Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist Announcement | Golden Spikes Award Candidates

IRVINE, Calif. --- The junior utility player's titanic season has landed him on the list of semifinalists for the 2017 Golden Spikes Award.

USA Baseball released the list of 25 semifinalists worthy of the Golden Spikes Award which is given to the top amateur baseball player in the United States and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation with Keston Hiura as the lone representative of the Big West Conference. Hiura is the nation's leader in batting average and on-base percentage and ranks among the nation's leaders in other categories such as doubles, walks, and slugging percentage.

Hiura's inclusion marks the fifth time an Anteater has been named a semifinalist. The last was Andrew Morales in 2014, and before him Daniel Bibona was twice named to the list in 2009 and 2010. Scott Gorgen started the trend in 2008 as the 'Eaters' first semifinalist. Hiura marks the first offensive player from the Anteaters to make it.

The list will be trimmed down to three finalists on Wednesday, June 14 as voted on by baseball coaches and personnel, press officers, media members, and past winners, and this season a fan vote will be included. Fans can go to GoldenSpikesAward.com to vote for Hiura through June 9 as UC Irvine's first finalist in program history.