O'Brien, a junior catcher from Tulsa, Okla., earned Missouri Valley Conference Player-of-the-Year honors after hitting .410 with 56 runs, 100 hits, 25 doubles, 10 home runs and 70 RBI. 

GoldenSpikesAward.com -- powered by MLB.com -- will once again be the online home for the award.  The Web site features content devoted exclusively to the GSA, including news, voting history, past winner photo galleries, and photographs and video highlights for the 2011 semifinalists.  Fans can follow online at GoldenSpikesAward.com as the list of 30 players is narrowed to three finalists on Monday, June 6.

For the first time ever, the GSA will be awarded live on MLB Network.  The presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET on MLB Tonight, Friday, July 15.  The three finalists for the award will be at MLB Network's studios for the presentation, which will feature interviews, video highlights and the announcement of the winner.  Online footage of the event also will be available via GoldenSpikesAward.com and MLB.com.

In 2007, USA Baseball instituted a new selection and balloting procedure for the most prestigious award in amateur baseball, and it will follow the same model again in 2011.  After working closely with sports information directors and amateur baseball media across the country to determine watch lists and the top-performing athletes, a committee voted to determine the 30 semifinalists.  A ballot featuring the names and accomplishments of the 30 semifinalists will now be sent to a group of nearly 200 voters which will select the three finalists and eventual winner.  Beginning today fans will also be able to vote on the 2011 GSA by visiting GoldenSpikesAward.com and selecting their favorite amateur player.

A list of the 30 semifinalists is as follows:

Name, Position, Class, School, Conference

Daniel Aldrich, OF, RS-Freshman, College of Charleston, SoCon

Tyler Anderson, LHP, Junior, Oregon, Pac-10

Matt Barnes, RHP, Junior, Connecticut, Big East

Trevor Bauer, RHP, Junior, UCLA, Pac-10

DJ Baxendale, RHP, Sophomore, Arkansas, SEC

C.J. Cron, C/IF, Junior, Utah, Mountain West

Grayson Garvin, LHP, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC

Sam Gaviglio, RHP, Junior, Oregon State, Pac-10

Sean Gilmartin, LHP/OF, Junior, Florida State, ACC

Greg Gonzalez, RHP, Senior, Fresno State, WAC

Sonny Gray, RHP, Junior, Vanderbilt, SEC

Danny Hultzen, LHP/IF, Junior, Virginia, ACC

Taylor Jungmann, RHP, Junior, Texas, Big 12

Jason Krizan, OF, Senior, Dallas Baptist, Independent

Jake Lowery, C, Junior, James Madison, CAA

Mikie Mahtook, OF, Junior, Louisiana State, SEC

Brad Miller, IF, Junior, Clemson, ACC

Chris O'Brien, C/IF, Junior, Wichita State, Missouri Valley

Joe Panik, IF, Junior, St. John's, Big East

Mark Pope, RHP, Junior, Georgia Tech, ACC

Nick Ramirez, IF/LHP, Junior, Cal State Fullerton, Big West

Anthony Rendon, IF, Junior, Rice, C-USA

Victor Roache, OF, Sophomore, Georgia Southern, SoCon

Michael Rocha, RHP, Senior, Oklahoma, Big 12

Michael Roth, LHP/IF, Junior, South Carolina, SEC

George Springer, OF, Junior, Connecticut, Big East

Adam Brett Walker, IF/OF, Sophomore, Jacksonville, Atlantic Sun

Kyle Winkler, RHP, Junior, Texas Christian, Mountain West

Mike Zunino, C, Sophomore, Florida, SEC

Chad Zurcher, IF, RS-Junior, Memphis, C-USA

-Wichita State-