Toreros Connor Joe named a Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist

San Diego, CA- University of San Diego Toreros junior infielder Connor Joe has been named as a one of the 21 semifinalists for the 2014 Golden Spikes Award. The Golden Spikes Award is awarded to the top amateur baseball player in the U.S. The list of 21 players will be narrowed to a group of finalists on Tuesday June 3.

Connor Joe was the West Coast Conference player of the year after batting .367 with 21 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 51 RBI’s. Joe will look to be the second straight Torero to win the award, as former Torero Kris Bryant won the Golden Spikes Award last season after batting .336 with an NCAA record 31 home runs and 62 RBI’s. Bryant was the first Torero and player from the West Coast Conference to win the award. Bryant was also the first infielder to win the award since Alex Gordon in 2005.

Below are the 21 finalists for the award.

Aaron Brown, OF/LHP, Junior, Pepperdine
Michael Conforto, OF, Junior, Oregon State
Tyler Davis, RHP, Junior, Washington
Chris Ellis, RHP, Junior, Mississippi
Kyle Freeland, LHP, Junior, Evansville
Casey Gillaspie, IF, Junior, Wichita State
Daniel Gossett, RHP, Senior, Clemson
Matt Imhof, LHP, Junior, Cal Poly
Connor Joe, IF, Junior, San Diego
Michael Katz, IF, Junior, William & Mary
Nathan Kirby, LHP, Sophomore, Virginia
Jordan Luplow, OF, Junior, Fresno State
Andrew Morales, RHP, Senior, UC Irvine
Michael Murray, RHP, Sophomore, Florida Gulf Coast
Aaron Nola, RHP, Junior, Louisiana State
Max Pentecost, C, Junior, Kennesaw State
Josh Prevost, RHP, Senior, Seton Hall
A.J. Reed, LHP/IF, Junior, Kentucky
DJ Stewart, OF, Sophomore, Florida State
Sam Travis, IF, Junior, Indiana
Drew Weeks, OF/IF, Junior, North Florida