With the UCLA Bruins sitting at No. 1 in the nation and Roch Cholowsky enjoying another beastly season, it’s no surprise to see the Bruins shortstop be one of the 25 college baseball players named as a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
Cholowsky was the only member of the 46-5 UCLA squad named a semifinalist. UCLA has relied on Cholowsky in the heart of the lineup this year and it’s paid dividends, with the potential No. 1 pick batting .338 with 21 home runs.
The 21 bombs is tied for 13th in the nation. UCLA’s offense is 17th in the country and Cholowsky is a major reason why, driving in 59 runs in 51 games. While the season has been impressive, it’s also been expected, with Cholowsky being named a Golden Spikes semifinalist for the second year in a row.
Texas’ sophomore left-handed pitcher Dylan Volantis joins Cholowsky as the only other player to get named a semifinalist for the second-straight season. Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and Texas are the only schools with multiple players named semifinalists.
Last year Cholowsky, the first team All-American, was named the Baseball America Player of the Year along with earning the Big Ten Player of the Year. A year later he has a chance to bring home all three awards plus a Golden Spikes trophy.
Plenty of MLB All-Stars have won the Golden Spikes. Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Buster Posey and David Price have all won the award over the past 20 years. Last year it was Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy who won the Golden Spikes. Aloy was then selected 31st overall by the Baltimore Orioles.
Cholowsky is set to get picked even higher. The Chicago White Sox will have a chance at Cholowsky with the first overall pick but there seems to be plenty of interest in the top-five.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky named a finalist for the Golden Spikes
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
