Feb. 16, 2012

Official Golden Spikes Website

Stony Brook, N.Y. -

Junior centerfielder Travis Jankowski (Lancaster, Pa.), of the Stony Brook University baseball team, has been named to the Golden Spikes 50-man preseason watch list, USA Baseball announced on Thursday. The Golden Spikes award is presented annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country.

Jankowski hit .355 in 2011 and was then chosen as the MVP of the prestigious Cape Cod League over the summer. He has already been named a preseason All-American by the NCBWA, Baseball America and Perfect Game USA and was also named the America East's top MLB Draft prospect by Baseball America.

Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the Golden Spikes Award. The award is sponsored by Major League Baseball and presented each year to the player who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship.

Past winners of the award include Robin Ventura (1988), Jason Varitek (1994), J.D. Drew (1997), Mark Prior (2001), Jered Weaver (2004), Tim Lincecum (2006), David Price (2007), Buster Posey (2008), Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Bryce Harper (2010).

Jankowski is the only America East player and one of just three players from the Northeast Region that were named to the list.

SBU opens the 2012 season against Alabama State and Nicholls State at the Colonel Round Robin Tournament on Feb. 24 and will host 20 games at Joe Nathan Field.