The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 21, 1998

Miami (Florida) third baseman recipient of Golden Spikes Award

Pat Burrell, a junior third baseman at the University of Miami (Florida) last season, was named the winner of the Golden Spikes Award October 28 at USA Baseball's Salute to Excellence Dinner in Orlando, Florida.

Burrell, selected by the Philadelphia Phillies as the No. 1 choice in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft, is the 21st recipient of the award, which is given annually to the nation's top amateur baseball player who exhibits exceptional athletics ability and exemplary sportsmanship. A 1997 finalist, he was selected from a list of five finalists for the 1998 award.

The first Miami player to win the award, Burrell is the Hurricanes' all-time batting champion with an average of .442. In 1998, he posted team highs in batting average (.432) and slugging percentage (.924) despite missing 28 games with a back injury.

At the 1998 NCAA Division I Baseball Atlantic I Regional, Burrell hit a home run in his first at bat after two months on the injury list, finishing the regional with a .421 batting average, five home runs and nine runs batted in. His accomplishments earned him recognition as the most outstanding player. At the 1998 College World Series, Burrell went four-for-nine with a home run, two runs scored and three runs batted in.

"USA Baseball is extremely proud to honor Pat Burrell of the University of Miami with the 1998 Golden Spikes Award," said Dan O'Brien, USA Baseball Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer. "Pat's accomplishments certainly speak for themselves, and he is quite deserving of this recognition after his brilliant collegiate career."