Evan Dempsey, a junior pitcher‑outfielder for Florida Gulf Coast University, has earned a spot among the 25 semifinalists for the 2026 Golden Spikes Award, the nation’s premier honor for the best amateur baseball player.
A dual‑threat on the mound and at the plate
Dempsey’s statistical footprint stretches across the leaderboards, placing him sixth nationally in total strikeouts, 24th in strikeouts per nine innings, 40th in WHIP and 44th in strikeout‑to‑walk ratio. He also tops the Atlantic Sun Conference in four pitching categories while ranking 73rd in runs, 66th in hits per game, 36th in total hits and 39th in doubles. His .300‑plus batting average situates him 135th nationally.
The recognition extends beyond raw numbers; Dempsey appears on watch lists for both the Golden Spikes Award and the John Olerud Two‑Way Player Award, underscoring his versatility as a true two‑way talent.
Fan voting is now open, offering the public a direct role in shaping the final slate of contenders. The award ceremony will be streamed on MLB Network on June 29 at 7:30 p.m., where the champion will be crowned.
Dempsey joins two other non‑Power 4 school athletes among the semifinalists, a group representing 20 institutions. Power‑conference schools dominate the list, with the SEC contributing ten semifinalists, the ACC six, the Big 12 four and the Big Ten two, while the Atlantic Sun and Big West each supply a single representative.