USA Baseball Reveals 2026 Golden Spikes Award Finalists

Roch Cholowsky (UCLA), Landon Hairston (Arizona State), and Daniel Jackson (Georgia) were named finalists for the 2026 Golden Spikes Award today by USA Baseball. This year marks the 48th edition of the Golden Spikes Award, which annually honors the top amateur baseball player in the nation who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability, exemplary sportsmanship and character, and an overall positive contribution to the sport.

The 48th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on Monday, June 29, on MLB Network at 7:30 p.m. ET.

“Roch, Landon, and Daniel have put together tremendous seasons and are extremely deserving of being named Golden Spikes Award finalists,” said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. “These three student-athletes exemplify the very best of amateur baseball, and we look forward to honoring one of them as our forty-eighth winner and adding another great player to the storied history of this award.”

UCLA junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky delivered one of the most dominant two-way seasons in the country, hitting .320 with 21 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 73 runs scored while starting all 60 games at shortstop. He was named the 2026 Big Ten Player of the Year and became the first UCLA player and third player in Big Ten history to earn the player of the year award in consecutive seasons. He led the league in runs, home runs, and hit-by-pitches (25), finished third in total bases (147), and finished fifth in RBIs and OPS (1.088). He has been tabbed as one of the nation’s top shortstops, posting a .965 fielding percentage, turning 30 double plays, and ranking second among Division I shortstops with a 4.53 wins-above-replacement (WAR), 14.73 defensive-runs-saved, and 1.08 defensive WAR. He is the fourth player in UCLA history to be named a Golden Spikes Award finalist and would be the second player from the Bruins’ program to be named a winner behind Trevor Bauer in 2011.

Sophomore outfielder Landon Hairstonput together one of the most prolific offensive campaigns in recent Division I history, in turn being named the 2026 Big 12 Player of the Year and a unanimous First Team All-Big 12 selection. He holds ASU’s single season home run record with 28 and led the nation in slugging percentage and extra-base hits for the vast majority of the season. He led his team with 20 doubles and is just the second player to reach the 20-20 club at Arizona State behind inaugural Golden Spikes Award winner Bob Horner (1978). Of his 94 hits this season, 50 were for extra bases (20 doubles, 28 homers, 2 triples) – which is four more than any other player in Division I baseball; he had only 18 games this season without an extra-base hit. Hairston is the 10th player from the Sun Devil program to be named a finalist and first since 2009; he would be the program’s fourth-ever Golden Spikes Award winner behind Horner, Oddibe McDowell (1984), and Mike Kelly (1991).

Junior catcher Daniel Jackson, the 2026 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Year and Triple Crown winner, is one of just three players (and first catcher) in NCAA Division I history to have at least 30 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season, and is the first SEC player to ever do so.  Currently, Jackson is batting .396 with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases, and ranks in the top five nationally in five offensive categories. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the SEC Tournament as the Bulldogs claimed their first-ever SEC tournament title after capturing the regular season crown. Jackson also helped his team sweep the NCAA Athens Regional and Super Regional to help the Bulldogs advance to the Men’s College World Series for the first time since 2008. In the five games he collected regional all-tournament honors and batted .450 (9-for-20) with a double, four home runs, seven RBIs, and four walks. He provided the go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning in the super regional clinching win. He is the sixth player from the Bulldog program to be named a finalist and looks to be its second award winner behind Charlie Condon in 2024.

All three finalists have exemplified an overall positive contribution to the sport and have made an impact off the field in their local communities. When visiting the Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center his freshman year, Cholowsky formed a bond with one of the patients, Luke, who gave him custom UCLA-themed Jordans. What began as a simple gesture grew into a genuine relationship, with Cholowsky regularly checking in and spending time with Luke at his home. Hairston and Jackson have both spent time volunteering at their local Miracle League chapters outside of the season, and Jackson received the Daniel J. Silva Sportsmanship Award, which is annually given to the Cape Cod League’s player who shows true class on and off the field, while playing in the League last summer.

