CARY, N.C. - 2025 All-American
Mackenzie Wainwright has been named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.
The preseason list includes 55 players across high school and college baseball based on their body of work from the previous year. The Golden Spikes Advisory Board will maintain the award's watch list on a rolling basis, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award based on in-season performance.
"We could not be more excited to kick off the amateur baseball season with the announcement of the Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List," said Paul Seiler, Executive Director/CEO of USA Baseball. "The athletes on this year's initial watch list represent a tremendous amount of talent and character. We are looking forward to watching their journeys unfold during what is sure to be a thrilling and competitive season of amateur baseball."
Wainwright had a season to remember last year, batting .437 with 121 hits, 102 runs, 81 RBIs, 26 doubles, 25 home runs, 23 stolen bases, and six triples. His 121 hits and 234 total bases are each NCAA DII records, while his 102 runs ranks third all time. He was a vital piece in the Bears' run to the national semi-finals in Cary last year, making the National Championships All-Tournament Team.
Wainwright is the lone honoree from a school that isn't NCAA Division I or high school. Of the 55 individuals, 49 are Division I, five are high schoolers, and one is from Division II. He will look to join Bryce Harper (2010) and Alex Fernandez (1990) as the only players from a non-NCAA Division I school to win the award.
Key Dates of the 2026 Golden Spikes Award
- April 2 - Midseason Watch List
- May 14 - Semi-Finalists
- June 10 - Finalists
- June 29 - Winner
