Feb. 16, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF first baseman Kiko Vazquez was named to the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List announced by USA Baseball. The junior was one of five student-athletes from Conference USA to be selected by the organization.
The initial list - the first of its kind for the Golden Spikes Award - features 75 of the nation's top collegiate talents, as nominated by baseball sports information directors across the country. The watch list will also be "rolling" to ensure that athletes who play themselves into consideration by USA Baseball for the Golden Spikes Award are not ignored. The Golden Spikes Award, which is handed out to the best player in college baseball, is sponsored by Major League Baseball, and 2008 marks the 31st installment of the award.
Vazquez is coming off a 2007 season in which he was an All-C-USA First Team pick after leading the league with a .467 on-base percentage and was second with a .587 slugging percentage. He also led the Knights in batting average (.364), RBI (57), doubles (17) and homers (nine). While playing in all 59 games last year, Vazquez posted a .985 fielding percentage and a team- and personal-high 17-game hitting streak. A native of Sebring, Fla., he connected for 25 two-out RBI, walked 32 times and struck out on just 21 occasions.
Even though a recent injury will sideline Vazquez early, he still enters his junior year with a .311 career batting average, 13 homers and 78 RBI for the Black and Gold.
On May 20, USA Baseball officials will cut the watch list of players to 50 names. The final list of 50 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors and current USA Baseball staff - close to 150 voters in total.
Additionally, fan voting will be a part of the Golden Spikes Award for the first time in 2008. May 20 will also mark the day when college baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player for the Golden Spikes Award on www.usabaseball.com As part of this May selection process all voters will be asked to choose five players from the list of 50 names. On June 3, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting will once again commence that same day.
The 2008 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award will be presented nationally July 16 on an award show via live telecast from New York at MLB Advanced Media studios.
Vazquez and the Knights kick off the 2008 campaign with opening day Friday against Florida A&M at 6:30 p.m. at Jay Bergman Field.
Season tickets as well as single-game tickets to check out UCF baseball this year are currently available by contacting the UCF Ticket Office at 407-823-1000, or by going online at www.ucfathletics.com, the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.