Tennessee ace
Liam Doyle was one of 25 semifinalists named for the 2025 Golden Spikes Award presented by Chinook Seedery, USA Baseball announced on Sunday.
Doyle was one of eight players from the Southeastern Conference to make the list of semifinalists, which was the most from any league. He is the fifth Vol to be tabbed a semifinalist in the
Tony Vitello era, joining the likes of
Christian Moore (2024),
Blake Burke (2024), Trey Lipscomb (2022) and Chase Burns (2022).
Should Doyle be named a finalist for this year's award, he would join a prestigious group of VFLs that include Luke Hochevar (2005), Chris Burke (2001) and Todd Helton (1995).
The junior southpaw has put together one of the most dominant seasons by a UT pitcher in program history to this point, leading the country with 137 strikeouts, a mark that also ranks tied for third most in Tennessee single-season history. He needs just 18 more strikeouts to surpass Hochevar's record of 154 set in 2005.
Doyle's 15.54 strikeouts per nine innings also lead the nation while his 0.92 WHIP is the best in the SEC and ranks 12
th nationally.
The Derry, New Hampshire, native's nine victories are tied for 12
th most in the NCAA and first in the SEC while his 5.45 hits allowed per nine innings rank eighth and second, respectively. Doyle has held opponents to a miniscule .171 batting average over 79.1 innings pitched, second lowest in the SEC.
Doyle has also been the starter for two combined no-hitters this year and has been tabbed the SEC Pitcher of the Week three times, which is a single-season program record.
Since 1978, the Golden Spikes Award has been presented to the top amateur baseball player in the country who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.
A complete list of this year's semifinalists can be found
HERE.
The 2025 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
•
May 18: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
•
May 28: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
•
June 4: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
•
June 20: Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
•
June 21: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2025. Baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on
GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning May 18 with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 4, and fan voting will once again open at
GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 20.