Baseball
Razorbacks’ Aloy among top three finalists for Golden Spikes Award
Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy’s remarkable season continues as he joins an elite group of Golden Spikes Award finalists
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy’s remarkable journey reached another milestone as USA Baseball named him one of three finalists for the prestigious Golden Spikes Award.
It’s college baseball’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
The junior standout joins Tennessee left-handed pitcher Liam Doyle and Florida State shortstop Alex Lodise as contenders for the sport’s highest individual honor.
The winner will be announced June 21 during the College World Series in Omaha.
Aloy’s selection marks the fifth time a Razorback has reached the finalist stage, following the footsteps of program legends Andrew Benintendi (2015) and Kevin Kopps (2021), who both captured the award.
The Hawaiian native’s stellar 2025 campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary, as he’s posted a .355/.440/.686 slash line while anchoring both Arkansas’ infield defense and offensive attack.
“The numbers speak for themselves, but Wehiwa’s impact goes far beyond statistics,” Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. “His leadership, his preparation, and his ability to elevate everyone around him.
“Those are the qualities that separate great players from truly exceptional ones.”
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 beginning June 7 at Baum-Walker Stadium.
The matchup between two Golden Spikes finalists marks just the third time in the award’s 47-year history that finalists have met in super regional play.
Doyle, the SEC Pitcher of the Year, has dominated opposing lineups with a 10-3 record, 2.84 ERA, and an eye-popping 158 strikeouts in 92 innings.
His WHIP of 0.96 leads all SEC starters, while his strikeout rate of 15.4 per nine innings ranks third nationally.
Florida State’s Lodise rounds out the finalist group with equally impressive credentials.
The ACC Player of the Year has maintained a .405 batting average while displaying remarkable power with 17 home runs, 18 doubles, and 67 RBI.
His performance has helped guide the Seminoles to their first College World Series appearance since 2019.
Baseball America’s latest draft rankings project all three finalists as first-round selections in next month’s MLB Draft, with Doyle ranked eighth overall, Aloy 17th, and Lodise 26th.
The correlation between Golden Spikes recognition and professional success has been strong, with recent winners including major league stars Pete Alonso, Andrew Benintendi, and Adley Rutschman.
“Being named a finalist alongside Liam and Alex is truly humbling,” Aloy said. “Growing up in Hawaii, watching guys like Kolten Wong and Kurt Suzuki make it to the majors, I dreamed of representing my state and my culture on this stage.
“Right now, my focus is on helping this team get to Omaha.”
Aloy’s 20 home runs this season rank fourth in program history, while his 1.126 OPS leads all SEC shortstops.
Perhaps most impressively, he’s started every game at shortstop while maintaining a .971 fielding percentage at one of baseball’s most demanding positions.
The winner will be determined through a voting process that includes previous Golden Spikes Award winners, select professional baseball personnel, and media members.
The award presentation will take place during the College World Series opening ceremonies, regardless of whether the recipient’s team advances to Omaha.
“Liam’s been our ace all year, but what Wehiwa’s doing in Fayetteville is special,” Tennessee coach Tony Vitello said about his pitcher and his upcoming opponent. “These are the kinds of matchups that make college baseball great.”
The immediate focus for both Aloy and Doyle remains on the Super Regional showdown, where a trip to the College World Series hangs in the balance.
For one of these finalists, the June 21 award ceremony in Omaha could be particularly sweet.
Especially if their team is still competing for a national championship.
