USA BASEBALL RELEASE

DURHAM, N.C. – University of Evansville junior pitcher Kyle Freeland was named to the 60-man preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list in an announcement made Friday afternoon by USA Baseball.
 
The Golden Spikes Award is presented annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country and will be presented for the 37th time in 2014.  The watch list features 60 of the nation's top amateur players and will be a "rolling" list until May 27 – when the Golden Spikes Award semifinalists are announced – ensuring that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the award throughout the collegiate and high school seasons.
 
Freeland burst onto the national baseball scene this summer, when he led the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League in strikeouts and was named to the Cape League All-Star Game as a member of the Hyannis Harbor Hawks.  The junior southpaw garnered Baseball America Preseason All-America Second Team accolades and was named the MVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year by both Baseball America and Perfect Game USA earlier this preseason.
 
On April 10, USA Baseball will release its 50-man midseason watch listed, shaped by USA Baseball staff and its committee of amateur baseball experts and media.  On May 27, USA Baseball will announce the semifinalists for the 2014 Golden Spikes Award.  The semifinalists will be sent to a voting body consisting of past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media that follow the amateur game closely, select professional baseball personnel, current USA Baseball staff and the 36 previous winners of the award, representing a group of more than 200 voters.
 
Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2014 and Tuesday, May 27, marks the day when amateur baseball fans across the country will be able to vote for their favorite semifinalists at GoldenSpikesAward.com.  As part of this selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list and on Tuesday, June 3, USA Baseball will announce the finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
 
Important Dates for the 2014 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award
February 14:  60-man preseason watch list released
April 10:  50-man midseason watch list released
May 8:  30-man watch list released
May 27:  Semifinalists announced; semifinalist voting begins; voters to select three
May 30:  Deadline to vote for finalists is 5 p.m. ET
June 3:  Finalists announced; finalist voting begins; voters to select one
June 13:  Deadline to vote for winner is 5 p.m. ET
July 17:  Golden Spikes Award presentation