Rooker's 82 RBIs made him the first played in SEC history to record 20 home runs, 30 doubles and 75 RBIs in a single season.
Brent Rooker Named Golden Spikes Award Finalist
June 14, 2017 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After having completed one of the most impressive offensive seasons in Mississippi State and Southeastern Conference history, Brent Rooker has now been named a Golden Spikes Award Finalist, USA Baseball announced Wednesday.
2017 marks the 40th consecutive year the Golden Spikes Award has been awarded to the top amateur baseball player in the United States based on their athletic ability, sportsmanship, character and overall contribution to the sport.
Following the nationally televised announcement of the winner on June 29, all four finalists and their families will be celebrated at the Jonathan Club Los Angeles as part of the 2017 Rod Dedeaux Foundation Awards Dinner.
In addition to National Player of the Year and First Team All-American honors, Rooker was named the school's first-ever Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, in addition to First Team All-SEC accolades in May.
On Monday, Rooker was selected with the 35th pick in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, making him the 14th Diamond Dawg in program history to become a first round pick.
Rooker finished his stellar season with a .387 batting average and a school record 30 doubles. His 96 hits was eighth in program history for hits in a single season, while his 23 home runs was fifth in the MSU record books. His 82 RBIs made him the first played in SEC history to record 20 home runs, 30 doubles and 75 RBIs in a single season.
In addition to being named a Golden Spikes Finalist and Dick Howser Trophy Finalist, Rooker was awarded the C Spire Ferriss Trophy as the best player in the state of Mississippi.
The Golden Spikes Award voting committee, which selects the finalists and the Golden Spikes Award winner, is comprised of over 200 voters, consisting of past Golden Spikes Award winners, past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media highly attuned within the amateur baseball landscape, select professional baseball personnel and select current USA Baseball staff members. The voting committee will have the opportunity to vote for the winner from today until Friday, June 23.
Fans will also be able to vote for the 2017 award winner by visiting the online home for the award, GoldenSpikesAward.com; which is powered by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM). Voting for fans ends at 5 p.m. EST on Friday, June 23, and the finalist with the most fan votes will receive one overall vote.
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateBB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Brent Rooker 2017 Honors:
- Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year
- SEC Player of the Year
- Baseball America First Team All-American
- Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American
- Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
- Golden Spikes Award Finalist
- First Team All-SEC
- Ferriss Trophy Winner (Best amateur baseball player in the state of Mississippi)
- SEC Player of the Week - Feb. 27, April 3 & April 10
- NCBWA National Hitter of the Week - Feb. 28 & April 11
- NCBWA Player of the Month (March)
- National Player of the Week - Feb. 27 & April 10 (Collegiate Baseball)
- Perfect Game/Rawlings Player of the Week - April 11
2017 marks the 40th consecutive year the Golden Spikes Award has been awarded to the top amateur baseball player in the United States based on their athletic ability, sportsmanship, character and overall contribution to the sport.
Following the nationally televised announcement of the winner on June 29, all four finalists and their families will be celebrated at the Jonathan Club Los Angeles as part of the 2017 Rod Dedeaux Foundation Awards Dinner.
In addition to National Player of the Year and First Team All-American honors, Rooker was named the school's first-ever Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, in addition to First Team All-SEC accolades in May.
On Monday, Rooker was selected with the 35th pick in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins, making him the 14th Diamond Dawg in program history to become a first round pick.
Rooker finished his stellar season with a .387 batting average and a school record 30 doubles. His 96 hits was eighth in program history for hits in a single season, while his 23 home runs was fifth in the MSU record books. His 82 RBIs made him the first played in SEC history to record 20 home runs, 30 doubles and 75 RBIs in a single season.
In addition to being named a Golden Spikes Finalist and Dick Howser Trophy Finalist, Rooker was awarded the C Spire Ferriss Trophy as the best player in the state of Mississippi.
The Golden Spikes Award voting committee, which selects the finalists and the Golden Spikes Award winner, is comprised of over 200 voters, consisting of past Golden Spikes Award winners, past USA Baseball National Team coaches and press officers, members of the media highly attuned within the amateur baseball landscape, select professional baseball personnel and select current USA Baseball staff members. The voting committee will have the opportunity to vote for the winner from today until Friday, June 23.
Fans will also be able to vote for the 2017 award winner by visiting the online home for the award, GoldenSpikesAward.com; which is powered by MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM). Voting for fans ends at 5 p.m. EST on Friday, June 23, and the finalist with the most fan votes will receive one overall vote.
For more information on the Diamond Dawg program, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateBB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap."
Brent Rooker 2017 Honors:
- Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year
- SEC Player of the Year
- Baseball America First Team All-American
- Collegiate Baseball First Team All-American
- Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
- Golden Spikes Award Finalist
- First Team All-SEC
- Ferriss Trophy Winner (Best amateur baseball player in the state of Mississippi)
- SEC Player of the Week - Feb. 27, April 3 & April 10
- NCBWA National Hitter of the Week - Feb. 28 & April 11
- NCBWA Player of the Month (March)
- National Player of the Week - Feb. 27 & April 10 (Collegiate Baseball)
- Perfect Game/Rawlings Player of the Week - April 11
Players Mentioned
OF
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