Baylor Baseball’s McKenzie Placed On Golden Spikes Watch List

CARY, N.C. – Baylor baseball outfielder Jared McKenzie has been named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List, as announced Tuesday by USA Baseball.

McKenzie is one of 55 players included on the award’s preseason watch list, which identifies the top amateur baseball player in the country for the 2022 season.

This is the most prestigious of McKenzie’s long list of preseason honors, adding to his impressive resume of being a unanimous All-Big 12 selection and consensus preseason All-American. He garnered second-team honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and D1Baseball, along with third-team honors from the NCBWA and Perfect Game/Rawlings.

A third-year sophomore from Round Rock, Texas, McKenzie hit .383 last season with 10 home runs and 44 RBI. He led the Bears with 82 hits, 62 runs, four triples and a 1.079 OPS in 2021 and is currently Baylor’s all-time leader in career batting average (.389).

McKenzie is Baylor’s eighth selection all-time to the preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List and fifth in the Steve Rodriguez era, joining recent alumni Nick Loftin (2020), Cody Bradford (2019) and Shea Langeliers (2018, 2019). Previously, Logan Verrett (2011), Kendal Volz (2009) and Beamer Weems (2008) were all mentioned on the award’s initial watch list.

McKenzie is one of five Big 12 players included on the watch list, alongside Oklahoma’s Peyton Graham, Oklahoma State’s Justin Campbell, Texas’ Pete Hansen and Texas Tech’s Jace Jung.

The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will maintain a rolling list of players, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the honor throughout the year. Both high school and college baseball players are eligible.

Fan voting will once again play a part in deciding the 2022 Golden Spikes Award recipient. Amateur baseball fans will be able to vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, starting on May 24 with the naming of the award’s semifinalists.

USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 8 and fan voting will open concurrently, remaining open through June 12.

Baylor opens its 2022 season against Maryland on Friday, Feb. 18, as part of a three-game series and seven-game homestand at Baylor Ballpark in Waco.

*All per Baylor Athletics Press Release*