Lewis named Golden Spikes finalist

Mercer center fielder Kyle Lewis was named Monday as one of four finalists for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award.

The award, which goes annually to the best amateur baseball player in the United States, will be presented June 30 in Los Angeles.

Lewis, the No. 11 pick by the Seattle Mariners in last week’s Major League Baseball draft, joins Clemson’s Seth Beer, Louisville’s Corey Ray and Florida’s Logan Shore as the award’s four finalists.

Lewis finished the season with 20 home runs and 72 RBI, ranking in the top six in both nationally. He also ranked fourth nationally with a program-record 66 walks while ranking in top 15 nationally in batting average (.395) and top-five nationally in on-base percentage (.535) and runs (70).

Lewis helped lead the Bears to a 38-23 record — Mercer’s seventh straight season with 35 wins or more — and a second straight Southern Conference regular-season championship. Already this spring, he has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season and the Baseball America Player of the Year.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Lewis named Golden Spikes finalist."