Wetherholt Named 2023 Dick Howser Award Semifinalist
The Dick Howser Trophy Committee, in conjunction with the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce has released the list of semifinalists for the 2023 Dick Howser Award, featuring West Virginia sophomore J.J. Wetherholt
“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 36 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.”
Wetherholt finished the regular season second in the country with a .447 batting average while leading the Big 12 Conference in slugging percentage (.786), OPS (1.296), runs (65), hits (92) and stolen bases (35).
This is the 36th year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 8. The 2023 award will be presented at Charles Schwab Field in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the 11th year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Thursday, June 15, in the 9 a.m. (CDT) hour, before a Friday, June 16 press conference with the winner will be held at 10 a.m., the opening day just prior to the first game of the 76th NCAA College World Series.
2023 Dick Howser Award Semifinalists
Kemp Aldersman, OF, Ole Miss
Max Anderson, 2B, Nebraska
Bryce Arnold, SS, Campbell
Jarrod Belbin, 2B, Campbell
Derek Bender, DH, Coastal Carolina
Jac Caglianone, 1B, Florida
Ryan Campos, C, Arizona State
Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
Jonah Cox, OF, Oral Roberts
Jacob Cozart, C, NC State
Dylan Crews, OF, LSU
Chase Davis, OF, Arizona
Tyler Davis, 1B, Sam Houston State
Austin Deming, 3B, BYU
Kevin Dubrule, SS, Army-West Point
Eddie Felix, 2B, FGCU
Hunter Fitz-Gerald, 1B, Old Dominion
Ryan Galanie, 1B, Wofford
Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
Lucas Gordon, SP, Texas
Grant Jay, C, DBU
Tanner Hall, SP, Southern Miss
Calvin Harris, C, Ole Miss
Josh Hartle, SP, Wake Forest
Ty Hill, SS, Jackson State
Hunter Hines, DH, Mississippi State
Jack Hurley, OF, Virginia Tech
Jeremiah Jenkins, 1B, Maine
Justin Johnson, 2B, Wake Forest
Ryan Johnson, SP, DBU
Gavin Kash, 1B, Texas Tech
Luke Keaschall, 2B, Arizona State
Seth Keener, RP, Wake Forest
Joe Kinker, DH, FGCU
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
Wyatt Langford, OF, Florida
Shane Lewis, OF, Troy
Carson Liggett, SP, Louisville
Nick Lorruso, 3B, Maryland
Rhett Lowder, SP, Wake Forest
Brice Matthews, SS, Nebraska
Omar Melendez, SP, Alabama State
Cole Messina, C, South Carolina
Braden Montgomery, OF, Stanford
Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
Ethan Petry, OF, South Carolina
Alberto Rios, OF, Stanford
Roc Riggio, 2B, Oklahoma State
Kiko Romero, 1B, Arizona
Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic
Matt Shaw, SS, Maryland
Paul Skenes, SP, LSU
Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
Zach Thornton, SP, Grand Canyon
Payton Tolle, Utility, Wichita State
Brock Vradenburg, 1B, Michigan State
Bryson Ware, 3B, Auburn
JJ Wetherholt, 2B, West Virginia
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