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USA Baseball released their initial 2013 watch list for the Golden Spikes award for the 2013 college baseball season. The list consists of 50 players and is presented by Major League Baseball and the award is for the top amateur baseball player in the country.
The Mountain West landed three players to the watch list, and they are New Mexico third baseman D.J. Peterson as well as catcher Mitchell Garver, the other is Fresno State outfielder Aaron Judge.
For Peterson this is his second year to be named on the watch list, he also was a semifinalist for the award too. The chances for Peterson to be in the running for this award are very good. Last season he won the triple crown for the Mountain West, ranked in the top 10 nationally in batting average at .419, home runs with 17, was second in the nation with 78 RBIs and was also top 10 in slugging, on-base and hits.
Last season, Garver doubles ranked in the top 10 national in double with 27, runs scored with 68 and 101 hits. He was second to just Peterson in the Mountain West by hitting .377, and he was second in the league in slugging percentage at .612.
Judge won the 2012 home run derby contest on July 3, plus he hit .308 with 62 hits. He also finished the season ranked 19th nationally in walks with 48, scored 47 runs scored, 14 doubles, two triples, four homeruns and 27 RBI. Unless Judge has a huge breakout year, he probably will not win the award.
On May 2, another list of 60 players on a revised list will be announced, and then the 30 semifinalist will be named on May 28. The winner for the award will be announced on July 19.