Lawson Featured on Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | Baseball
The sophomore shortstop leads Florida in every slash category (.372/.577/.849), OPS (1.426), homers (11), total bases (73), runs (34) and walks (34).
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Star Florida shortstop Brendan Lawson was named to the Midseason Watch List for the 2026 Golden Spikes Award, as announced by USA Baseball on Thursday.
Lawson is one of 45 players from college and high school baseball on the Golden Spikes Watch List, which annually identifies the best amateur baseball player in the country.
"We are honored to acknowledge the top forty-five amateur players in the nation for their stellar performances so far this season," said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. "There is unbelievable talent up and down the entire amateur baseball landscape, and the players on this list represent the best of the best. We look forward to watching the rest of the season unfold as we move closer to naming the 48th winner of the prestigious Golden Spikes Award."
Having reached base in 27 of 29 games played this season, Lawson leads Florida in every slash category (.372/.577/.849) in addition to a team-high 1.426 OPS, 11 homers, 73 total bases, 34 runs scored and 34 walks – 13 more free passes than strikeouts (21). Lawson paces the entire SEC in on-base percentage and walks, ranking fourth nationally in both categories. The Canadian sophomore also sits third in the conference and 12th in the country in slugging, and comes into the series playing the best defense of his career across the last four games.
On top of his offensive numbers, Lawson has swiped eight bases in 10 attempts as he looks to become the second 20-homer/20-steal player in program history. He also has tallied two triples, four doubles, nine hit-by-pitches and one sacrifice fly across 86 at bats.
The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will continue maintaining a rolling list of athletes throughout the season, allowing players to play themselves into consideration for the award before the announcement of the semifinalists on May 14. Following the 25-player semifinalist announcement, the three finalists will be revealed on June 10, and then the winner will be named on June 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET during a presentation on MLB Network.
Thirty-three different schools and eight conferences are represented on the midseason watch list. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 16 players, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with 13 and the Big Ten with seven. Five other Division I conferences have a combined eight players on the list.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2026. Following the semifinalist announcement, baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the finalists and winner.
A complete list of the 45-player 2026 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List is as follows:
Name - Year - Position - School - Conference
About Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the most outstanding amateur baseball player in the nation
with the Golden Spikes Award. The award is given each year to the player who best exhibits
exceptional on-field ability, exemplary sportsmanship and character, and an overall positive
contribution to the sport.
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Lawson is one of 45 players from college and high school baseball on the Golden Spikes Watch List, which annually identifies the best amateur baseball player in the country.
"We are honored to acknowledge the top forty-five amateur players in the nation for their stellar performances so far this season," said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. "There is unbelievable talent up and down the entire amateur baseball landscape, and the players on this list represent the best of the best. We look forward to watching the rest of the season unfold as we move closer to naming the 48th winner of the prestigious Golden Spikes Award."
Having reached base in 27 of 29 games played this season, Lawson leads Florida in every slash category (.372/.577/.849) in addition to a team-high 1.426 OPS, 11 homers, 73 total bases, 34 runs scored and 34 walks – 13 more free passes than strikeouts (21). Lawson paces the entire SEC in on-base percentage and walks, ranking fourth nationally in both categories. The Canadian sophomore also sits third in the conference and 12th in the country in slugging, and comes into the series playing the best defense of his career across the last four games.
On top of his offensive numbers, Lawson has swiped eight bases in 10 attempts as he looks to become the second 20-homer/20-steal player in program history. He also has tallied two triples, four doubles, nine hit-by-pitches and one sacrifice fly across 86 at bats.
The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will continue maintaining a rolling list of athletes throughout the season, allowing players to play themselves into consideration for the award before the announcement of the semifinalists on May 14. Following the 25-player semifinalist announcement, the three finalists will be revealed on June 10, and then the winner will be named on June 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET during a presentation on MLB Network.
Thirty-three different schools and eight conferences are represented on the midseason watch list. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 16 players, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with 13 and the Big Ten with seven. Five other Division I conferences have a combined eight players on the list.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2026. Following the semifinalist announcement, baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the finalists and winner.
A complete list of the 45-player 2026 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List is as follows:
Name - Year - Position - School - Conference
- Jarren Advincula - JR - INF - Georgia Tech - ACC
- Myles Bailey - SO - INF - Florida State - ACC
- Trey Beard - JR - LHP - Florida State - ACC
- Tristan Bissetta - SR - OF - Ole Miss - SEC
- Ben Blair - JR - RHP - Liberty - CUSA
- Jake Brown - JR - OF - LSU - SEC
- Lorenzo Carrier - R-SR - OF - Pittsburgh - ACC
- Roch Cholowsky - JR - INF - UCLA - Big Ten
- Quinton Coats - SO - INF - Cincinnati - Big 12
- Daniel Cuvet - JR - INF - Miami - ACC
- Tague Davis - SO - INF - Louisville - ACC
- Jason DeCaro - JR - RHP - North Carolina - ACC
- Evan Dempsey - JR - RHP/OF - FGCU - A-SUN
- Mason Edwards - JR - LHP - Southern Cal - Big Ten
- Grady Emerson - SR (HS) - INF - Fort Worth Christian (HS)
- Jackson Flora - JR - RHP - UC Santa Barbara - Big West
- Henry Ford - JR - INF/OF - Tennessee - SEC
- Will Gasparino - JR - OF - UCLA - Big Ten
- Grant Govel - SO - RHP - Southern Cal - Big Ten
- AJ Gracia - JR - OF - Virginia - ACC
- Landon Hairston - SO - INF - Arizona State - Big 12
- Ryder Helfrick - JR - C - Arkansas - SEC
- Daniel Jackson - JR - C/OF - Georgia - SEC
- Dee Kennedy - JR - INF - Kansas State - Big 12
- Vahn Lackey - JR - C/INF - Georgia Tech - ACC
- Brendan Lawson - SO - INF - Florida - SEC
- Justin Lebron - JR - INF - Alabama - SEC
- Chris Levonas - SO - RHP - Wake Forest - ACC
- Mulivai Levu - JR - INF - UCLA - Big Ten
- Jake Marciano - SO - LHP - Auburn - SEC
- Wes Mendes - JR - LHP - Florida State - ACC
- LJ Mercurius - JR - RHP - Oklahoma - SEC
- Tre Phelps - JR - INF/OF - Georgia - SEC
- Jack Radel - JR - RHP - Notre Dame - ACC
- Logan Reddemann - JR - RHP - UCLA - Big Ten
- Ace Reese - JR - INF - Mississippi State - SEC
- Ruger Riojas - SR - RHP - Texas - SEC
- Aiden Robbins - JR - OF - Texas - SEC
- Drew Smith - SR - INF/OF - Oregon - Big Ten
- Caden Sorrell - JR - OF - Texas A&M - SEC
- Sawyer Strosnider - SO - OF - TCU - Big 12
- Tomas Valincius - SO - LHP - Mississippi State - SEC
- Dylan Volantis - SO - LHP - Texas - SEC
- Dax Whitney - SO - RHP - Oregon State - Pac-12
- Derek Williams - SR - OF - Miami – ACC
About Golden Spikes Award
Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the most outstanding amateur baseball player in the nation
with the Golden Spikes Award. The award is given each year to the player who best exhibits
exceptional on-field ability, exemplary sportsmanship and character, and an overall positive
contribution to the sport.
Follow the Gators
#GoGators
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