Canning Named Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist
May 31, 2017 | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. โ UCLA right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning has been named one of 25 semifinalists for the 40th Golden Spikes Award, given to the top amateur baseball player in the United States, announced USA Baseball on Wednesday.
Canning, a junior from Coto de Caza, Calif., has compiled a 7-3 record with a 2.34 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 111.1 innings pitched. He is top-10 in the NCAA in strikeouts, complete games and games started. This season he has thrown four complete games including three complete game shutouts, all on the road during Pac-12 play. Canning has recorded double-digit strikeouts in eight starts, including three games tying a career-high with 12 punch outs.
Canning has totaled 295 strikeouts in his career and is looking to become just the sixth UCLA player in program history to surpass 300 strikeouts. He also ranks top-10 on the NCAA's active career list for shutouts, complete games and strikeouts.
Canning was named a Top 25 prospect by Baseball America (No. 16), D1Baseball (No. 16) and MLB.com (No. 17). He was also tabbed as the No. 7 starting pitcher on D1Baseball's midseason positional rankings.
UCLA alum Trevor Bauer (2008-11) won the Golden Spikes Award in 2011 after posting a 13-2 record with a 1.25 ERA. Bauer recorded 203 strikeouts compared to just 36 walks in 136.2 innings pitched.
USA Baseball officials will announce the finalists for the 2017 Golden Spikes Award on Wednesday, June 14. To select the finalists, the list of semifinalists is sent to a voting body consisting of past Golden Spikes Award winners, past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media that closely follow the amateur game, select professional baseball personnel, and select current USA Baseball staff, representing a group of more than 200 voters in total. As part of the selection process, all voters will be asked to choose three players from the list of semifinalists. Voting will be open until Friday, June 9.
Fan voting will once again be part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2017. This announcement officially marks the opening of voting for amateur baseball fans from across the country on GoldenSpikesAward.com โ the online home of the award, powered by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM).
The live presentation of the 2017 Golden Spikes Award will be announced exclusively on ESPN's flagship program, SportsCenter, on Thursday, June 29. The announcement will take place in ESPN's Los Angeles Production Center at L.A. Live.
The finalists and their families will be also honored at the Rod Dedeaux Foundation Awards Dinner that evening at the Jonathan Club Los Angeles.
