DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate
Baseball Writers Association has released the list of semifinalists
for the 2016 Dick Howser Trophy, presented by Easton
Foundations. The award, given to the top player in collegiate baseball,
is based on two rounds of national voting.
This is the 30th year of the Dick Howser Trophy, presented by
Easton Foundations. The finalists will be announced on Thursday,
June 9. The 2016 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium
in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the
sixth year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Friday,
June 17 and then a press conference with the winner will be held
on Saturday, June 18 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the opening day of the 2016
CWS.
The candidates hail from 17 different conferences and 34 different
schools. The Atlantic Coast Conference leads the way with 13 semifinalists,
followed by the Southeastern Conference with eight, Big 12 with
three, Sun Belt with three, Atlantic Sun, Colonial, Missouri Valley
with two and Big South, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Mid-American,
Mountain West, Pac-12, Southland, Southwestern Athletic and West
Coast Conferences with one each. Every position on the diamond is
represented, including eight starting pitchers, five third basemen,
five outfielders, four shortstops, four first basemen, four catchers,
four relief pitchers, three second basemen, three utility players
and three designated hitters, among this diversified group.
2016 DICK
HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS |
Peter Alonso, 1B, Florida |
Brendan McKay, UT, Louisville |
Luken Baker, UT, TCU |
Hunter Melton, 1B, Texas A&M |
Seth Beer, OF, Clemson |
Brian Mims, 2B, UNC Wilmington |
Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State |
Dylan Moore, RP, Louisiana |
Joseph Camacho, SP, Alabama State |
Sheldon Neuse, SS, Oklahoma |
CJ Chatham, SS, Florida Atlantic |
Jake Noll, 2B, Florida Gulf Coast |
Zack Collins, C, Miami |
Corey Raley, DH, Texas Tech |
Will Craig, 3B, Wake Forest |
Troy Rallings, RP, Washington |
Chris DeVito, C, New Mexico |
Corey Ray, OF, Louisville |
Nick Feight, C, UNC Wilmington |
Bryan Reynolds, OF, Vanderbilt |
Matt Fiedler, UT, Minnesota |
John Sansone, 3B, Florida State |
Jameson Fisher, 1B, Southeastern
Louisiana |
Clarke Schmidt, SP, South Carolina |
Bryan Garcia, RP, Miami |
Ryan Scott, OF, Little Rock |
Thomas Hackimer, RP, St. John's |
Nick Senzel, 3B, Tennessee |
Darrick Hall, 1B, Dallas Baptist |
Colton Shaver, DH, BYU |
Drew Harrington, SP, Louisville |
Logan Shore, SP, Florida |
Kevin Hill, SP, South Alabama |
Nick Solak, 2B, Louisville |
Dakota Hudson, SP, Mississippi State |
Matt Thaiss, C, Virginia |
Connor Jones, SP, Virginia |
Taylor Walls, SS, Florida State |
Connor Justus, SS, Georgia Tech |
Boomer White, 3B, Texas A&M |
Eric Lauer, SP, Kent State |
G.K. Young, DH, Coastal Carolina |
Kyle Lewis, OF, Mercer |
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The Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the
former Florida State University All-America shortstop and major
league player and manager, who died of brain cancer in 1987, is
regarded by many as college baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria
for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field,
leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified
by Dick Howser's life.
A Florida native, Howser was twice an All-America shortstop at
Florida State (1957-58), then coached the Seminoles in 1979, after
a career as a major league player and coach. After one year in the
college ranks, Howser returned to the majors to manage the New York
Yankees and Kansas City Royals and won the World Series with the
Royals in 1985. The baseball stadium on the Florida State campus
is named for Howser.
"The Dick Howser Trophy was founded shortly after his death by
a few friends of Dick's in the St. Petersburg Area who played, coached
and worked with him," said David Feaster, chairman of the Howser
Trophy Committee. "All knew him personally and were aware of him
as a tremendous player, coach and friend. The award was initially
awarded at the Governors Baseball Dinner held each spring in St.
Petersburg to welcome Spring Training to Florida and as time progressed,
we moved the presentation to Omaha, the center of college baseball,
during the World Series. I have been involved with the award for
more than 25 years and have loved every minute of my involvement.
I have had the opportunity to meet some great college players as
well as some great young men. I am so proud of the character quality
we have in our award, which makes it unique. I am also proud of
our selection process by the NCBWA which is the most democratic
of any award and provides a true national scope.
"The Dick Howser trophy is now 30 years old and growing stronger,"
added Feaster. "It is a true testimony to Dick Howser's ability
as a player, coach and gentlemen. I am proud to be associated with
it."
The winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy, a bronze
bust of Howser displayed at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg -
home of the Tampa Bay Rays. Both the winner and his school receive
a special trophy to keep.
NCBWA membership includes writers, broadcasters and publicists.
Designed to promote and publicize college baseball, it is the sport's
only college media-related organization, founded in 1962.
The Howser Trophy was created in 1987, shortly after Howser's
death. Previous winners of the Howser Trophy are Mike Fiore, Miami,
1987; Robin Ventura, Oklahoma State, 1988; Scott Bryant, Texas,
1989; Alex Fernandez, Miami-Dade Community College South, 1990;
Frank Rodriguez, Howard College (Texas), 1991; Brooks Kieschnick,
Texas, 1992 and 1993; Jason Varitek, Georgia Tech, 1994; Todd Helton,
Tennessee, 1995; Kris Benson, Clemson, 1996; J. D. Drew, Florida
State, 1997; Eddy Furniss, LSU, 1998; Jason Jennings, Baylor, 1999;
Mark Teixeira, Georgia Tech, 2000; Mark Prior, P, USC, 2001, Khalil
Greene, SS, Clemson, 2002; Rickey Weeks, 2B, Southern U., 2003;
Jered Weaver, P, Long Beach State, 2004; Alex Gordon, 3B, Nebraska,
2005; Brad Lincoln, P/DH, Houston, 2006; David Price, P, Vanderbilt,
2007; Buster Posey, C, Florida State, 2008; Stephen Strasburg, P,
San Diego State, 2009; Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice, 2010; Taylor Jungmann,
P, Texas, 2011; Mike Zunino, C, Florida, 2012; Kris Bryant, 3B,
San Diego, 2013; A.J. Reed, P/1B, Kentucky, 2014; Andrew Benintendi,
OF, Arkansas, 2015.
2016 Dick Howser Trophy:
• Fri., May 20: Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists announced
• Thurs., June 9: Dick Howser Trophy finalists announced
• Fri., June 17: Dick Howser Trophy winner announced on MLB Network
• Sat., June 18: Dick Howser Trophy presented at College World Series
Related links:
• More on the Dick Howser Trophy
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