The Golden Spikes Award has been presented by USA Baseball to the best amateur player in the country each year since its inception in 1978. Past winners include Adley Rutschman (2019), Kris Bryant (2013), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), David Price (2007) and many others who went on to MLB stardom.
The newest member of that prestigious club is Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, who was named SEC Player of the Year after slashing .350/.434/.673 with 21 home runs this past season for the Razorbacks. He is ranked No. 22 on MLB Pipeline’s list of Top 200 Draft prospects.
Aloy was one of 25 semifinalists for the honor. In addition to Aloy, here are the other players who were named as Golden Spikes Award semifinalists, as well as their Draft ranking:
Kade Anderson, LHP, Louisiana State (No. 3 Draft prospect)
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State (No. 4)
Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State (No. 6)
Robbie Burnett, INF/OF, Georgia
Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
Roch Cholowsky, INF, UCLA
Kerrington Cross, INF, Cincinnati
Daniel Cuvet, INF, Miami
Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee (No. 9)
Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State (No. 74)
Ike Irish, OF/C, Auburn (No. 21)
Jake Knapp, RHP, UNC
Justin Lebron, INF, Alabama
Kade Lewis, INF, Wake Forest
Alex Lodise, SS, Florida State (No. 45)
Kyle Lodise, SS, Georgia Tech (No. 76)
JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Mississippi (No. 34)
Jacob Morrison, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Mason Neville, OF, Oregon (No. 32)
Jack Ohman, RHP, Yale
James Quinn-Irons, OF, George Mason
Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana (No. 24)
Dylan Volantis, LHP, Texas
Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma (No. 8)
Upon learning that he had won the Golden Spikes Award, Aloy expressed his gratitude for the Arkansas baseball program, to which he transferred after playing his freshman season at Sacramento State and being named a Freshman All-American.
“This program meant a lot to me,” Aloy said in the wake of the announcement. "They took a chance, and it felt like family when I stepped on campus. It’s truly a blessing with all my teammates -- I love them to death -- and my coaches as well. I love you, Arkansas.”
Aloy, whose younger brother Kuhio also plays baseball at Arkansas, has tremendous power for a middle infielder, and according to MLB Pipeline, his reliable hands, strong arm and solid range could keep him at shortstop as a professional.
Whatever the future holds for Aloy, he has achieved what very few have in college baseball history. If past winners of the honor are any indication, he could have a great future ahead in the Major Leagues.