B1G and 44th in the NCAA in on-base percentage (.488), along with ranking fourth in the league and 37th in the nation in slugging percentage (.730). He also ranks fourth in the league and 33rd in the nation in total bases (149). He is also third in the B1G and 31st in the NCAA in RBI (66), while ranking fourth in the league and 36th in the country in RBI/game (1.27)
Vradenburg helped lead the Spartans to their first Big Ten Tournament berth since 2018, and eighth-seeded MSU will take on regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Maryland in Game 3 of Tuesday's opening day, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT. The 41st Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament will be held Tuesday-Sunday, May 23-28, at Charles Schwab Field Omaha (formerly TD Ameritrade Park) in Omaha, Neb., site of the NCAA Men's College World Series.Â
The Spartans vs. Terrapins winner will face the winner between No. 4 Nebraska and No. 5 Rutgers in Game 8 on Thursday, May 25 at 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT, while the losers of MSU-UMD and NEB-RUT play in Game 6 on Thursday, May 25 at 11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT.
Tuesday's MSU game and all of the 2023 B1G Baseball Tournament will be televised on Big Ten Network, and MSU's games will also be carried on the Spartan Media Network, and "Listen Live" links, as well as "Watch Live" and "Live Stats" will be available on MSUSpartans.com.
MSU's and the B1G Tournament schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates.
Â
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballJake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Feb. 24 2026
Tuesday, February 24
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Feb. 16 2026
Monday, February 16
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Jan. 26 2026
Monday, January 26
Pursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
Monday, May 19