Feb. 14, 2013
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech senior right-handed pitcher Buck Farmer is one of 50 college baseball players nationwide named to the preseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, presented annually by USA Baseball to the top amateur player in the country.
Farmer becomes the seventh Yellow Jacket player since 2007 to earn mention on the watch list, and is one of five current players in the Atlantic Coast Conference to be named this season.
Tech’s workhorse in 2012, Farmer logged 106.2 innings (third in the ACC) and posted a 3.54 ERA and 8-4 record. The first-team All-ACC pick allowed 100 hits, while striking out 115 against 37 walks. He enters his senior season ranked 13th on Tech’s all-time strikeouts list (265), 15th in career wins (24), 20th in career winning percentage (.750, 24-8) and 16th in career ERA (3.27).
A native of Conyers, Ga., Farmer is among nation’s top starting pitchers, returning to Tech for his final season after being drafted in the 15th-round last year by the Milwaukee Brewers. Farmer is a preseason All-America pick by both Louisville Slugger and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
With Farmer as the opening-day starter, Tech begins its 116th season of baseball Friday versus Akron at Russ Chandler Stadium at 4 p.m.
Tech has had one Golden Spikes Award winner in its history — Jason Varitek in 1994; and three finalists — Ty Griffin in 1988, Varitek in 1993, and Mark Teixeira in 2000.
Tech Golden Spikes History:
2011: Jed Bradley, P (watch list); Mark Pope, P (semifinalist)
2010: Derek Dietrich, SS (semifinalist); Deck McGuire (semifinalist)
2009: Deck McGuire, P (semifinalist)
2007: Matt Wieters, C (semifinalist); Danny Payne, OF (semifinalist)
2000: Mark Teixeira, 3B (finalist)
1994: Jason Varitek, C (winner)
1993: Jason Varitek, C (finalist)
1988: Ty Griffin, 2B (finalist)
