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Kyle Lewis wins 2016 Golden Spikes Award

Kyle Lewis wins the award after spending his spring hitting baseballs to that terrifying planet with the giant waves that Matthew McConaughey landed on in that movie about space and love

By Ethan Novak
Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

On Thursday night, Kyle Lewis was announced as the 2016 Golden Spikes Award winner:

The Golden Spikes Award is given annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. While glancing at the past winners, you'll find that Lewis could have worse company:

2005

Alex Gordon

2006

Tim Lincecum

2007

David Price

2008

Buster Posey

2009

Stephen Strasburg

2010

Bryce Harper

2011

Trevor Bauer

2012

Mike Zunino

2013

Kris Bryant

2014

AJ Reed

2015

Andrew Benintendi

In his final year at Mercer, Lewis put up hilariously absurd numbers, hitting .395/.535/.731 with 20 home runs and 72 RBIs in just 223 at-bats. His ISO (.336) was higher than most guys' batting averages. The performance, along with a great showing in the Cape Cod League, vaulted him into the conversation for the first-overall pick. A run on prep and college arms caused Lewis to slip, however, giving the Mariners the opportunity to nab one of the highest ceilings in the draft with the eleventh overall pick. Lewis signed with the Mariners almost immediately and is currently playing with Low-A Everett, where he's posted a .357 OBP through his first twelve games.

The other finalists for the Golden Spikes Award:

  • The wonderfully-named Seth Beer, a Clemson freshman who hit .369/.535/.700 with 18 home runs in 203 at-bats.
  • Louisville OF and newest Milwaukee Brewer Corey Ray, who hit .310/.388/.545 with 44 stolen bases.
  • Florida RHP Logan Shore, a 2nd-round pick of the Oakland Athletics who posted a 2.31 ERA and a 5.05 K/BB over 105.1 IP.
Let's have some fun and watch him make some plays in a Mercer uniform.

Congrats to Lewis, who is the first winner in the history of Mercer baseball!

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