News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
CARY, N.C. – Third baseman Gavin Grahovac, outfielder Jace LaViolette and left-hander Ryan Prager have been named to the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by USA Baseball Friday.
This marks the second straight season the Aggies have landed multiple players on the preseason watch list as the three selections are tied for the most nationally. The three selections are also tied for the most in program history since Tyler Naquin, Ross Stripling and Michael Wacha were named to the preseason watch list in 2012.
The Maroon & White are one of 10 SEC schools to have a player named to the list as the conference led the way with a total of 17 student-athletes. Overall, the preseason list includes 55 players across high school and college baseball. The Golden Spikes Advisory Board will maintain the award’s watch list on a rolling basis, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award based on in-season performance.
LaViolette was named to the preseason watch list for the second straight season after finishing as a semifinalist in 2024. During his sophomore campaign, LaViolette launched 29 homers, plated 78 runs, scored 87 times and batted .305. The Katy, Texas, native’s 29 homers upped his career total to 50, which ranks second in school history. LaViolette also added three triples, 16 doubles and a program-best 64 walks during his impressive 2024 season.
Among the national ranks, the Aggie center fielder finished inside the top 10 in homers, runs scored, total bases and walks en route to being named a First Team All-American by three different publications. In 68 games, all of which were starts, LaViolette logged 23 multi-hit, 20 multi-RBI and six multi-homer games. The junior also finished 2024 with a career-best 25-game on-base streak.
In addition to being named to the watch list, LaViolette has been tabbed a preseason First Team All-American by all four major publications, preseason First Team All-SEC and the Preseason National Player of the Year by Baseball America and Perfect Game.
Prager earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the first time after being named to the midseason list in 2024. During his redshirt sophomore season, the left-hander emerged as one of the top pitchers in the nation after logging a 9-1 record in 19 starts to go with a 2.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a team-high 124 strikeouts to only 20 walks. The lefty’s 124 punchouts ranked ninth all-time in program history and marked the first time since 2021 that an Aggie surpassed 100 strikeouts in a season.
The Dallas, Texas, native also held opponents to a .226 batting average and recorded a 6.20 strikeout-to-walk ratio that ranked second nationally. In the offseason, Prager was selected in the third round of the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels before deciding to return to Aggieland for another year. During his outstanding 2024 season, Prager tossed nine quality starts and seven scoreless outings.
Throughout the preseason, the left-hander has been tabbed a unanimous First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC and the SEC Pitcher of the Year by D1Baseball.
Grahovac, who earned a spot on the preseason list for the first time, started all 67 games he appeared in during his rookie campaign and slashed .298/.390/.596 to go with 23 homers. The Orange, Calif., native’s 23 homers were a new program freshman record, surpassing LaViolette’s previous mark of 21. The Maroon & White third baseman also registered 85 hits, scored 83 times, drove in 66 runs and doubled 16 times.
As the leadoff man for the Aggies, Grahovac totaled 23 multi-hit contests, 17 multi-RBI performances and two multi-homer games. In the summer, Grahovac played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The Award, which is presented on ESPN annually, goes to the amateur baseball player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2025. Following the midseason watch list announcement on April 3, baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com with the naming of the semifinalists and finalists. The 2025 Golden Spikes Award winner will be announced in late June in conjunction with the end of the amateur baseball season.