The path to college baseball’s most prestigious individual honor now runs through three exceptional players.
Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy is among the finalists for the 2025 Golden Spikes Award.
The junior standout joins Tennessee left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle and Florida State shortstop Alex Lodise as the final candidates for the award, which has recognized the nation’s top amateur baseball player since 1978.
The winner will be announced during the College World Series in Omaha on June 21.
For Aloy, the nomination adds another chapter to what has already been a historic season.
The SEC Player of the Year has posted staggering numbers, batting .355 with 20 home runs and 64 RBI while maintaining a robust 1.126 OPS.
His 20 home runs rank fourth in program history, highlighting his emergence as one of college baseball’s most dynamic players.
“The numbers speak for themselves, but what they don’t show is Wehiwa’s impact on our program’s culture,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “His preparation and approach to the game have raised the standard for everyone in our clubhouse.”
Baseball America’s draft expert Carlos Collazo sees Aloy’s rise as no surprise.
“His combination of power and defensive prowess at shortstop has him projected as a first-round pick,” Collazo said. “He’s showing exactly why we had him ranked as our No. 17 draft prospect heading into the season.”
The award’s significance isn’t lost on Aloy, who would join an elite group of Razorbacks should he win.
Arkansas legends Andrew Benintendi (2015) and Kevin Kopps (2021) previously claimed the honor, while Phillip Stidham (1991) and Hagen Smith (2024) were finalists.
Doyle’s case for the award is equally compelling. The Tennessee ace has dominated opposing lineups, posting a 10-3 record with a 2.84 ERA.
His 158 strikeouts in 92 innings represent a Tennessee single-season record, and his 0.96 WHIP demonstrates his exceptional command.
Florida State’s Lodise rounds out the finalist group with remarkable offensive numbers of his own.
The ACC Player of the Year’s .405 batting average and 1.209 OPS have him in consideration for both the Golden Spikes Award and a high selection in next month’s MLB Draft.
The timing of the announcement adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming NCAA Fayetteville Super Regional, where Aloy and Doyle will face off in a best-of-three series with a College World Series berth on the line.
“Having two Golden Spikes finalists competing head-to-head in a super regional, that’s the kind of theater college baseball dreams about,” said D1Baseball analyst Aaron Fitt. “These are two players who have consistently risen to the moment all season.”
The award’s prestige is reflected in its history.
Previous winners have gone on to become MLB All-Stars, MVP winners, and Hall of Famers.
Recent recipients include Spencer Torkelson (2020), Adley Rutschman (2019), and Andrew Vaughn (2018), all of whom were selected among the top three picks in their respective MLB drafts.
For Arkansas radio announcer and ESPN Arkansas host Phil Elson, Aloy’s nomination continues a tradition of excellence.
“When you look at the Razorbacks’ history with this award, it’s remarkable,” Elson noted. “To have multiple winners and now another finalist, it speaks to the program’s ability to develop elite talent.”
The award announcement will come during college baseball’s biggest stage at the College World Series, where all three finalists hope to be competing with their teams.
The winner will join an illustrious group that represents the pinnacle of amateur baseball achievement.
As the season reaches its climactic moments, these three players continue to impact their teams’ championship pursuits while writing their own chapters in college baseball history.
For Aloy, the journey continues in Fayetteville, where his Razorbacks stand two wins away from Omaha and where his Golden Spikes case can grow even stronger.
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