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Strasburg Captures 2009 Golden Spikes Award

USA Baseball announced Tuesday the selection of San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg as the winner of the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award. The award caps off a college season that saw the Aztec right-hander win numerous major awards as the top hurler in the NCAA Division I ranks. Strasburg becomes the second SDSU player to capture the Golden Spikes trophy after former Aztec first baseman Travis Lee received the award in 1996.

In partnership with Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Advanced Media, the interactive media and Internet company of MLB, the award was presented live at MLB All-Star FanFest in St. Louis Tuesday afternoon.

"It's a tremendous honor," commented Strasburg. "You look at all the players that have been past Golden Spikes winners and to be considered in that caliber as a college player is just an amazing feeling for me. I remember three years ago, coming to San Diego State and wondering if I was even going to have a spot in the team. It's been a roller coaster ride for me the last three years for me, but it's all worth it."

Strasburg was selected as the National Player of the Year and as a Louisville Slugger first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. Strasburg led the nation in earned run average (1.32) and strikeouts (195) in 2009 , and the two-time Mountain West Conference (MWC) Pitcher of the Year finished league play with a conference-best 7-0 record (13-1 overall), an ERA of 1.50 and 111 strikeouts.

The junior standout was also recently honored with the Dick Howser Trophy as the college baseball player of the year. He received player of the year recognition from Baseball America as well, and he was also named the 2009 College Baseball Foundation Pitcher of the Year. In addition to the accolades, Strasburg was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Washington Nationals.

This year marks the 32nd consecutive year that the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award has been presented to the nation's premier amateur baseball player. Dustin Ackley (North Carolina), Mike Leake (Arizona State), Kent Matthes (Alabama), and A.J. Morris (Kansas State) were the other finalists for the award.

"Once again in 2009 we were faced with an incredibly strong collection of candidates for the Golden Spikes Award," said USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler, who presented the award to Strasburg at All-Star FanFest. "Stephen Strasburg's performance this year stood out among the finalists, however, both statistically and in his leading of San Diego State to its first NCAA tournament appearance in nearly two decades. We are honored to recognize Stephen with the Golden Spikes Award, and we wish him and the other finalists success as professionals."

The selection of Strasburg marked the third time in four years that a pitcher has received the GSA (David Price of Vanderbilt, 2007; Tim Lincecum of Washington, 2006). He is also the second Aztec to win the award, following Travis Lee in 1996.

Since 1978, USA Baseball has honored the top amateur baseball player in the country with the GSA. Following the first ever presentation of the trophy to Bob Horner of Arizona State, the GSA has been awarded each year to the player who exhibits exceptional athletic ability and exemplary sportsmanship.