The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) has released its list of semifinalists for the 2021 Dick Howser Trophy. The voting was done by the NCBWA. The award, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, is based on two rounds of national voting. Two baseball players from Historically Black College and University (HBCU) are finalist.
Pitcher Ryan Miller of North Carolina Central and infielder Trenton Jamison of Alabama State made the semifinal list. The finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 10th, with this year’s winner being unveiled on the MLB Network.
Ryan Miller was chosen Black College Nines’ HBCU Baseball Pitcher of The Year and a member of BCN Elite First Team for the 2021 season. Miller was 10-0 on the mound this season and has the second-most wins in the nation. He leads the MEAC in ERA (2.24), which is a regular-season record at NCCU. He has held conference opponents to a .195 batting average.
Jamison, chosen as Black College Nines’ Player of The Year and also a member of the BCN First Team Elite this year, led the team in hitting at .390 in 40 games. He recorded 64 hits, scoring 44 runs and driving in 43, with an on-base percentage of .460 with 16 walks. He also recorded 22 extra-base hits, including 12 doubles and eight home runs.
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.
| 2021 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS (42) | ||
| Tanner Allen, OF, Mississippi State | Tyler Hardman, 1B, Oklahoma | Ryan Miller, SP, NC Central |
| Jacob Berry, DH, Arizona | Nick Jones, RP, Georgia Southern | Matheu Nelson, C, Florida State |
| Ryan Bliss, SS, Auburn | Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech | Connor Norby, 2B, East Carolina |
| Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF, Vanderbilt | Niko Kavadas, 1B, Notre Dame | Carson Palmquist, RP, Miami |
| Wes Clarke, DH, South Carolina | Austin Knight, 3B, Charlotte | Kumar Rocker, SP, Vanderbilt |
| Henry Davis, C, Louisville | Kevin Kopps, RP, Arkansas | Jake Rucker, 3B, Tennessee |
| Cade Doughty, 3B, LSU | Bennett Lee, C, Tulane | Phillip Sikes, OF, TCU |
| Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 3B, Oklahoma St. | Jack Leiter, SP, Vanderbilt | Landon Sims, RP, Mississippi State |
| Judd Fabian, OF, Florida | Tyler Locklear, 3B, VCU | Brady Slavens, 1B, Arkansas |
| Jaden Fein, OF, San Diego State | Ethan Long, OF, Arizona State | Trey Sweeney, SS, Eastern Illinois |
| Jonathan Fincher, SP, Louisiana Tech | Ty Madden, SP, Texas | Trenton Jamison, 3B, Alabama State |
| Christian Franklin, OF, Arkansas | Mason McWhorter, OF, Georgia Southern | Carter Trice, 2B, Old Dominion |
| Will Frizzell, OF, Texas A&M | Ivan Melendez, DH, Texas | Gavin Williams, SP, East Carolina |
| Dominic Hamel, SP, Dallas Baptist | Matt Mikulski, SP, Fordham | Aaron Zavala, OF, Oregon |