Feb. 14, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky sophomore centerfielder Austin Cousino and junior left-handed pitcher Corey Littrell have been named to the preseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the nation’s top collegiate player, it was announced by USA Baseball on Thursday afternoon.
Cousino and Littrell joined 50 of the top players in the NCAA on the preseason watch list for the most prestigious individual award in the nation. The Golden Spikes Award, sponsored by Major League Baseball, will be presented in 2013 for the 36th time.
Cousino and Littrell are the second consecutive Wildcats to appear on the list, as UK junior right-hander Trevor Gott joining catcher Luke Maile were on the 2012 Golden Spikes Award mid-season watch list.
A native of Dublin, Ohio, Cousino led UK in hitting as a freshman, batting .319 with 20 doubles, two triples, nine homers and 41 RBI, stealing 15 bases. A 5-foot-10, 180-pound left-handed hitter, Cousino became the first player in program history to earn Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year honors. In the preseason, Cousino has earned All-America honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Baseball America and Louisville Slugger. He was also honored as the preseason SEC Player of the Year by Baseball America.
Littrell, a native of Louisville, Ky., and a product of Trinity High School is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2012, where he led the Wildcats with a 9-2 record and a 2.74 ERA. He made 16 starts in 2012, tossing 98.2 innings, walking 25 and striking out 87. In the preseason, Littrell has earned preseason All-America honors from NCBWA and Louisville Slugger.
Kentucky, ranked as high as No. 8 in the preseason, opens its 2013 season on Friday vs. UNC Asheville at 12 p.m. ET in Spartanburg, S.C., on the campus of Wofford. UK will send freshman southpaw A.J. Reed to the mound to face off with UNC Asheville junior righty Dean Roland. The game will be broadcast live on the UK IMG Radio Network, with Dick Gabriel voicing the action. Fans in Lexington live on WWTF 1580-AM or online at UKathletics.com.
2013 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason 50-Man Watch List
Mark Appel, RHP, Senior, Stanford, Pac-12
Aaron Blair, RHP, Junior, Marshall, C-USA
Kris Bryant, OF/3B/1B, Junior, San Diego, West Coast
Boomer Collins, 3B, RS Junior, Dallas Baptist, Independent
Michael Conforto, OF, Sophomore, Oregon State, Pac-12
Austin Cousino, OF, Sophomore, Kentucky, SEC
Jonathon Crawford, RHP, Junior, Florida, SEC
Josh Deezse, RHP/DH, Junior, Ohio State, Big 10
Kent Emanuel, LHP, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
Phillip Ervin, OF, Junior, Samford, SoCon
Buck Farmer, RHP, Senior, Georgia Tech, ACC
Johnny Field, OF/INF, Junior, Arizona, Pac-12
Adam Frazier, SS, Junior, Mississippi State, SEC
Scott Frazier, RHP, Junior, Pepperdine, West Coast
Mitchell Garver, C, Senior, New Mexico, Mountain West
Marco Gonzales, LHP/1B, Junior, Gonzaga, West Coast
Jonathan Gray, RHP, Junior, Oklahoma, Big 12
Conrad Gregor, 1B, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
Eric Jagielo, 3B/OF, Junior, Notre Dame, Big East
JaCoby Jones, 2B/OF, Junior, Louisiana State, SEC
Aaron Judge, OF, Junior, Fresno State, Mountain West
Jared King, OF, Junior, Kansas State, Big 12
Andrew Knapp, C, Junior, California, Pac-12
Cory Knebel, RHP, Junior, Texas, Big 12
Corey Littrell, LHP, Junior, Kentucky, SEC
Michael Lorenzen, OF/RHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West
Sean Manaea, LHP, Junior, Indiana State, Missouri Valley
Colin Moran, 3B, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
Aaron Nola, RHP, Sophomore, Louisiana State, SEC
Michael O’Neill, OF, Junior, Michigan, Big 10
Dillon Overton, LHP, Junior, Oklahoma, Big 12
D.J. Peterson, 3B/1B, Junior, New Mexico, Mountain West
Nick Petree, RHP, RS Junior, Missouri State, Missouri Valley
Adam Plutko, RHP, Junior, UCLA, Pac-12
Brian Ragira, 1B, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12
Hunter Renfroe, OF, Junior, Mississippi State, SEC
Raph Rhymes, OF, Senior, Louisiana State, SEC
George Roberts, RHP/INF, Senior, Kent State, Mid-American
Carlos Rodon, LHP, Sophomore, NC State, ACC
Jimmie Sherfy, RHP , Junior, Oregon, Pac-12
Ryne Stanek, RHP, Junior, Arkansas, SEC
Trea Turner, SS, Sophomore, NC State, ACC
Konner Wade, RHP, Junior, Arizona, Pac-12
Michael Wagner, RHP, Junior, San Diego, WCC
Bobby Wahl, RHP, Junior, Mississippi, SEC
Ben Wetzler, LHP, Junior, Oregon State, Pac-12
Trevor Williams, RHP, Junior, Arizona State, Pac-12
Austin Wilson, OF, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12
Tom Windle, LHP, Junior, Minnesota, Big 10
Kevin Ziomek, LHP, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC
