Elon’s Kirby Named Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist

DURHAM, N.C. – USA Baseball announced on Wednesday afternoon, May 15 that Elon University baseball’s George Kirby has been named one of 25 semifinalists for the 2019 Golden Spikes Award. Presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, the 42nd Golden Spikes Award winner will be announced on June 14 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb.

The list of semifinalist includes student-athletes from 20 different colleges and universities, one high school and nine NCAA conferences. A ballot will be sent to the Golden Spikes Award voting body, consisting of national baseball media, select professional baseball personnel, previous Golden Spikes Award winners, and select USA Baseball staff, totaling a group of over 200 voters. From Wednesday, May 15 through Sunday, May 26, each voting member will select three athletes from the ballot of semifinalists and fan voting will be open on GoldenSpikesAward.com. Selections made by the voting body will account for 95 percent of each athlete’s total, while fan votes will account for the remaining five percent.

Fans can vote up to 25 times per day by going to usabaseball.com/golden-spikes-award/nominees/2019.

Kirby posted an 8-1 record with a 2.07 ERA and 105 strikeouts through 13 starts and 82.2 innings pitched during the regular season. The Rye, N.Y. native threw three complete games, to include a one-hit shutout of Bryant on March 10, and was named CAA Pitcher of the Week three times. He is currently the national leader in strikeout-to-walk ratio (17.50) and also ranks second in walks allowed per nine innings (0.65), fifth in WHIP (0.82), and eighth in complete games. The right-hander recorded double-digit strikeouts five times, to include a season-high 12 in 6.0 scoreless innings at Hofstra on May 4.

This marks the second semifinalist selection for Elon in as many years. Teammate Kyle Brnovich was one of 25 semifinalists last season after posting an 8-2 record and leading the nation with 141 strikeouts. He owned a 1.68 ERA and held opponents to a .152 batting average over 96.1 innings and 14 starts in the regular season.

Finalists will be announced on Wednesday, May 29.