Ole Miss pitcher Hunter Elliott has been named to the 2026 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, according to an announcement by USA Baseball. Elliott is among 55 players nationwide considered early contenders for the prestigious award recognizing the top amateur baseball player in the country.
This marks Elliott’s third appearance on a Golden Spikes Watch List. He was previously included in the 2025 Midseason Watch List and the 2023 Preseason Watch List.
Elliott has received several other preseason honors this year. He was selected as a Preseason All-American by organizations including NCBWA, Perfect Game, and D1Baseball. Additionally, he was named a Preseason All-SEC First Team member by SEC coaches. D1Baseball also recognized him as their Preseason Pitcher of the Year and ranked him as the fifth-best starting pitcher nationally.
In the 2025 season, Elliott started 16 games as Ole Miss’ primary Friday night starter. He finished with a 10-3 record, an earned run average (ERA) of 2.94, and tallied 102 strikeouts. Opponents hit just .197 against him, and he picked off 13 baserunners—more than any other Rebel pitcher in modern program history.
Elliott became only the fifth pitcher at Ole Miss to achieve both a double-digit win total and over 100 strikeouts in a single season. He is also one of just four pitchers in program history to reach at least 100 strikeouts in two separate seasons. His ERA of 2.94 last year was the lowest for an Ole Miss starting pitcher since his freshman campaign when he posted a mark of 2.70.
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