Georgia's Charlie Condon wins Golden Spikes Award

Georgia star Charlie Condon was named winner of the Golden Spikes Award on Saturday, an honor known as college baseball's equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.

Condon, who plays outfield and third base, led the nation in batting average (.433) and homers (37) this season. He is the first Georgia player to win the award.

Oregon State shortstop Travis Bazzana and Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith were the other finalists. Bazzana and Condon are the likely top two picks in next month's Major League draft with Smith a possible top-five selection.

"There's been so much competitive college baseball around the season and to be named for this award is just amazing," Condon said on ESPN.

Condon was a former walk-on who has developed into a star.

"It's something I worked very hard for, but that's far from credit for just myself," Condon said. "It's about the program and people who trusted my process. It's one thing to buy into your own process, but another to have a group of people who were willing to go in on it with you. It's an individual award but far from an individual effort."

Condon was the Dick Howser Trophy winner as the nation's top player earlier this month.

The list of former players to win the Golden Spikes Award include Oregon State's Adley Rutschman (2019), San Diego's Kris Bryant (2013), Southern Nevada's Bryce Harper (2010), San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg (2009), Florida State's Buster Posey (2008) and Cal State Fullerton's Phil Nevin (1992).

Golden Spikes Award Winners:

2024: Charlie Condon - Georgia

2023: Dylan Crews - LSU

2022: Ivan Melendez - Texas

2021: Kevin Kopps - Arkansas

2019: Adley Rutschman - Oregon State

2018: Andrew Vaughn - California

2017: Brendan McKay - Louisville

2016: Kyle Lewis - Mercer

2015: Andrew Benintendi - Arkansas

2014: A.J. Reed - Kentucky

2013: Kris Bryant - San Diego

2012: Mike Zunino - Florida

2011: Trevor Bauer - UCLA

2010: Bryce Harper - Southern Nevada

2009: Stephen Strasburg - San Diego State

2008: Buster Posey - Florida State

2007: David Price - Vanderbilt

2006: Tim Lincecum - Washington

2005: Alex Gordon - Nebraska

2004: Jered Weaver - Long Beach State

2003: Rickie Weeks - Southern

2002: Khalil Greene - Clemson

2001: Mark Prior - Southern California

2000: Kip Bouknight - South Carolina

1999: Jason Jennings - Baylor

1998: Pat Burrell - Miami

1997: J.D. Drew - Florida State

1996: Travis Lee - San Diego State

1995: Mark Kotsay - Cal State Fullerton

1994: Jason Varitek - Georgia Tech

1993: Darren Dreifort - Wichita State

1992: Phil Nevin - Cal State Fullerton

1991: Mike Kelly - Arizona State

1990: Alex Fernandez - Miami Dade CC

1989: Ben McDonald - LSU

1988: Robin Ventura - Oklahoma State

1987: Jim Abbott - Michigan

1986: Mike Loynd - Florida State

1985: Will Clark - Mississippi State

1984: Oddibe McDowell - Arizona State

1983: Dave Magadan - Alabama

1982: Augie Schmidt - New Orleans

1981: Mike Fuentes - Florida State

1980: Terry Francona - Arizona

1979: Tim Wallach - Cal State Fullerton

1978: Bob Horner - Arizona State