News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
CARY, N.C. – The Texas A&M baseball team landed a trio of players on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List in outfielders Braden Montgomery and Jace LaViolette and left-hander Ryan Prager, as announced by USA Baseball Thursday.
This marks the third time in program history and the first since 2013 that the Aggies have featured a trio of players on the list. The three selections led the SEC and tied Florida State for the most in the country.
Montgomery, who is making an appearance on the Midseason Watch List for the second straight season, currently leads the nation in RBI with 51 and ranks second in home runs with 17. The junior also sits third nationally in total bases (104) and fourth in slugging percentage (.954). Through 29 games, Montgomery holds a team-high .385 batting average and has also totaled nine doubles, 27 walks and 38 runs scored.
Over his last six games, the junior has belted seven homers and driven in 15 RBI. Montgomery has also reached base safely in 56 of his last 57 contests.
LaViolette has registered a .292/.464/.755 slash line in 29 games this season and is making his first appearance on the Midseason Watch List. The sophomore has registered 13 homers and driven in 32 RBI to go along with a team-high tying 29 walks. Among the SEC, LaViolette ranks second in runs scored (41), third in runs per game (1.41), third in walks, fifth in walks per game (1.00), fifth in homers, sixth in homers per game (0.45), 11th in RBI (32) and 12th in slugging percentage.
The sophomore has also totaled a team-best four multi-homer games this season.
Prager, who earned a spot on the watch list for the first time, has shined on the mound for the Aggies in his return from injury. The redshirt sophomore holds a 5-0 record to go along with a 2.21 ERA, 51 strikeouts, a .188 batting average against and an outstanding 10.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which leads the SEC and ranks fourth nationally. Prager also leads the league in walks allowed per nine (1.23) and has given up only five free passes all season.
The redshirt sophomore has also registered three quality starts in seven tries this season.
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.
Golden Spikes Award Timeline
– May 20: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
– June 3: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
– June 5: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
– June 21: Golden Spikes Award finalists’ fan voting ends
– June 22: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
The Aggies return to action tomorrow night at 6 p.m. CST time as they travel to face No. 22 South Carolina at Founders Park.