Yohandy Morales tabbed to Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List

LifeWallet athlete and University of Miami junior third baseman Yohandy Morales was tabbed for yet again, another preseason accolade. This time, the preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list, USA Baseball announced Morales a member of the watch list on February 10th, 2023. The awards significance is to identify the top amateur baseball player in the country for the 2023 season.

The preseason watch list contains 55 of the nation’s best amateur players from the high school to collegiate level. The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will feature an ever-changing list of players up for eligibility over the duration of the season, which will allow baseball players to pave their way onto the watch list with noteworthy performances throughout the year.

“We are thrilled to begin the amateur baseball season with the announcement of the fifty-five-player Golden Spikes Award preseason Watch List,” said USA Baseball Executive Director and CEO Paul Seiler. “The student-athletes on this list are some of the nation’s best and brightest, both on and off the field. We look forward to watching them compete in what will surely be an exciting baseball.”

All 55 players that were named to the preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list can be viewed at GoldenSpikesAward.com. The fans vote will play a major part in which amateur baseball player wins the Golden Spikes Award in 2023. Fans can start casting votes for their favorite players on May 22nd with the naming of the semifinalists for the award. USA baseball is expected to announce the finalists for the award on June 7th, and voting will open to the public for a second time at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 21st.

Morales is now the 15th different Hurricanes baseball player to make the preseason watch list for this prestigious award. Morales is held in high regard as one of college baseball’s best power hitters coming into the 2023 season.

Yohandy Morales led Miami in eight offensive categories last season, most notable for 18 home runs, 59 RBI and a 1.061 OPS. Morales batted .329 last season, which was third-best for the Hurricanes.

Miami has had 15 players represent the preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list since 2008. Chris Hernandez (2009-10), Zack Collins (2015-16) and Adrian Del Castillo (2020-21) were all two-time selections during their baseball careers at Miami, while Yonder Alonso (2008), Jemile Weeks (2008), Ryan Jackson (2009), Yasmani Grandal (2010), Harold Martinez (2011), Peter O’Brien (2012), Andrew Suarez (2015), Carl Chester (2017), Chris McMahon (2020), Alex Toral (2021) and Carson Palmquist (2021) were all selected as preseason picks in the last 15 years prior to Morales.