TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Wildcats sophomore catcher
Austin Wells has been named to the 2020 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, USA Baseball announced this afternoon.
The Golden Spikes Award has been presented annually since 1978 to the top amateur baseball player in the country. With records dating back to 2008, Wells is only the second Arizona underclassmen who has been selected to the Preseason Watch List and the first since Kevin Newman received the honor heading into the 2014 season.
The Wildcats have now had a player named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List for three consecutive years (
Nick Quintana 2019, Alfonso Rivas 2018), and nine times since 2008.
Wells adds the watch list honor to his growing list of superlatives that includes a selection as the 2019 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, consensus 2019 Freshman All-America picks, and consensus 2020 Preseason All-America recognition. In his first year with the Wildcats in 2019, Wells hit .353 with 73 runs scored, 15 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, and 60 RBI.
The last Wildcat to win the Golden Spikes Award was outfielder Terry Francona, who took home the honors following the 1980 season.
2020 Golden Spikes Award timeline:
- February 14: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award fan nominations begin
- April 6: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award fan nominations end
- April 9: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list announced
- May 14: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, fan voting begins
- May 24: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
- May 28: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, fan voting begins
- June 7: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
- June 11: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award trophy presentation
Wells and the Wildcats kick off the 2020 season tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 14 with the first contest of a three-game series against the Albany Great Danes at Hi Corbett Field; first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. MST.
Tickets
All season ticket options, single-game tickets, and group options for the Wildcats 2020 baseball season are available now and can be purchased by visiting
ArizonaWildcats.com/BSB or by calling 520-621-CATS.
