DALLAS
(NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball
Writers Association has released the list of semifinalists
for the 2019 Dick Howser Trophy, presented by
The Game Headwear, in balloting by the National
Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in conjunction with the
Dick Howser Trophy Committee and the St. Petersburg Area
Chamber of Commerce. The award, given to the top player
in collegiate baseball, is based on two rounds of national voting.
This is the 33rd year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists
will be announced on Thursday, June 6. The 2019 award will be presented
at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College
World Series for the eighth year. The winner will be unveiled on
MLB Network on Friday, June 14, and then, a press conference with
the winner will be held on Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the
opening day of the 2018 CWS.
The candidates hail from nine different conferences and 20 different
schools. The Southeastern Conference leads the way with seven semifinalists,
followed by the Pac-12 with six, Atlantic Coast with four, Big 12
with three, Western Athletic with two and American Athletic, Conference
USA, Ivy and Patriot with one each. Arizona State, Mississippi State,
New Mexico State, UCLA, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest each were represented
with two semifinalists on the list. Every position on the diamond
but utility, designated hitter and relief pitcher are represented,
including eight starting pitchers, five outfielders, four first
basemen and third basemen, two catchers and shortstops and one second
basemen.
2019 DICK
HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS (26) |
JJ Bleday, OF, Vanderbilt |
Kyle McCann, C, Georgia Tech |
Hunter Bishop, OF, Arizona State |
Patrick McColl, 1B, Harvard |
Reid Detmers, SP, Louisville |
Joey Ortiz, SS, New Mexico State |
Ryan Garcia, SP, UCLA |
Jack Ralston, SP, UCLA |
Nick Gonzales, 2B, New Mexico State |
Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State |
Emerson Hancock, SP, Georgia |
Jake Sanford, OF, Western Kentucky |
Kody Hoese, 3B, Tulane |
Bobby Seymour, 1B, Wake Forest |
Josh Jung, 3B, Texas Tech |
Ethan Small, SP, Mississippi State |
Chris Lanzilli, OF, Wake Forest |
Noah Song, SP, Navy |
Jake Mangum, OF, Mississippi State |
Zack Thompson, SP, Kentucky |
Alek Manoah, SP, West Virginia |
Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State |
Casey Martin, SS, Arkansas |
Andrew Vaughn, 1B, California |
Austin Martin, 3B, Vanderbilt |
Davis Wendzel, 3B, Baylor |
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 30 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 33 years old and continues to increase
in prominence and the scope of its reach increases exponentially
each year," 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; Seth Beer, OF, Clemson, 2016, Brendan McKay,
P/1B, Louisville, 2017 and Brady Singer, SP, Florida, in 2018.
2019 Dick Howser Trophy:
• Thu., May 16: Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists announced
• Thu., June 6: Dick Howser Trophy finalists announced
• Sat., June 15: Dick Howser Trophy presented at College World Series
Related links:
• More on the Dick Howser Trophy
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