DURHAM, N.C. – Auburn right-hander Tanner Burns has been named to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list, USA Baseball announced Thursday.
Burns is not only one of six players to appear on the watch list for the second consecutive season, but he also becomes the first Auburn player to be named to the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list on two occasions.
The preseason watch list features 55 of the nation's top amateur players from high school and college baseball. The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will maintain a rolling list of players, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration throughout the season. The 43rd Golden Spikes Award will ultimately be presented on June 11 in Omaha, Nebraska.
The 2020 Golden Spikes Award timeline:
February 14: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award fan nominations begin
April 6: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award fan nominations end
April 9: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list announced
May 14: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, fan voting begins
May 24: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
May 28: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, fan voting begins
June 7: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
June 11: USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award trophy presentation
The recognition continues a list of preseason accolades for Burns, who has already been named preseason All-SEC and a preseason All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, D1 Baseball and Perfect Game.
The Decatur, Alabama native is coming off a sophomore campaign in which he posted a 4-4 record with a 2.82 ERA and went on to become the 25th All-American in program history as he earned third-team honors from Perfect Game. Despite battling injury late in the season, Burns struck out 101 batters and issued 23 walks in 79.2 innings of work. He joined former Auburn ace and No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize as the only Auburn pitchers since 2000 to strike out 100 or more batters in a season.
Burns made history early in the season as he matched a program record with 15 strikeouts in a complete-game shutout against Cincinnati on Mar. 1. He joined Mize (2018), Chris Bootcheck (1999), Tim Hudson (1997), John Powell (1994) and Mark Chapman (1986) on the list of 15-strikeout performances.
The right-hander enters his junior season with an 11-8 career record and 2.92 ERA. He has struck out 178 batters in 166.1 innings pitched over 32 starts and 33 appearances during the last two seasons.
Burns and the Tigers open the 2020 campaign with a four-game series against Illinois-Chicago beginning Friday, Feb. 14 at Plainsman Park. Mini plan and single game ticket options are available. Fans can reach the Auburn ticket office by phone at 855-282-2010 or by emailing tickets@auburn.edu. To order tickets online, click here.