NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State's Paul DeJong was among 60 players listed on the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list, the organization announced Thursday. DeJong was one of 37 players to play their way onto the list since its initial release on Feb. 10.
The Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 23 in Los Angeles, California, to the top amateur baseball player in the country. Sponsored by Major League Baseball, and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, 2015 marks the 38th year of the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award.
Just past the midway point in the regular season, DeJong currently leads the Redbirds in nearly every major statistical category, including batting average (.417), on-base percentage (.493), slugging percentage (.775), at-bats (120), hits (50), runs (31), doubles (10), home runs (11), RBIs (35) and total bases (93).
DeJong is tied for the NCAA lead in home runs and holds the outright lead in home runs per game (0.38). On the national scale, he ranks third in slugging percentage, sixth in total bases, 11th in batting average, 17th in hits, 19th in RBIs per game (1.21), and 24th in both on-base percentage and RBIs. DeJong leads the Missouri Valley Conference in home runs, slugging percentage, RBIs and total bases.
DeJong was previously named a Preseason All-American by both Louisville Slugger and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. A 2014 All-Missouri Valley Conference First-Team selection, DeJong was also a 2015 Preseason All-MVC pick.
The Golden Spikes Award watch list will continue as a rolling list until May 27, when semifinalists are announced.
DeJong and the Illinois State baseball team begin a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series at Wichita State Friday.
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