University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Daniel Jackson Named Semifinalist For Golden Spikes Award
May 14, 2026 | Baseball
CARY, N.C. – University of Georgia junior Daniel Jackson has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 Golden Spikes Award, USA Baseball announced Thursday.
Jackson ranks as one of the nation's top players this season in helping fourth-ranked Georgia to a 41-11 mark and Southeastern Conference regular season title. The Sandy Springs, Ga., native ranks in the top five nationally in home runs (25), total bases (166), RBI (74) and runs scored (71) while batting .384 with 24 stolen bases. In SEC action, he is batting .373 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. Jackson has started all 52 games this season including 42 at catcher and 10 as the designated hitter.
Jackson aims to become just the sixth player (and first catcher) in NCAA Division 1 history to have 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season while only one player has ever had a 30-30 season. Currently, there are only two players in NCAA Division 1 that have hit at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases this year: Jackson and Farleigh Dickinson sophomore outfielder Hunter Ray (27-23). Jackson is the first catcher in SEC history to post a 20-20 season and just the fifth overall player in the history of the league. Before Jackson, the last SEC player to register a 20-20 season was Arkansas outfielder Andrew Benintendi in 2015.
This marks the third straight year the Bulldogs have had a semifinalist for this prestigious award that goes to the nation's top amateur baseball player. In 2024, Charlie Condon became Georgia's first winner of the Golden Spikes Award after a record-setting season. Last year, senior second baseman/outfielder Robbie Burnett was named a semifinalist. The 48th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 29 on MLB Network at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award. 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 10, and fan voting will open again to help determine the winner before closing on June 28.
The 2026 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
• May 14: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
• June 9: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
• June 10: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
• June 28: Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
• June 29: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
The SEC Champion Bulldogs are finishing the regular season on the road with a top five showdown against Auburn starting tonight. First pitch of the three-game series is at 8 pm ET and be available on the SEC Network and the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
Jackson ranks as one of the nation's top players this season in helping fourth-ranked Georgia to a 41-11 mark and Southeastern Conference regular season title. The Sandy Springs, Ga., native ranks in the top five nationally in home runs (25), total bases (166), RBI (74) and runs scored (71) while batting .384 with 24 stolen bases. In SEC action, he is batting .373 with nine home runs and 30 RBI. Jackson has started all 52 games this season including 42 at catcher and 10 as the designated hitter.
Jackson aims to become just the sixth player (and first catcher) in NCAA Division 1 history to have 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season while only one player has ever had a 30-30 season. Currently, there are only two players in NCAA Division 1 that have hit at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases this year: Jackson and Farleigh Dickinson sophomore outfielder Hunter Ray (27-23). Jackson is the first catcher in SEC history to post a 20-20 season and just the fifth overall player in the history of the league. Before Jackson, the last SEC player to register a 20-20 season was Arkansas outfielder Andrew Benintendi in 2015.
This marks the third straight year the Bulldogs have had a semifinalist for this prestigious award that goes to the nation's top amateur baseball player. In 2024, Charlie Condon became Georgia's first winner of the Golden Spikes Award after a record-setting season. Last year, senior second baseman/outfielder Robbie Burnett was named a semifinalist. The 48th Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 29 on MLB Network at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award. 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 10, and fan voting will open again to help determine the winner before closing on June 28.
The 2026 Golden Spikes Award timeline is as follows:
• May 14: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists announced, and fan voting begins
• June 9: Golden Spikes Award semifinalists fan voting ends
• June 10: Golden Spikes Award finalists announced, and fan voting begins
• June 28: Golden Spikes Award finalists fan voting ends
• June 29: Golden Spikes Award winner announced
The SEC Champion Bulldogs are finishing the regular season on the road with a top five showdown against Auburn starting tonight. First pitch of the three-game series is at 8 pm ET and be available on the SEC Network and the Georgia Bulldog Sports Network.
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS: For the latest Georgia baseball news, visit www.georgiadogs.com and follow the Bulldogs on X (@BaseballUGA), Facebook (@GeorgiaBaseball) and Instagram (@baseballuga).
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