Thompson One of 35 Dick Howser Semifinalists
DALLAS — University of Miami junior David Thompson was among the 35 players recognized as semifinalists for the 2015 Dick Howser Trophy, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced Friday.
The Dick Howser Trophy 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.
Thompson, one of four representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference on the list, ranks among the ACC leaders in a number of offensive categories. He leads the conference in home runs (15) and RBI (68), and ranks second in both slugging percentage (.647) and total bases (130).
The junior third baseman, who was named a Preseason All-America by Baseball America, has rebounded from an injury-plagued sophomore season with a dominant campaign. A two-time ACC Player of the Week in 2015, Thompson has been a pivotal member of Miami’s offense that led the nation in on-base percentage and ranked second in runs-per-game at the start of the weekend.
Thompson would become the second player to ever win the Dick Howser Award, joining Mike Fiore, who won the inaugural award in 1987.
The candidates hail from 14 different conferences and 27 different schools. The Southeastern Conference leads the way with eight semifinalists, followed by the Atlantic Coast and Big Ten with four, Big 12 and Ohio Valley with three, Missouri Valley, Mountain West and Pac 12 with two and American, Atlantic Sun, Colonial, Patriot and the SWAC with one each.
The Dick Howser Trophy is 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.
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.
2015 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Pos. Name, School
Harrison Bader, OF, Florida
Matt Beay, 3B, Belmont
Carmen Benedetti, DH, Michigan
Andrew Benintendi, OF, Arkansas
David Berg, RP, UCLA
Austin Byler, 1B, Nevada
Taylor Clarke, SP, Col. of Charleston
Will Craig, 1B, Wake Forest
Carson Cross, SP, UConn
Bobby Dalbec, UTL, Arizona
Paul DeJong, 2B, Illinois State
Donnie Dewees, OF, North Florida
Kevin Duchene, SP, Illinois.
Riley Ferrell, RP, TCU
Michael Freeman, SP, Oklahoma State
Carson Fulmer, SP, Vanderbilt
Luke Gillingham, SP, Navy
Charley Gould, 1B, William & Mary
Logan Gray, 3B, Austin Peay
Ryan Howell, 2B, Nevada
Tyler Jay, RP, Illinois
Kevin Kaczmarski, OF, Evansville
Alex Lange, SP, LSU
Grayson Long, SP, Texas A&M
Nate Mondou, 2B, Wake Forest
Preston Morrison, SP, TCU
Chris Robinson, C, Morehead State
Melvin Rodriguez, 2B, Jackson State
Kade Scivicque, C, LSU
Mike Shawaryn, SP, Maryland
Dansby Swanson, SS, Vanderbilt
Matt Thaiss, C, Virginia
David Thompson, 3B, Miami
Zander Wiel, 1B, Vanderbilt
Carl Wise, 3B, College of Charleston
