The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has released the list of semifinalists for the 2024 Dick Howser Trophy presented by The Game Headwear. The prominent award in college baseball is given to the top player based on national voting by NCBWA members.
The 2024 collegiate baseball season marks the 37th year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The 2024 award will be presented during the College World Series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, June 14th – 24th the (home of the College World Series).
HBCU Baseball University of Arkansas Pine Bluff (UAPB) senior standout player Edwin DeLaCruz was named as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser award.
DeLaCruz has been the total package at the plate, His .456 batting average leads UABP and is No. 1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). He has gotten on base with his 62 hits and has added 21 walks with 9 hit by pitches. When DeLaCruz reaches base, he has swiped 11 of 12 bases. In 136 at bats, he’s collected 34 runs, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, and 32 runs batted in.
This year’s 68 candidates come from 18 different conferences and 48 different schools. DeLaCruz was the only candidate from HBCU baseball to be voted to the list. The SEC had 16 named to the list, with the ACC taking home 13.
The award is presented in honor of Dick Howser, a former Florida State University All-American, Florida State baseball coach and Major Leaguer who passed away from brain cancer in 1987. The criteria for consideration include on-field performance, leadership, moral character, and courage.
DeLaCruz is the first Golder Lion to be named to the semifinal list.
The finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 8. The award winner will be announced at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska on Thursday, June 13.
| 2024 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS (68) | ||||
| Christian Almanza, 1B, Saint Mary’s | Caden Kendle, OF, UC Irvine | |||
| Edgar Alvarez, 1B, Nicholls | Seaver King, 2B, Wake Forest | |||
| Billy Amick, 3B, Tennessee | Josh Kuroda-Grauer, SS, Rutgers | |||
| John Anderson, 2B, Samford | Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest | |||
| Jamie Arnold, SP, Florida State | Alec Makarewicz, 3B, NC State | |||
| Evan Aschenbek, RP, Texas A&M | T.J. McCants, OF, Alabama | |||
| Ethan Bates, RP, Louisiana Tech | Cole McConell, OF, Louisiana Tech | |||
| Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State | Liam McFadden-Ackman, 1B, Northern Kentucky | |||
| Chris Beilenson, RP, Duke | LP Langevin, RP, Louisiana | |||
| Carson Benge, UTIL, Oklahoma State | Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M | |||
| Brooks Bryan, C, Troy | Caleb Lomavita, C, California | |||
| Chase Burns, SP, Wake Forest | Izaak Martinez, RP, UC San Diego | |||
| Mason Burns, RP, Western Kentucky | Matthew Matthjis, SP, North Carolina | |||
| Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech | Lyle Miller-Green, OF, Austin Peay | |||
| Blake Burke, 1B, Tennessee | Ben Miller, 3B, Duke | |||
| Ryan Campos, C, Arizona State | Gage Miller, 3B, Alabama | |||
| Jac Caglianone, UTIL, Florida | Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M | |||
| Jakob Christian, OF, San Diego | Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee | |||
| Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia | Ryan Prager, SP, Texas A&M | |||
| Caleb Cozart, DH, UNC Greensboro | Jake Reinisch, DH, Wake Forest | |||
| Carter Cunningham, 1B, East Carolina | Michael Ross, SP, Samford | |||
| Kyle DeBarge, SS, Louisiana | Brett Sears, SP, Nebraska | |||
| Edwin DeLaCruz, C, Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Austin Smith, UTIL, San Diego | |||
| Daniel Dickinson, 2B, Utah Valley | Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State | |||
| Jalin Flores, SS, Texas | Hagen Smith, SP, Arkansas | |||
| Carter Gaston, SP, Portland | James Tibbs III, OF, Florida State | |||
| Lawson Harrill, OF, Campbell | Payton Tolle, SP, TCU | |||
| Luke Holman, SP, LSU | JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia | |||
| Bridger Holmes, RP, Oregon State | Mason White, SS, Arizona | |||
| Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina | Tommy White, 3B, LSU | |||
| Walter Janek, C, Sam Houston | Nick Wissman, RP, Dayton | |||
| Ryan Johnson, SP, DBU | Jakob Wright, SP, Cal Poly | |||
| Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State | Blake Wright, 3B, Clemson | |||
| Keith Jones, OF, New Mexico State | Trey Yesavage, SP, East Carolina | |||