MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (Feb. 9, 2024) – Junior infielder JJ Wetherholt of the West Virginia University baseball team has been named to the Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List.
It is his sixth major honor of the preseason after having previously been selected as the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year and a preseason All-American by Perfect Game, D1Baseball, Baseball America and the NCBWA.
Wetherholt, a unanimous First-Team All-American in 2023 and reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, led the nation with a .449 batting average a season ago while also pacing the Mountaineers with 16 home runs, 60 RBI, 67 runs, 24 doubles and 36 stolen bases.
The Mars, Pennsylvania native is one of 55 players on the watch list and is one of eight players who were semifinalists a season ago. He is also one of nine Big 12 players on the list.
The 2024 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
April 4: Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List announced
May 20: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
June 3: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
June 5: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
June 21: Golden Spikes Award finalists’ fan voting ends
June 23: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
In 109 games in two seasons with WVU, Wetherholt has a career .381 batting average to go along with 21 home runs, 99 RBI, 41 doubles and 51 stolen bases.
Entering the 2024 season, Wetherholt is projected as one of the top selections in the upcoming MLB Draft including being listed as the top prospect by MLB.com, Baseball America and Perfect Game.
The Mountaineers begin the 2024 campaign on Feb. 16, on the road at Stetson in DeLand, Florida. The first chance to catch WVU at Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark will be on Feb. 28, when the Mountaineers take on Canisius.
Press Release Courtesy of West Virginia University Athletics Communications
