Texas Tech baseball’s Josh Jung has been placed on the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist List, the organization announced on Monday.
The semifinalist list features 25 of the nation’s top amateur players from the college ranks. From Monday, May 21, through Sunday, June 3, the voting body will select three semifinalists from the ballot to be named as Golden Spikes Award finalists and fan voting will simultaneously be open on GoldenSpikesAward.com.
It marks back-to-back seasons a Red Raider has been named a semifinalist for the award, as then-sophomore left-handed pitcher Steven Gingery was selected as one of the top 25 for the honor in 2017.
Jung, the sophomore third baseman, has started all 53 games this year for the Red Raiders, leading the team in several offensive categories. He paces the squad in hits (84), RBI (71) and runs (62), while putting together a team-leading 28 multi-hit & 21 multi-RBI performances at the plate in 2018.
He also leads the Big 12 in batting average, hits, RBI, runs, total bases and on-base percentage heading into the Big 12 Championship this week, helping Tech lead the conference in multiple offensive marks. His 37 hits during conference play were the most by a Red Raider since 2010 and ranks eighth in school history.
Jung has been named Big 12 Player of the Week twice and earned NCBWA Co-Hitter of the Week honors after hitting for the cycle on April 17 at New Mexico. He did so with the first 5-for-5 bid at the plate to accomplish the feat, racking up two homers and eight RBI.
The 2018 Golden Spikes Award winner will be named on Thursday, June 28, at a presentation in Los Angeles. The finalists and their families will be honored at the Rod Dedeaux Foundation Award Dinner that evening at Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles.
Jung and the Red Raiders return to action Wednesday, May 23, against TCU at 7:30 p.m. in the opening round of the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.
(Courtesy: Texas Tech Sports Communications Department)
