DURHAM, N.C. – Oregon State junior catcher Adley Rutschman and sophomore right-handed pitcher Kevin Abel have been named to the initial watch list for the 2019 Golden Spikes Award, USA Baseball announced on Thursday.
The honor is given annually to the nation's top amateur player. Oregon State is one of 10 teams to have at least two players selected to the watch list.
Both Rutschman and Abel have been named to numerous preseason All-America teams; Rutschman, in fact, is a unanimous first-team selection.
Rutschman, who hails from Sherwood, Ore., was named an All-American in 2018 and earned the College World Series Most Outstanding Player award after totaling a series-record 17 hits.