Patrick Bailey and Will Wilson named to Preseason Watch List for the Golden Spikes Award

NC State baseball players Patrick Bailey and Will Wilson were both named to the 2019 Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list. The Golden Spikes Award is College Baseball’s equivalent of College Football’s Heisman Trophy. Quite the nice recognition for both players, as well as the program.

Bailey, a sophomore switch-hitting catcher from Wesleyan Christian Academy in Greensboro, slashed .321/.419/.604 with 8 2B, 13 HR, 45 R, and 40 RBI last year while being named the ACC Freshman-of-the-Year and a Freshman All-American by every major collegiate baseball outlet. He’s one of the top catching prospects for the 2020 MLB Draft.

Wilson, a junior shortstop from Kings Mountain, slashed .307/.376/.588 with 16 2B, 15 HR, 50 R, and 53 RBI a year ago in a season that garnered 1st Team All-ACC honors. A top 50 prospect for this year’s MLB Draft, Wilson was a 2018 semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award, a separate award also recognizing college baseball’s top player (think of it as an equivalent of college football’s Maxwell Award).

Both Bailey and Wilson played on the Team USA Collegiate National Team in the summer of 2018.

The last NC State player named to the preseason watch list was Joe Dunand in 2017. Dunand was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 2nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft.

The Wolfpack baseball team kicks off their 2019 season on Friday, February 15th at home at 3:00pm versus Bucknell.