Blair Named to 2026 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List
4/2/2026 11:05:00 AM | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, VA. – Liberty junior right-hander Ben Blair is one of 45 of the nation's top amateur baseball players named to the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball.
Blair, who earlier this season was named for the second time to the National Pitcher of the Year Midseason Watch list on March 11, becomes the second player in program history to appear on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason list. Outfielder D.J. Artis was named to the 2017 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch list.
Selected as the 2026 CUSA Pitcher of the Year, Blair enters the weekend with a 4-1 record with a 1.49 ERA over 42 1/3 innings. In seven starts, he has struck out 59 and walked four, while holding opponents to a .153 batting average. The Gretna, Va., native also has a stellar 14.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Blair is among the national leaders in several categories. The junior is second nationally with a 0.64 WHIP. He is also among the national leaders in strikeouts (7th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (fifth) and walks allowed per nine innings (10th).
The Gretna, Va., native, who has already been named the CUSA Pitcher of the Week three times this season (Feb. 16, March 2 & March 23), leads the conference in strikeouts, fewest hits allowed, fewest walks issued and opponent batting average. Blair is second in the conference in innings pitched and fourth in ERA.
Yesterday, Blair was selected to the PerfectGame College Midseason All-American second team. He also garnered a place on the Baseball America National Pitcher of the Year Watch list.
Up Next
Blair and Liberty will open a three-game CUSA series at Western Kentucky this evening. Game time at Nick Denes Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST.
Blair, who earlier this season was named for the second time to the National Pitcher of the Year Midseason Watch list on March 11, becomes the second player in program history to appear on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason list. Outfielder D.J. Artis was named to the 2017 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch list.
Selected as the 2026 CUSA Pitcher of the Year, Blair enters the weekend with a 4-1 record with a 1.49 ERA over 42 1/3 innings. In seven starts, he has struck out 59 and walked four, while holding opponents to a .153 batting average. The Gretna, Va., native also has a stellar 14.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Blair is among the national leaders in several categories. The junior is second nationally with a 0.64 WHIP. He is also among the national leaders in strikeouts (7th), strikeout-to-walk ratio (fifth) and walks allowed per nine innings (10th).
The Gretna, Va., native, who has already been named the CUSA Pitcher of the Week three times this season (Feb. 16, March 2 & March 23), leads the conference in strikeouts, fewest hits allowed, fewest walks issued and opponent batting average. Blair is second in the conference in innings pitched and fourth in ERA.
Yesterday, Blair was selected to the PerfectGame College Midseason All-American second team. He also garnered a place on the Baseball America National Pitcher of the Year Watch list.
Up Next
Blair and Liberty will open a three-game CUSA series at Western Kentucky this evening. Game time at Nick Denes Field is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST.
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