This year marks the sixth time since 2018 that the SEC has featured multiple Golden Spikes Award finalists. Overall, the league boasts 12 Golden Spikes Award winners, the most of any conference in the nation. The Big 12 is looking for its fourth all-time winner and first since 2022 when Texas’ Ivan Melendez won the award, which is also the last time the conference has had a finalist. Cholowsky is the first Big Ten player since 1992 to be named a finalist and could become the league’s second player to ever win the award behind Michigan’s Jim Abbott in 1987.

Arkansas’ Wehiwa Aloy is the most recent winner of the Golden Spikes Award, earning the prestigious honor after a prolific season in 2025. He joins an elite group of recent winners including Condon (2024), Dylan Crews (2023), Melendez (2022), Kevin Kopps (2021), Adley Rutschman (2019), Andrew Vaughn (2018), Brendan McKay (2017), Kyle Lewis (2016), Andrew Benintendi (2015), A.J. Reed (2014), Kris Bryant (2013), Mike Zunino (2012), Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), and David Price (2007).

Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2026. Following today’s finalist announcement, baseball fans can vote for their favorite player on GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the winner before closing on June 28.

The remainder of the 2026 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:

• June 10: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins

• June 28: Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends

• June 29: Golden Spikes Award winner announced

Historically, Golden Spikes Award winners have gone on to have tremendous success in the Major Leagues. Of the 47 previous winners, six have earned Rookie of the Year honors, including Lewis in 2020. Additionally, three have won the Cy Young Award, three were named MVP, and 11 have won a World Series championship as a player or manager, combining for 18 championships. Twenty-three previous winners have also been named to at least one All-Star Game roster as a player or manager, combining for 64 total selections.

A final ballot will be sent to the Golden Spikes Award voting body consisting of national baseball media, select professional baseball personnel and USA Baseball staff, and the previous winners of the award, totaling a group of more than 100 voters. Beginning Wednesday, June 10, the voting body will cast their final vote for the Golden Spikes Award winner and fan voting will simultaneously be open on GoldenSpikesAward.com.

To stay up to date on the 2026 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter/X.

Golden Spikes Award Winners:

2025: Wehiwa Aloy – Arkansas

2024: Charlie Condon – Georgia

2023: Dylan Crews – LSU

2022: Ivan Melendez – Texas

2021: Kevin Kopps – Arkansas

2019: Adley Rutschman – Oregon State

2018: Andrew Vaughn – California

2017: Brendan McKay – Louisville

2016: Kyle Lewis – Mercer

2015: Andrew Benintendi – Arkansas

2014: A.J. Reed – Kentucky

2013: Kris Bryant – San Diego

2012: Mike Zunino – Florida

2011: Trevor Bauer – UCLA

2010: Bryce Harper – Southern Nevada

2009: Stephen Strasburg – San Diego State

2008: Buster Posey – Florida State

2007: David Price – Vanderbilt

2006: Tim Lincecum – Washington

2005: Alex Gordon – Nebraska

2004: Jered Weaver – Long Beach State

2003: Rickie Weeks – Southern

2002: Khalil Greene – Clemson

2001: Mark Prior – Southern California

2000: Kip Bouknight – South Carolina

1999: Jason Jennings – Baylor

1998: Pat Burrell – Miami

1997: J.D. Drew – Florida State

1996: Travis Lee – San Diego State

1995: Mark Kotsay – Cal State Fullerton

1994: Jason Varitek – Georgia Tech

1993: Darren Dreifort – Wichita State

1992: Phil Nevin – Cal State Fullerton

1991: Mike Kelly – Arizona State

1990: Alex Fernandez – Miami Dade CC

1989: Ben McDonald – LSU

1988: Robin Ventura – Oklahoma State

1987: Jim Abbott – Michigan

1986: Mike Loynd – Florida State

1985: Will Clark – Mississippi State

1984: Oddibe McDowell – Arizona State

1983: Dave Magadan – Alabama

1982: Augie Schmidt – New Orleans

1981: Mike Fuentes – Florida State

1980: Terry Francona – Arizona

1979: Tim Wallach – Cal State Fullerton

1978: Bob Horner – Arizona State