Turner, Wahl Added to Golden Spikes Award Watch List

May 2, 2013

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI/Ole Miss Athletics) – Junior catcher Stuart Turner and junior right-hander Bobby Wahl were both named to the 2013 Midseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, USA Baseball announced on Thursday. The pair of two of 60 players nationally named to the watch list.

(OleMissSports.com)
Junior pitcher Bobby Wahl is one of two Rebels named to the Golden Spikes Award watch list.

The Golden Spikes Award is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate baseball player by USA Baseball. The list of candidates will continue to change based on performance until the 30 semifinalists are announced on May 28.

The final award will be presented live on the MLB Network on July 19.

Turner currently leads the Rebels with a .389 batting average, five home runs and 45 RBI and ranks in the top 10 in the Southeastern Conference in several offensive categories. He is second in the SEC in doubles (14) and has posted 22 multiple-hit games and 14 multiple-RBI games this season.

The catcher has also been a defensive stalwart throwing out attempted base stealers at a 50 percent clip with 19-of-38 runners caught stealing on the season, the most efficient rate of all starting catchers in the talent-rich Southeastern Conference.

Wahl anchors the weekend rotation for the Rebels, taking the mound on Friday night and holding an 8-0 record through 11 starts. In his three no decisions, the right-hander has left the game with the Rebels leading or tied in each instance, including games against No. 2 Vanderbilt and No. 24 Kentucky.

The junior threw his first complete-game, a shutout at Tennessee, earlier this season for one of his three shutouts on the year. He also combined for shutouts of No. 12 TCU and No. 22 Alabama as part of his eight wins this season.

Wahl holds a 1.22 ERA this year, tops among starters in the SEC and second overall, and ranks second in wins and third in opponent’s batting average with foes hitting at a .182 clip. He is 4-0 in six starts against nationally-ranked teams with a 0.66 ERA, a .162 opponent’s batting average and has allowed only three earned runs in 41.0 innings of work against top-25 teams.