Molony Adds Golden Spikes Watch List to Preseason Honors

EUGENE, Ore. – USA Baseball today announced that Maddox Molony is one of 55 players on the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list, which begins the process of identifying the best amateur baseball player in the nation for the 2026 season. It is the second player of the year watch list that Molony has been named to this week, joining Baseball America's player of the year which will be awarded for the first time this season.

Molony's inclusion on the Golden Spikes Award list marks the second consecutive season a Ducks' player has been on the preseason list. Starting pitcher Grayson Grinsell got the nod before the 2025 season. The Ducks' shortstop is the eight Oregon player all time to be included on the preseason watch list, joining Grinsell, Kenyon Yovan (2019), Matt Krook (2016), Shaun Chase (2015), Tommy Thorpe (2014), Jimmie Sherfy (2013) and Tyler Anderson (2011).

Molony, a two-time all-league selection in his two seasons at Oregon, slashed .309/.403/.565 with a .968 OPS during his sophomore season. The 2025 third-team All-Big Ten Conference selection belted 15 home runs, good for 10th all-time in a single season at Oregon, while driving in 45 runs, scoring 41 times and swiping 10 bags in 10 attempts. During league games, Molony hit eight of his homers while batting .297 with 24 RBI and 19 runs scored. He reached base at a .378 clip while slugging .550.

During his two seasons at UO, Molony has slashed .311/.403/.566 with a .969 OPS. He has slugged 25 home runs, which is already tied for sixth in program history, with 76 RBI, 73 runs scored, 12 doubles, a triple and 12 stolen bases in 95 career starts. In 2024, he became just the second Oregon freshman to be named first-team All-Pac-12 since the return of the program while also earning second-team freshman All-America honors.

Molony Career Honors and Awards