CARY, N.C. – Identified as one of the top prospects to be honored as the best amateur baseball player in the United States, Virginia Tech third-year outfielder Gavin Cross has been named to the 2022 Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list, as announced by USA Baseball on Tuesday.
Cross – a five-time 2022 Preseason All-American selection ahead of the collegiate season – was one of 55 high school and college baseball players who were chosen to the award's preliminary watch list. The 2021 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team star became Tech's first preseason watch list mention since 2010 when the Hokies' two-way junior Austin Wates earned selection.
On the award's initial candidate list, Cross is one of eight players to hail from the ACC – the conference with the second highest representation behind the SEC.
"We could not be more excited to kick off the amateur baseball season with the announcement of the 55-player Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list," said Paul Seiler, Executive Director/CEO of USA Baseball. "The athletes on this year's initial watch list represent a tremendous amount of talent and character. We are looking forward to watching their journeys unfold during what is sure to be one of the most thrilling and competitive seasons of amateur baseball to date."
Cross is seeking to elevate his already lofty collegiate numbers that feature a .351 career batting average and a .563 career slugging percentage. During his 2021 All-ACC First Team season, he paced the Hokies in the majority of offensive categories, batting .345 and slugging .621 while belting 13 doubles, five triples and 11 home runs.
Projected by D1Baseball to be the 2022 ACC Player of the Year, Cross has been praised for his exciting tools, primarily his plus power and his plus arm strength. While representing Tech on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team last summer, he sported showcase-high numbers in batting average (.455), slugging percentage (.879) and home runs (four), making him a coveted MLB Draft prospect by nearly all leading national outlets and publications.
After USA Baseball identifies its midseason watch list on April 5, the Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will name its semifinalists on May 24 and its finalists on June 12. Following both semifinalist and finalist announcements, the board will open five-day windows for fans to vote for their favorite amateur players on GoldenSpikesAward.com.
