(BCSNN) -- The postseason awards haul opened in a major way for Sun Devil Baseball as Landon Hairston was named a semifinalist for both the 2026 Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy, while teammate Nu’u Contrades also earned a spot on the Howser Trophy semifinalist list. Both honors annually recognize the top players in college baseball.

Hairston’s selection as one of 25 Golden Spikes semifinalists marks the 12th time in program history an ASU player has been recognized. His and Contrades’ inclusion continues a trend under head coach Willie Bloomquist, giving the program at least one Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist in four straight seasons.

The pair anchors one of the most dangerous offenses in the country, with ASU ranking in the Top 10 nationally in batting average, hits, home runs and slugging percentage.

USA Baseball announced the 25 Golden Spikes semifinalists as it moves toward naming the nation’s top amateur player. The 48th Golden Spikes Award will be presented June 29 on MLB Network. Since 1978, the award has honored the player who best demonstrates elite on‑field performance, sportsmanship, character and a positive contribution to the sport.

The Dick Howser Trophy Committee and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named 48 semifinalists for the 2026 award, now in its 39th year. The trophy honors the former Florida State All‑America shortstop and major league player and manager who died in 1987. Finalists will be announced June 4.

Below are the full summaries of Hairston’s and Contrades’ 2026 accomplishments:

Landon Hairston
Hairston has emerged as one of the nation’s elite pure and power hitters in his sophomore season, ranking third nationally with a .421 average and carrying a 28‑game hitting streak earlier this year, tied for the fifth‑longest in ASU history. He enters the weekend with 25 home runs, tied for the second‑most in a single season at ASU and within striking distance of the school record of 27. His 19 doubles, combined with his home run total, place him among just 15 players nationally with at least 15 in both categories. Hairston leads the country with a 1.434 OPS and a .906 slugging percentage, and 46 of his 81 hits have gone for extra bases. He also leads the nation with four grand slams and has produced a national‑best 74 RBIs exclusively from the leadoff spot. His performance in pitcher’s counts has been exceptional, batting .400 with a .813 slugging percentage, and he remains one of the toughest hitters to neutralize even after pitching changes, hitting .543 with a 2.079 OPS against new relievers — the highest mark by any player since at least 2019. Hairston is also second nationally with 73 runs scored and has been intentionally walked 11 times, the third‑highest total in Division I.

Nu’u Contrades
Contrades, a fourth‑year Sun Devil and 2026 co‑captain, has been one of ASU’s most reliable veterans, producing at least one extra‑base hit in 15 of 21 games since April and rising to No. 2 among second basemen in D1Baseball’s Week 12 update. Despite missing time with a hamstring injury and playing under full strength, he has hit 15 home runs, ranking 10th in the conference, and is one of just 15 players nationally with at least 15 doubles and 15 homers. His 408‑foot average home run distance ranks 13th nationally among players with at least 14 homers, and he has homered four times off relievers entering to face him as their first batter. Contrades has struck out only 24 times in 165 at‑bats (14.5%), continuing a multi‑year trend of improved plate discipline. Before his injury, he had saved 3.09 runs on infield ground balls, ranking 34th nationally and third among all second basemen.