Former Houston County star Drew Burress named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List

THE FLATS – Georgia Tech baseball true freshman Drew Burress (Houston County, Ga./Houston County) continues rack up midseason accolades, getting named to the 2024 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, USA Baseball announced Thursday. He is the only college freshman to make the list.

Burress joins 45 of the nation’s top athletes, including 12 from the Atlantic Coast Conference on the shortlist for best amateur baseball player in the country. Burress was also named a midseason All-American by Perfect Game and D1 Baseball as well as D1 Baseball’s midseason top freshman, getting called the “runaway leader in the race for national freshman of the year honors at the halfway point.”

The Yellow Jacket center fielder has created a terrific freshman campaign through 27 games, currently leading all freshmen nationally in six categories. His home-run total (14) and slugging percentage (.864) also lead all ACC players, regardless of year.

Through his first 27 collegiate games, Burress is slashing .359/.478/.864, leading the team in multiple offensive categories. He blasted onto the national scene when he belted a school-record four home runs against Georgia State, becoming the 13th player and third freshman in NCAA Division I to accomplish the feat since 2012.

The Houston County native also hasn’t shrunk from conference play, leading the team through nine ACC games with a .375 average, 12 hits and four home runs for nine RBI. He’s slugging .750 and has drawn eight walks for a gaudy .512 on-base percentage to start his ACC career.

Burress and the Yellow Jackets head out on the road this weekend, facing off against Pitt on April 5-7. Game times for the series are 3 p.m., 3 p.m. and 2 p.m., with Friday and Saturday’s game on ACC Network Extra and Sunday’s on ACC Network with Dani Wexelman and Roddy Jones.