CARY, N.C. – Alabama’s Justin Lebron was selected to the 2026 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, USA Baseball announced Friday.

The preseason list includes 55 players across high school and college baseball. The Golden Spikes Advisory Board will maintain the award’s watch list on a rolling basis, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award based on in-season performance.

Overall, 41 schools and 13 conferences are represented on the preseason watch list. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads all conferences with 16 players, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with 14 and the Big 12 Conference with five. The Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List will next be released on April 2.

Justin Lebron

Golden Spikes Award Watch List

• Started all 59 games at shortstop for Alabama in 2025
• Named a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist as a sophomore
• Managed a .316 average (73-for-231) with 18 doubles, one triple and 18 home runs a season ago
• Also totaled 72 RBI, 60 runs scored, 35 walks, 10 hit-by pitch and 17 steals in 18 attempts
• His 72 RBI were the most by a shortstop and sophomore player in program history
• Named a Second Team All-American by ABCA/Rawlings at the end of the 2025 campaign
• Added Third Team All-American accolades from the NCBWA to his résumé