UAA Communications photo by Maddie Washburn
King Named Semifinalist for Golden Spikes Award, Dick Howser Trophy
Thursday, May 14, 2026 | Baseball
Florida ace Aidan King leads the SEC with a 0.89 WHIP, 6.08 hits per nine and 13 games started.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Florida ace right-hander Aidan King has been tabbed as one of 25 semifinalists for the 2026 Golden Spikes Award, as announced by USA Baseball on Thursday afternoon.
Additionally, King was named one of 48 semifinalists for the 2026 Dick Howser Trophy earlier on Thursday afternoon by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The honor has been given to the top college baseball player based on two rounds of national voting by NCBWA members since 1987.
Moving one step closer to identifying the top amateur baseball player in the country, the 48th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 29 on MLB Network at 7:30 p.m. ET.
"With another terrific amateur baseball season nearing the finish line, we are thrilled to honor the twenty-five best players in the country as Golden Spikes Award semifinalists," said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. "These athletes have put together tremendous seasons and are extremely deserving of this honor. We anticipate an exciting race throughout the remainder of the season and look forward to naming the 48th winner of the Golden Spikes Award on MLB Network next month."
Currently the frontrunner for SEC Pitcher of the Year, King leads the conference with a 0.89 WHIP, 6.08 hits per nine and 13 games started while sitting second in ERA (2.19), fifth in innings (74.0) and walks per nine (1.95) and eighth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.81). Meanwhile, his .187 batting average against is in line to be the lowest by a Gator since 2016 (Nick Maronde: .178). Last weekend, King's ERA moved above 2.00 for the first time all season, as he has thrown a team-high eight quality starts including six in SEC play. He has pitched into the seventh inning in five of his last six SEC starts for an average of 7.0 frames per outing.
As a result, King ranks second in SEC action behind UK's Jaxon Jelkin with 56 2/3 innings pitched and 6.3 innings per start, where he sits second in WHIP (0.83) and third in wins (five) behind a league-low .165 batting average against. In SEC play, King has a lower WHIP and batting average against than LSU's Paul Skenes finished with in 2023, and his overall 2.19 ERA would be the best by a Gator since Michael Byrne in 2017 (1.67). Across his last 18 starts dating back to last season, King is 11-3 with a 1.68 ERA and 105-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 112 2/3 innings pitched (21 earned runs allowed).
Overall, six different conferences are represented among the 25 semifinalists. The SEC features 10 players, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with six and the Big 12 with four. Additionally, the Big Ten has two athletes and the Atlantic Sun and Big West have one player apiece.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2026. Following today's semifinalist announcement, baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the finalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 10, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the winner before closing on June 28.
The 2026 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
To stay up to date on the 2026 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter/X.
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.
2026 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalists
Name - Position - Year - School - Conference
Jarren Advincula - INF - Junior - Georgia Tech - ACC
Drew Burress - OF - Junior - Georgia Tech - ACC
Lorenzo Carrier - OF - R-Senior - Pittsburgh - ACC
Roch Cholowsky - INF - Junior - UCLA - Big Ten
Tague Davis - INF - Sophomore - Louisville - ACC
Jason DeCaro - RHP - Junior - North Carolina - ACC
Evan Dempsey - RHP/OF - Junior - FGCU - A-SUN
Hunter Dietz - LHP - R-Sophomore - Arkansas - SEC
Mason Edwards - LHP - Junior - Southern Cal - Big Ten
Grady Emerson - INF - Senior (HS) - Fort Worth Christian (HS)
Jackson Flora - RHP - Junior - UC Santa Barbara - Big West
Gavin Grahovac - INF - Junior - Texas A&M - SEC
Landon Hairston - INF - Sophomore - Arizona State - Big 12
Ryder Helfrick - C - Junior - Arkansas - SEC
Daniel Jackson - C - Junior - Georgia - SEC
Gavin Kelly - C/INF - Sophomore - West Virginia - Big 12
Dee Kennedy - INF - Junior - Kansas State - Big 12
Aidan King - RHP - Sophomore - Florida - SEC
Vahn Lackey - C/INF - Junior - Georgia Tech - ACC
Kollin Ritchie - OF - Junior - Oklahoma State - Big 12
Aiden Robbins - OF - Junior - Texas - SEC
Caden Sorrell - OF - Junior - Texas A&M - SEC
Cade Townsend - RHP - Sophomore - Ole Miss - SEC
Tomas Valincius - LHP - Sophomore - Mississippi State
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Additionally, King was named one of 48 semifinalists for the 2026 Dick Howser Trophy earlier on Thursday afternoon by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The honor has been given to the top college baseball player based on two rounds of national voting by NCBWA members since 1987.
