TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Baseball outfielder Chase Davis picked up another prestigious honor on Friday afternoon, earning a spot on the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List as announced by USA Baseball.

The 55-player watch list is the first step in USA Baseball's process of identifying the nation's greatest amateur baseball player in 2023. The Golden Spikes Award, college baseball's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, has been presented annually since 1978.

Davis, a unanimous Preseason All-American, is the 11th Arizona player to earn a spot on the award's Preseason Watch List since they began issuing one in 2008. Catcher Daniel Susac, who went on to be a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist and a first round pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft, was the most recent Wildcat to earn a spot on the Preseason Watch List.

The junior outfielder enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, posting a .289 batting average to go along with 56 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple, 18 home runs, and 54 RBI. His 18 home runs, 10 of which came during Pac-12 Conference play, were third most in the conference and tied for sixth most in program history for a single season. His outstanding defense was also crucial to the Wildcats success last year; Davis posted a sparkling .979 fielding percentage and two outfield assists as Arizona's every day starting left fielder.

Davis came alive in the postseason for the Wildcats last season, hitting .346 with nine runs, four extra-base hits, and six RBI across eight starts in the Pac-12 Tournament and the NCAA Coral Gables Regional.

He is no stranger to USA Baseball, having participated in the Collegiate National Team's training camp last summer in Cary, North Carolina.

Previous winners of the Golden Spikes Award include the likes of Kris Bryant (2013), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), Tim Lincecum (2006), Terry Francona (1980), and many more.

Davis and the Wildcats open the 2023 season one week from today at the MLB Desert Invitational in Scottsdale. Arizona kicks off the tournament with a matchup against No. 2 Tennessee on Friday, Feb. 17 at 6:00 p.m. MST on MLB Network.

2023 Golden Spikes Award timeline:

• April 5: Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List announced
• May 22: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced and fan voting begins
• June 5: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
• June 7: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced and fan voting begins
• June 21: Golden Spikes Award finalists' fan voting ends
• June 25: Golden Spikes Award winner announced