CARY, N.C. – Solidifying his place among the best amateur baseball players in the United States for the second consecutive season, Virginia Tech junior outfielder Jack Hurley has been named to the 2023 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, as announced on Friday by USA Baseball.
Since its inception in 1978, the Golden Spikes Award is presented annually to the nation's top baseball talent competing at the high school or collegiate levels. Friday's reveal of the preseason watch list represents the first iteration of the Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board's rolling process in identifying its 2023 honoree, preceding the award's midseason (April 5), semifinalist (May 22), finalist (June 7) and winner (June 25) presentations.
Following his four 2022 All-American honors with consensus 2023 Preseason All-American praise, Hurley becomes Virginia Tech's third all-time player to be selected to the preseason watch list, joining the ranks of outfielders Austin Wates (2010) and Gavin Cross (2022). Individually, the 2023 season also marks Hurley's second in the award's candidate pool after he appeared on the 2022 midseason watch list.
Among the 55 players chosen to the 2023 preseason watch list, Hurley is one of 10 student-athletes hailing from the ACC, which ranked second to the SEC in total representation (17). Tech's standout slugger also accompanied 19 of his teammates from the 2022 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team roster.
"We are thrilled to begin the amateur baseball season with the announcement of the 55-player Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List," said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler. "The student-athletes on this list are some of the nation's best and brightest, both on and off the field.
"We look forward to watching them compete in what will surely be an exciting baseball season."
Exploding out of the gates during his 2022 sophomore campaign, Hurley batted .448 during his 26-game, season-opening hitting streak that set the Virginia Tech ACC-era record. The native of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, went on to bat .375, slug .664 and rack up 23 doubles, 14 home runs and 55 RBIs for the "Hammerin' Hokies," collecting 2022 All-ACC First Team honors on top of earning semifinalist consideration for the 2022 Dick Howser Trophy.
Hurley is widely regarded as a top prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft in July. He enters the collegiate season ranked as the No. 34 draft prospect by Baseball America, No. 37 by mlb.com and as the No. 24 college prospect by D1Baseball.
Once semifinalists for the 2023 Golden Spikes Award are announced on May 22, fan voting will again be a component in the selection process to name the finalists and winner. Fans are encouraged to visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Twitter (and Instagram) to learn award updates during the course of the 2023 amateur season.