Moving one step closer to identifying the top amateur baseball player in the country, the 48th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 29 on MLB Network at 7:30 p.m. ET.
"With another terrific amateur baseball season nearing the finish line, we are thrilled to honor the twenty-five best players in the country as Golden Spikes Award semifinalists," said USA Baseball CEO/Executive Director Paul Seiler. "These athletes have put together tremendous seasons and are extremely deserving of this honor. We anticipate an exciting race throughout the remainder of the season and look forward to naming the 48th winner of the Golden Spikes Award on MLB Network next month."
Currently the frontrunner for SEC Pitcher of the Year, King leads the conference with a 0.89 WHIP, 6.08 hits per nine and 13 games started while sitting second in ERA (2.19), fifth in innings (74.0) and walks per nine (1.95) and eighth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.81). Meanwhile, his .187 batting average against is in line to be the lowest by a Gator since 2016 (Nick Maronde: .178). Last weekend, King's ERA moved above 2.00 for the first time all season, as he has thrown a team-high eight quality starts including six in SEC play. He has pitched into the seventh inning in five of his last six SEC starts for an average of 7.0 frames per outing.
As a result, King ranks second in SEC action behind UK's Jaxon Jelkin with 56 2/3 innings pitched and 6.3 innings per start, where he sits second in WHIP (0.83) and third in wins (five) behind a league-low .165 batting average against. In SEC play, King has a lower WHIP and batting average against than LSU's Paul Skenes finished with in 2023, and his overall 2.19 ERA would be the best by a Gator since Michael Byrne in 2017 (1.67). Across his last 18 starts dating back to last season, King is 11-3 with a 1.68 ERA and 105-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 112 2/3 innings pitched (21 earned runs allowed).
Nation taking notice 🗣️
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 14, 2026
Aidan King is a @USAGoldenSpikes and @HowserTrophy Semifinalist! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/I4zEBmbyyO
Overall, six different conferences are represented among the 25 semifinalists. The SEC features 10 players, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with six and the Big 12 with four. Additionally, the Big Ten has two athletes and the Atlantic Sun and Big West have one player apiece.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2026. Following today's semifinalist announcement, baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the finalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 10, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the winner before closing on June 28.
The 2026 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
- May 14: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
- June 9: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
- 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
To stay up to date on the 2026 Golden Spikes Award, visit GoldenSpikesAward.com and follow @USAGoldenSpikes on Instagram and Twitter/X.
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.
2026 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalists
Name - Position - Year - School - Conference
Jarren Advincula - INF - Junior - Georgia Tech - ACC
Drew Burress - OF - Junior - Georgia Tech - ACC
Lorenzo Carrier - OF - R-Senior - Pittsburgh - ACC
Roch Cholowsky - INF - Junior - UCLA - Big Ten
Tague Davis - INF - Sophomore - Louisville - ACC
Jason DeCaro - RHP - Junior - North Carolina - ACC
Evan Dempsey - RHP/OF - Junior - FGCU - A-SUN
Hunter Dietz - LHP - R-Sophomore - Arkansas - SEC
Mason Edwards - LHP - Junior - Southern Cal - Big Ten
Grady Emerson - INF - Senior (HS) - Fort Worth Christian (HS)
Jackson Flora - RHP - Junior - UC Santa Barbara - Big West
Gavin Grahovac - INF - Junior - Texas A&M - SEC
Landon Hairston - INF - Sophomore - Arizona State - Big 12
Ryder Helfrick - C - Junior - Arkansas - SEC
Daniel Jackson - C - Junior - Georgia - SEC
Gavin Kelly - C/INF - Sophomore - West Virginia - Big 12
Dee Kennedy - INF - Junior - Kansas State - Big 12
Aidan King - RHP - Sophomore - Florida - SEC
Vahn Lackey - C/INF - Junior - Georgia Tech - ACC
Kollin Ritchie - OF - Junior - Oklahoma State - Big 12
Aiden Robbins - OF - Junior - Texas - SEC
Caden Sorrell - OF - Junior - Texas A&M - SEC
Cade Townsend - RHP - Sophomore - Ole Miss - SEC
Tomas Valincius - LHP - Sophomore - Mississippi State
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#GoGators
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