DALLAS
(NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball
Writers Association has released the list of semifinalists
for the 2017 Dick Howser Trophy. The award, given
to the top player in collegiate baseball, is based on two rounds
of national voting.
This is the 31st year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists
will be announced on Friday, June 9. The 2017 award will be presented
at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College
World Series for the seventh year. The winner will be unveiled on
MLB Network on Friday, June 16 and then a press conference with
the winner will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the
opening day of the 2017 CWS.
The candidates hail from 11 different conferences and 21 different
schools. The Atlantic Coast Conference leads the way with six semifinalists,
followed by the Southeastern Conference with four, Big 12 and Pac-12
with three, Missouri Valley and Ohio Valley with two each and American
Athletic, Big Ten, Conference USA, Southland and West Coast Conferences
with one each. Every position on the diamond is represented, including
six starting pitchers, four first basemen, four outfielders, three
shortstops, two third basemen, two second basemen, two utility players,
one catcher and one relief pitcher.
2017 DICK
HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS |
Riley Adams, C, San Diego |
Hunter Hargrove, 1B, Texas Tech |
J.B. Bukauskas, SP, North Carolina |
Adam Haseley, UT, Virginia |
Seth Beer, OF, Clemson |
Luke Heimlich, SP, Oregon State |
Dylan Burdeaux, 1B, Southern Miss |
Niko Hulsizer, OF, Morehead State |
Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State |
Ryan Mahan, 2B, Kentucky |
Morgan Cooper, SP, Texas |
Brendan McKay, UT, Louisville |
Greg Deichmann, OF, LSU |
David Peterson, SP, Oregon |
Jeremy Eierman, SS, Missouri State |
Brent Rooker, 1B, Mississippi State |
Drew Ellis, 3B, Louisville |
Jake Scheiner, SS, Houston |
Stuart Fairchild, OF, Wake Forest |
Braden Schewmake, 2B, Texas A&M |
Ben Fisher, 1B, Eastern Kentucky |
Taylor Schwaner, SS/3B, SE Louisiana |
Steven Gingery, SP, Texas Tech |
Jake Thompson, SP, Oregon State |
Brian Glowicki, RP, Minnesota |
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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 31 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; and Seth Beer, OF, Clemson, 2016.
2017 Dick Howser Trophy:
• Thu., May 18: Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists announced
• Thu., June 1: The Game Headwear to sponsor Dick Howser Trophy
• Thu., June 8: Dick Howser Trophy finalists announced
• Sat., June 17: Dick Howser Trophy presented at College World Series
Related links:
• More on the Dick Howser Trophy
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