Western Kentucky right fielder Jake Sanford’s performance for the Hilltoppers continues to put his name among the best in the country.

The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, native was one of 40 amateur players named Wednesday to the 2019 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, USA Baseball announced.

He becomes the third WKU player in program history to earn the distinction, following third baseman Danny Hudzina in 2016 and catcher Matt Rice in 2011.

Sanford boasts a .395/.472/.871 slash line through his first 31 games with 49 hits – including 27 of the extra-base variety – 38 runs scored and 46 driven in. He has added 18 walks and two stolen bases, while posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 72 putouts and three outfield assists, playing every inning for WKU in right field.

Across Division I, Sanford’s 15 home runs rank third, his 46 runs batted in are sixth, 38 runs scored are 23rd, 49 hits are 28th and .395 batting average ranks 45th, while his 108 total bases and .871 slugging percentage both stand third overall.

Sanford was listed April 3 as a Perfect Game Midseason First Team All-American, becoming the first Hilltopper All-American of any kind since 2016, when third baseman Danny Hudzina was named a Third Team ABCA member at the conclusion of the season. He was the first Canadian Perfect Game Midseason All-American since Pittsburgh shortstop Charles Leblanc (Laval, Quebec) was a Second-Teamer in 2016.

On March 25 and April 1, Sanford was named only the third back-to-back Conference USA Hitter of the Week – and first since 2006 – in league history, which dates back to 1996. On April 2, he was honored by Perfect Game as the National Player of the Week and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association as the National Hitter of the Week.

In addition, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper listed Sanford as one of seven Players of the Week, while College Sports Madness tabbed him as the National Player of the Week on April 1.

In D1 Baseball’s Week 6 Power Rankings (published March 28) Sanford jumped from unranked to No. 46 among the nation’s outfielders.

USA Baseball will announce the semifinalists for the 2019 Golden Spikes Award on May 15.

The finalists will be announced May 29, and voting for the winner will begin that same day. The 42nd Golden Spikes Award recipient will be named June 14.