FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas center field Andrew Benintendi would love to the win the Golden Spikes Award presented to the nation's top amateur player, but he would prefer not to be at the banquet in Los Angeles on June 23 to accept it.
Benintendi was announced Tuesday as one of four finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, but he hopes to be playing for the Razorbacks on June 23, which is when the best-of-3 championship series begins at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Arkansas is playing Missouri State in a super regional this weekend at Baum Stadium with the winner advancing to the College World Series.
The four Golden Spikes finalists are invited to attend the banquet, where the winner will be announced.
"I'm honored to be up for that award," Benintendi said. "Hopefully, I don't have to make the trip because we're still playing."
The Golden Spikes Award is sponsored by Major League Baseball and presented in partnership with the Rod Dedeaux Foundation, named for the former Southern California coach.
This year will mark the 38th annual presentation. Recent winners include Buster Posey, Bryce Harper, David Price, Stephen Strasburg, Alex Gordon, Tim Lincecum, Kris Bryant and Mike Zuninio.
ESPN will carry the presentation live on SportsCenter. The voting committee includes more than 200 people and has a strong connection with USA Baseball.
Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn, who served as Team USA's coach last summer, talked with several USA Baseball officials Tuesday about Benintendi being a finalist.
"It was a proud moment for me," Van Horn said. "This is the Heisman Trophy of college baseball."
The other Golden Spikes finalists also are SEC players: LSU shortstop Alex Bregman, Vanderbilt pitcher Carson Fulmer and Vanderbilt shortstop Dansby Swanson.
"It's a big honor," Van Horn said. "It's something that you earn from day one through game 60, which is where we are right now. It's not something you earn having a great month. It's about being great all year."
Benintendi, a sophomore from Cincinnati, is batting .390 with 18 home runs and 54 RBI. He has scored 57 runs and stolen 22 bases in 26 attempts.
"We wouldn't be sitting here if Andrew wouldn't have had the year he's had," Van Horn said. "Good players make us look a little smarter than we are and we appreciate it."
Benintendi was voted the SEC player of the year by conference coaches and named Collegiate Baseball magazine's national player of the year, but he didn't want to speculate on whether that means he'll win the Golden Spikes Award.
"Obviously, there are three other really great players," Benintendi said. "I'm kind of happy it's all SEC players. It's cool."
Sports on 06/03/2015