PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers shortstop
Josh Kuroda-Grauer was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball on Monday afternoon. The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually the top amateur baseball player in the country and is the most coveted individual honor in college baseball.
Kuroda-Grauer is one of just 25 semifinalists for the award and is the only Big Ten player on the list. He joins
Ryan Lasko (2022) and Todd Frazier (2007) as the only players in program history to be named a semifinalist for the award.
A junior from Somerset, New Jersey, Kuroda-Grauer put together one of the finest seasons in Rutgers history in 2024, emerging as one of the top shortstops in the country. "JKG" started all 53 games at shortstop for the Scarlet Knights, led the country in hits (95) and hits/game (1.79), ranked third with a .428 batting average, stole 24 bases and committed just seven errors all season. Kuroda-Grauer also had 29 multi-hit games, 10 3-hit games, batted over .400 for the final 37 games and had a streak of five straight games with 3+ hits.
Fan voting will play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2024. Rutgers fans can vote for Kuroda-Grauer on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning today. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 5, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 21.
The 46th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 22 at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN ahead of Game 1 of the College World Series finals.
About Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award, which is presented on ESPN annually, goes to the amateur baseball player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship. The 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner was Dylan Crews from Louisiana State University. Winners of this prestigious award from the past 20 years include Major League Baseball All-Stars such as Adley Rutschman ('19), Andrew Benintendi ('15), Kris Bryant ('13), Mike Zunino ('12), Trevor Bauer ('11), Bryce Harper ('10), Stephen Strasburg ('09), Buster Posey ('08), David Price ('07), Tim Lincecum ('06), Alex Gordon ('05), and Jered Weaver ('04). Fans can follow the Golden Spikes Award on Instagram and Twitter @USAGoldenSpikes.
About USA Baseball
With its international headquarters located in Cary, North Carolina, USA Baseball is the national governing body for baseball in the United States and has been committed to serving, protecting, and supporting the game and its 15.6 million participants since 1978. As a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), its national teams have won a combined 69 gold medals in international competition. Off the diamond, the organization is dedicated to the proliferation and health of the sport through the creation and management of numerous development initiatives including BASE (Baseball Athlete Safety Education), Fun At Bat, Pitch Smart, PLAY BALL, and the Prospect Development Pipeline. Additionally, USA Baseball annually honors the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. For more information on the organization, its national teams, and development-driven initiatives, visit the official website USABaseball.com or USABDevelops.com.
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