Kyle Lewis wasn’t in Spokane with his Everett Aqua Sox teammates for the last two game of their series against the Spokane Indians.
But the Mariners’ top pick from the 2016 Major League Baseball draft had a good reason. Lewis was in Los Angeles picking up the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA baseball by USA Baseball. The award is sponsored by Major League Baseball and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation.
The announcement was made live on ESPN with George Grande presenting the trophy to Lewis, who beat out fellow outfielders Seth Beer (Clemson) and Corey Ray (Louisville) and right-handed pitcher Logan Shore (Florida).