Cade Townsend Named 2026 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist

CARY, N.C. (Release)– USA Baseball today announced the 25 semifinalists for the 2026 Golden Spikes Award, naming Ole Miss sophomore Cade Townsend to the list.

Townsend is the first Rebel since Doug Nikhazy in 2021 and just the seventh ever to be named a semifinalist for the award. He is the first Ole Miss sophomore to ever be named a semifinalist as all six before him were juniors.

The Golden Spikes Award now turns into a fan vote to decide which three players will be named finalists. Following today’s semifinalist announcement, Ole Miss fans can vote for Townsend at GoldenSpikesAward.com to help determine the finalists. Fans can vote as many times a day as they want from now until June 9. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 10.

Townsend is ranked fifth in the SEC in WHIP (1.01), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.50), and strikeouts per nine innings (12.52). He leads the Rebels in all three categories as well as batters struck out looking (24) and wins (5) and is second in opponent batting average (.202) and total strikeouts (77).

Townsend put together three-consecutive quality starts from April 4 to April 18. He was the first Rebel to accomplish that feat since both Hunter Elliott and Dylan DeLucia did it in 2022. He also became the first Rebel to be named SEC Pitcher of the Week since 2021 after his start against Tennessee in which he took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and allowed just four baserunners while striking out seven.

Townsend was projected as the No. 9 overall pick by MLB Pipeline in their latest 2026 Mock Draft. MLB’s Jim Callis wrote “Clubs believe that college pitchers will rise up boards by the time the Draft arrives, and Townsend could move up more than most. He can hit 98 mph with his fastball and spin a pair of plus breaking balls as well as a plus cutter,” about Townsend in his report.

-Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports