University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Mitchell, Powell Named to Golden Spikes Watch List
February 13, 2020 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA standouts Garrett Mitchell and Holden Powell have both been named to USA Baseball's Preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, it was announced on Thursday.
The duo is part of a 55-man watch list for the award, which is handed out annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. The 43rd Golden Spikes Award will be presented on Jun. 11 in Omaha, Neb.
UCLA is one of 12 schools – and one of just two Pac-12 institutions (Arizona State) – to place multiple athletes on the list.
A season ago, Powell was voted as the nation's top relief pitcher by the NCBWA and was also a unanimous All-America selection. The Visalia, Calif. native had 17 saves, second-most in the nation and in UCLA single-season history. Powell logged a 1.84 ERA and struck out 65 batters in 49 innings.
Mitchell had a breakout sophomore campaign in 2019, slashing .349/.418/.566 en route to All-America honors. The Orange, Calif. native proved himself as an all-around threat last year, clubbing six home runs, setting a UCLA single-season record with 12 triples, playing lockdown defense in the outfield, and stealing 18 bases. He enters his junior season as the No. 2 outfielder in the college game per D1Baseball and the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2020 draft per MLB Pipeline.
Both have been named First Team Preseason All-Americans ahead of the 2020 campaign.
Powell and Mitchell become the 10th and 11th UCLA players to make the preseason watch list since records began being kept in 2008. Former Bruin ace and current Cincinnati Red Trevor Bauer became the first Bruin to win the award in 2011. Most recently, right-hander Ryan Garcia was a semifinalist for the honor in 2019 after going 10-1 with a 1.44 ERA and winning the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year award.
This year, semifinalists for the award will be announced on May 14. At that point, fan voting to help determine the finalists will begin.
UCLA officially opens the 2020 season at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Feb. 14 by hosting UC Riverside. Single-game and season tickets for the upcoming campaign are now available, and can be purchased by calling 310-UCLA-WIN or clicking HERE.
