July 11, 2010
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Chris Duffy's (Orlando, Fla./Cypress Creek) amazing summer will continue Monday when he travels to Anaheim, Calif., for the 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award presentation. A first-team All-American by five different outlets, the former UCF outfielder is one of five finalists for the most prestigious award in college baseball.
(UPDATE - MONDAY AT 4 P.M.): The GSA will be presented live at All-Star FanFest in Anaheim, Calif., at 2:30 p.m. ET. Fans can watch the award show on delay at 5 p.m. ET on July 13 as part of a production by MLB and MLBAM on GoldenSpikesAward.com and MLB.com (satellite issues have forced the broadcast to be tape-delayed).
The award presentation comes during a two-day adventure for Duffy. The Orlando native will be with the other four finalists as they will be escorted onto the field for the Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Angel Stadium Monday before Tuesday's announcement.
A senior this past season for the Knights, Duffy broke UCF and Conference USA single-season records with a .447 batting average and a .850 slugging percentage. He also shattered the school mark with 21 homers and 81 RBI.
Duffy has already begun his professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies after being selected in the 26th round of the MLB Draft in June. He is suiting up in the rookie Gulf Coast League in Clearwater, Fla., where he has hit .286 in his last nine outings, including his first professional home run July 8.
In its 33rd year, the GSA is handed out to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. Unlike other player of the year trophies, the Golden Spikes Award also includes players from outside of the Division I level. Joining Duffy as the five finalists are Bryce Harper (Southern Nevada), Yasmani Grandal (Miami), Drew Pomeranz (Mississippi) and Chris Sale (Florida Gulf Coast), as three of the players all hail from programs in the Sunshine State.
Previous award winners include Stephen Strasburg (2009), David Price (2007), Tim Lincecum (2006), Mark Prior (2001), Pat Burrell (1998), Ben McDonald (1989), Robin Ventura (1988), Jim Abbott (1987) and Will Clark (1985). That 1985 season produced UCF's lone GSA finalist until Duffy this year. Tim Barker set a D-I record with 142 base hits and added 104 stolen bases in 1985 en route to being a finalist.
Check back to UCFAthletics.com during the week for more on Duffy's trip to the West Coast.