Kyson Witherspoon Named Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist

NORMAN — Oklahoma junior right-handed pitcher Kyson Witherspoon was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Golden Spikes Award, presented annually to the top amateur baseball player in the country. USA Baseball announced the 25 semifinalists on Sunday.

Witherspoon, the Midseason Top Pitcher by D1 Baseball and Midseason Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game, has been dominant on the mound for Oklahoma this season. The righty ranks first in the SEC and 23rd nationally in ERA (2.48), tied for first in the league and 12th in the country in victories (9) and fourth and seventh in the conference and nation, respectively, with 112 strikeouts.

The OU ace has been exceptional in his Friday night role, holding a 9-3 record in 14 starts with a 112-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.60) that ranks fourth in the SEC and 19th nationally. His 0.94 WHIP is good for second in the conference and 15th in the NCAA.

Witherspoon has four double-digit strikeout outings and seven or more K's in 10 of his 14 starts. The junior has surrendered more than three earned runs in just four appearances and six hits or fewer in all 14 starts. Opposing batters are hitting just .191 against Witherspoon, who has surrendered only five home runs on the year in 83.1 innings pitched. He has one complete-game shutout in 2025 and has combined on two others.

Witherspoon has been the pitcher of record in 12 of his 14 starts (9-3). Two of his three losses came vs. fellow elite arms in Mississippi State's Pico Kohn (10 K; 3/21) and fellow Golden Spikes semifinalist from LSU, Kade Anderson (14 K; 4/3). OU lost the games by narrow margins of 2-1 and 2-0, despite quality outings from Witherspoon. His other loss, May 9 at Kentucky, was also one-run loss, 4-3.

The SEC leads all conferences with eight on the 2025 semifinalist list. OU has had three Golden Spikes Award semifinalists in the last five years as Witherspoon joins Tyler Hardman (2021) and Peyton Graham (2022) in the exclusive club. Since 2016, OU has five semifinalists.

Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award in 2025. Baseball fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com, beginning today with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 4, and fan voting will once again open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 20.

The 47th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 21 on ESPN at 5:30 p.m. CT prior to first pitch of Game 1 of the Men's College World Series finals.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma Baseball, follow the Sooners on Twitter/X and Instagram (@OU_Baseball) and like Oklahoma Baseball on Facebook.

Kyson Witherspoon Named Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist

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Kyson Witherspoon

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Kyson Witherspoon Named Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist

Players Mentioned

Kyson Witherspoon

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