Baseball Duo Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List

CARY, N.C. — University of South Carolina junior catcher Cole Messina and sophomore outfielder Ethan Petry both were named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List, USA Baseball announced this afternoon (Friday, Feb. 9). The Golden Spikes Award is presented to the top amateur baseball player in the nation for the 2024 season.

The preseason list includes 55 players across high school and college baseball. The Golden Spikes Advisory Board will maintain the award’s watch list on a rolling basis, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award based on in-season performance.

Petry hit .376 batting average with 10 doubles, 23 home runs and 75 RBI during his freshman campaign. The Land O’Lakes, Fla., native scored 55 runs and had a .733 slugging percentage. In the Columbia Regional, Petry was 4-for-12 with five runs scored, a home run and three RBI on his way to being named to the All-Columbia Regional team. He was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award in 2023.

Messina hit .307 with 18 doubles, 17 home runs and 65 RBI in 62 games played in 2023. He slugged .615 and had a .428 on-base percentage while stealing eight bases. Messina threw out eight runners trying to steal this season and had 40 walks and 11 hit-by-pitches.

The Golden Spikes Award will announce its semifinalists on May 20, its finalists on June 5 and the winner on June 23.