Daniel Jackson Wins Forty-Eighth Golden Spikes Award

SECAUCUS, N.J. – Georgia’s Daniel Jackson was named the 48th winner of the Golden Spikes Award today during a live presentation on MLB Network. Created in 1978, the Golden Spikes Award 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 announcement comes following two days of festivities in New York City celebrating the three finalists for the 2026 Golden Spikes Award. The finalists participated in a series of events recognizing their achievements on and off the field, including a welcome dinner, a visit to MLB headquarters with Commissioner Rob Manfred and its Player Engagement team, and a PLAY BALL event at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in Bronx, New York. The weekend provided an opportunity to celebrate the finalists’ accomplishments while highlighting their commitment to growing the game and inspiring the next generation of baseball players.

After being the sixth finalist in Georgia program history, Jackson becomes the second player from the school to win the award behind Charlie Condon (2024). He is the 14th winner from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which is the most of any conference in the nation. Georgia is the seventh school in Golden Spikes Award history to have multiple winners, joining Florida State (four), Arizona State (three), Cal State Fullerton (three), Arkansas (two), LSU (two), and San Diego State (two) on the list.

“Daniel Jackson put together a historic season that was so exciting to watch,” said USA Baseball President John Gall. “He is an incredible ambassador of the game, both on and off the field, and is greatly deserving of this honor. We are excited for Daniel to join our incredible family of Golden Spikes Award winners and look forward to celebrating his special season.”

The 2026 SEC Player of the Year, Jackson was 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 was the first SEC player to ever do so.  He was also just the third player in SEC history to capture the Triple Crown after he led the league with a .379 batting average, 32 home runs, and a school record 87 RBIs. He started 67 games, including 57 behind the plate, and compiled a .997 fielding percentage while finishing 26-for-28 in stolen base attempts. Jackson led the nation in total bases (212) and runs scored (88) and finished second in hits (100), home runs, and RBIs.

He was named the Most Valuable Player of the SEC Tournament while helping the Bulldogs claim 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 advance to the Men’s College World Series (MCWS) for the first time since 2008. With Jackson, the Bulldogs tied for third at the MCWS and set a school record for wins with a 53-14 record. In eight postseason games, he collected regional all-tournament honors and batted .308 with 12 hits, including two doubles and five home runs, eight RBIs, and five walks. He provided the go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning in the super regional clinching win on June 7.

Jackson has exemplified an overall positive contribution to the sport and has made an impact in the Athens, Georgia, community by spending time volunteering at ESP (Extra Special People)/Miracle League games outside of the season. Last summer he 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.

Jackson joins a group of past winners that includes Wehiwa Aloy (2025), Charlie Condon (2024), Dylan Crews (2023), Ivan 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), Trevor Bauer (2011), Bryce Harper (2010), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), and David Price (2007).

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.

The award winner was selected through the distribution of ballots to a 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. Fan voting continued to be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2026 and contributed to the voting total.

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:

2026: Daniel Jackson – Georgia

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