CARY, N.C. – Slugging his way into consideration among the best amateur baseball players in the United States, Virginia Tech junior third baseman Carson DeMartini has been named to the 2024 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball on Thursday.
Since 1978, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented annually to the country's premier amateur baseball athlete at the collegiate or high school levels. Led by the Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board, Thursday's presentation of the award's midseason watch list serves as the second snapshot of the nation's top diamond performers prior to the reveal of its semifinalists (May 20), finalists (June 5) and winner (June 22).
Left off the award's preseason watch list in February, DeMartini played his way into the 45-player midseason class, placing for the first time during his collegiate career. Returning to the hot corner aftern injury had limited him to designated hitter duties last season, he boasts the fourth highest slugging percentage among ACC bats this season (.804), ranking in a tie for eighth among NCAA Division I players in home runs (14).
With his selection, DeMartini becomes the fourth Virginia Tech player since 2022 to be recognized at any stage of the Golden Spikes Award process. He follows in the footsteps of 2022 national semifinalists Gavin Cross and Tanner Schobel, as well as those of two-time watch list mention Jack Hurley.
"We are honored to acknowledge the top 45 amateur players in the nation for their stellar performances so far this season," said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. "There is unbelievable talent up and down the entire amateur baseball landscape, and the players on this list represent the best of the best.
"We look forward to watching the rest of the season unfold as we move closer to naming the 46th winner of the prestigious Golden Spikes Award."
Named to the 2023 All-ACC Third Team as a sophomore, DeMartini paces No. 11 Virginia Tech in runs scored (36), home runs (14), slugging percentage (.804) and OPS (1.227), pairing five doubles and a triple with his 29 RBIs. Through 12 games against ACC competition, the native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, has cleared the fence nine times, batting .348 while slugging .978 with a .458 on-base percentage.
DeMartini hammered his way to seven home runs during a four-game stretch between March 12 and March 17, leaving the yard three times during Tech's series-clinching victory at Louisville (March 17). For his highlight performances, he was named the D1Baseball Player of the Week, Perfect Game National Player of the Week, Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger of the Week and ACC Player of the Week.
On draft boards, DeMartini stands as a coveted pick to be made by MLB clubs this summer. According to mlb.com, DeMartini is the No. 43 overall prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft.
Upon the May 20 reveal of this year's national semifinalists for the 2024 Golden Spikes Award, fan voting will again be a component of choosing the finalists and winner. Fans are encouraged to visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @GoldenSpikesAward on X (and Instagram) to learn award updates during the course of the 2024 amateur season.
