CARY, N.C. – Tennessee had three players tabbed to the midseason watch list for 2025 Golden Spikes Award as announced by USA Baseball on Thursday afternoon.
Gavin Kilen, Liam Doyle and Marcus Phillips were the three Vols named to the midseason watch list for the most prestigious award in amateur baseball. UT’s three selections are tied for the most of any program with Florida State and Wake Forest, while the Southeastern Conference’s 14 players were the most of any league.
The full midseason watch list can be seen HERE.
At the halfway point of the regular season, Kilen leads Tennessee with a .425 batting average, .546 on-base percentage, .973 slugging percentage, 1.519 OPS, three triples and 71 total bases. The junior infielder also ranks second on the team with 10 home runs and third with 32 runs scored despite missing the majority of the last two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Doyle has been one of the most electric arms in the country so far this season, leading the NCAA with 73 strikeouts and 17.92 strikeouts per nine innings. The junior lefthander is 4-1 on the year with a 2.95 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 36.2 innings of work as the Vols’ game one starter.
Phillips has been equally as impressive on the mound as UT’s game two starter, leading the SEC with a 2.02 ERA over seven starts and 35.2 innings pitched. The junior righthander is 2-0 with a 0.93 WHIP and 42 strikeouts compared to just nine walks on the year.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2025. Following the semifinalist announcement on May 18, baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the finalists and winner. The 2025 Golden Spikes Award winner will be announced in late June in conjunction with the end of the amateur baseball season.
To stay up to date on the 2025 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter/X.
Multiple Vols Earn Midseason Honors
Head Coach Tony Vitello was tabbed the Perfect Game Midseason Coach of the Year on Wednesday while Tennessee was selected as the Perfect Game Midseason Team of the Year, as well.
The Vols also had six different players garner midseason All-America acclaim from either D1Baseball.com or Perfect Game.
– DH Levi Clark (Freshman 1st Team – Perfect Game)
– LHP Liam Doyle (1st Team – D1Baseball & Perfect Game)
– 1B Andrew Fischer (2nd Team – D1Baseball & Perfect Game)
– 2B Gavin Kilen (1st Team – D1Baseball & Perfect Game)
– RHP Marcus Phillips (1st Team – Perfect Game)
– RHP Nate Snead (3rd Team – Perfect Game)
