ECU’s Lunsford-Shenkman, Yesavage named Golden Spikes Award semifinalists

CARY, N.C. – East Carolina junior RHPs Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman and Trey Yesavage have been selected as semifinalists for the 2024 Golden Spikes Award according to an announcement by USA Baseball Monday afternoon.

Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award, which is presented on ESPN annually, goes to the amateur baseball player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.

Twenty different schools are represented in this year’s semifinalist group, including five programs that placed two players each: East Carolina, Florida State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Wake Forest. Eight athletes played their way onto the list following the announcement of the Midseason Watch List in April.

Lunsford-Shenkman and Yesavage are the fourth and fifth ECU players to earn Golden Spikes Award semifinalist designation and the first since Connor Norby and Gavin Williams garnered inclusion on the shortlist back in 2021. Corey Kemp was also tabbed a semifinalist in 2008.

Named to the All-AAC First Team Monday, Lunsford-Shenkman sports a 1.20 earned run average with 77 strikeouts against 17 walks in 45.0 innings of work. Opposing batters are hitting just .218 against him while he has registered at least five strikeouts in seven outings – including a career-high eight in four scoreless innings versus Charlotte on April 13. Lunsford-Shenkman paces the club in saves (five) and is second in strikeouts.

Yesavage was selected the unanimous AAC Pitcher of the Year Monday, earning a spot on the All-AAC First Team as well. The junior is third in the country in victories (11) as well as fourth in strikeouts (139), fifth in earned run average (2.09), sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (14.55) and fewest hits allowed per nine innings (5.02) and ninth in WHIP (0.88). Yesavage paces the AAC in ERA, opposing batting average (.162), strikeouts and victories. He is just seven strikeouts away from setting the program single-season record.

LSU’s Dylan Crews is the most recent winner of the Golden Spikes Award, earning the prestigious honor after helping lead the Tigers to a College World Series title in 2023. He joins an elite group of recent winners including Ivan Melendez (2022), Kevin Kopps (2021), Adley Rutschman (2019), Andrew Vaughn (2018), Brendan McKay (2017), Kyle Lewis (2016), Andrew Benintendi (2015), A.J. Reed (2014), Kris Bryant (2013), Mike Zunino (2012), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), and David Price (2007).

Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2024. Baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning today with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 5, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 21.

2024 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalists
Jamie Arnold; LHP; Florida State; ACC
Travis Bazzana; INF; Oregon State; Pac-12
Brooks Bryan; C; Troy; Sun Belt
Blake Burke; 1B; Tennessee; SEC
Chase Burns; RHP; Wake Forest; ACC
Drew Burress; OF; Georgia Tech; ACC
Jac Caglianone; LHP/1B; Florida; SEC
Charlie Condon; 1B/OF; Georgia; SEC
Lawson Harrill; OF; Campbell; CAA
Luke Holman; RHP; LSU; SEC
Vance Honeycutt; OF; UNC; ACC
Walker Janek; C; Sam Houston; C-USA
Ryan Johnson; RHP; Dallas Baptist; C-USA
Dakota Jordan; OF; Mississippi State; SEC
Josh Kuroda-Grauer; INF; Rutgers; Big Ten
Nick Kurtz; 1B; Wake Forest; ACC
Jace LaViolette; OF; Texas A&M; SEC
Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman ; RHP; ECU; AAC
Braden Montgomery; OF/RHP; Texas A&M; SEC
Christian Moore; INF; Tennessee; SEC
Hagen Smith; LHP; Arkansas; SEC
James Tibbs III; OF/1B; Florida State; ACC
Payton Tolle; LHP/INF; TCU; Big 12
Blake Wright; INF; Clemson; ACC
Trey Yesavage ; RHP; ECU; AAC

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