UCLA's Gelalich named Golden Spikes Award semifinalist

DURHAM, N.C. – UCLA junior outfielder Jeff Gelalich has been selected as one of 30 semifinalists for the 2012 Golden Spikes Award, as announced Tuesday by USA Baseball.

Gelalich enters the postseason batting .367, the second-highest mark in the Pac-12 Conference, with nine home runs, 39 RBI, 50 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.

The Golden Spikes Award is presented annually at the end of the season to the nation’s premier college baseball player. In 2011, right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer became the first UCLA ballplayer to win the award.

Gelalich currently ranks third among Pac-12 hitters with a .458 on-base percentage and 79 hits. The native of La Verne, Calif., has started all 56 games for UCLA, making 55 starts in right field. Serving primarily as the team’s cleanup hitter, Gelalich has reached base safely via hit, walk or hit-by-pitch in 53 of the Bruins’ 56 games.

Powered MLB.com, GoldenSpikesAward.com will once again serve as the online home for this year’s award. The website features content devoted exclusively to the GSA. Fans can follow online at GoldenSpikesAward.com as the list of 30 players is narrowed to three finalists on Tuesday, June 5.

For the second year in a row, the Golden Spikes Award will be awarded live on MLB Network. The three finalists for the award will be at MLB Network’s studios for the presentation on The Rundown on Friday, July 6. The presentation will be simulcast live on GoldenSpikesAward.com and MLB.com.

Gelalich and the Bruins open postseason play against Creighton (26-28) on Friday evening at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m. UCLA has earned its sixth postseason appearance in the last seven years.

Complete semifinalist list:
Mark Appel, RHP, Junior, Stanford, Pac-12
Sean Bignall, OF, Senior, Arkansas-Little Rock, Sun Belt
Jayce Boyd, IF, Junior, Florida State, ACC
Kris Bryant, IF, Sophomore, San Diego, WCC
Kevin Gausman, RHP, Sophomore, Louisiana State, SEC
Jeff Gelalich, OF, Junior, UCLA, Pac-12
Marco Gonzales, LHP/IF, Sophomore, Gonzaga, WCC
Andrew Heaney, LHP, Junior, Oklahoma State, Big 12
Kurt Heyer, RHP, Junior, Arizona, Pac-12
Goose Kallunki, IF, Senior, Utah Valley, Great West
Daniel Kassouf, IF, Senior, Appalachian State, SoCon
Alex Keudell, RHP, Senior, Oregon, Pac-12
Trenton Moses, IF, RS-Junior, Southeast Missouri, Ohio Valley
Tyler Naquin, OF, Junior, Texas A&M, Big 12
D.J. Peterson, IF, Sophomore, New Mexico, Mountain West
Nick Petree, RHP, RS-Sophomore, Missouri State, Missouri Valley
Kevin Plawecki, C, Junior, Purdue, Big Ten
Danny Poma, OF, Senior, Hofstra, CAA
James Ramsey, OF, Senior, Florida State, ACC
Raph Rhymes, OF, Junior, Louisiana State, SEC
Carlos Rodon, LHP, Freshman, North Carolina State, ACC
Michael Roth, LHP, Senior, South Carolina, SEC
Richie Shaffer, IF, Junior, Clemson, ACC
Chris Stratton, RHP, Junior, Mississippi State, SEC
Ross Stripling, RHP, Senior, Texas A&M, Big 12
Marcus Stroman, RHP, Junior, Duke, ACC
Josh Turley, LHP, Junior, Baylor, Big 12
Michael Wacha, RHP, Junior, Texas A&M, Big 12
Alex Yarbrough, IF, Junior, Mississippi, SEC
Mike Zunino, C, Junior, Florida, SEC