Kent State’s Solitaria Named to USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List
2/6/2026 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
KENT, Ohio – Kent State University sophomore Sawyer Solitaria has been named to USA Baseball's 2026 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, the organization announced today. The honor recognizes the nation's top amateur baseball players.
Solitaria becomes the fourth Golden Flash to earn a spot on the prestigious watch list since 2008, joining Greg Rohan (2009), George Roberts (2013), and Eric Lauer (2016). Solitaria is also the only player from a Mid-American Conference (MAC) school to make the list.
Solitaria is coming off an exceptional freshman campaign in which he earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors and All-MAC First Team recognition. Solitaria made an immediate impact for the Golden Flashes, appearing in 54 games with 32 starts as the designated hitter.
At the plate, Solitaria posted a .308 batting average with 62 hits in 201 at-bats. He demonstrated impressive power and run production, recording eight doubles, one triple, eight home runs, and 62 RBIs. His consistency was evident throughout the season with 20 multi-hit games, including three three-hit performances, and 15 multi-RBI games, including 11 games with three or more RBIs.
The Golden Spikes Award, presented annually by USA Baseball, is given to the top amateur baseball player in the country. Some of baseball's biggest names have won the award.
Solitaria and the Golden Flashes will look to build on last season's success when they open the 2026 campaign next weekend at Southeastern Louisiana.
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