The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Baseball’s Cooper named 2017 Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist
05.18.2017 | Baseball
Right-hander Morgan Cooper is one of 25 semifinalists for the award honoring the nation’s top collegiate baseball player.
DALLAS, Texas–Texas Baseball right-handed pitcher Morgan Cooper has been named one of 25 semifinalists for the 2017 Dick Howser Trophy, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association award given to the top player in collegiate baseball.
Cooper, a redshirt-junior, leads the Longhorns staff with a 2.27 ERA in 12 starts. The right-hander has 89 strikeouts in 71.1 innings on the hill for Texas and has limited opposing hitters to a .195 batting average so far this season. Earlier this month, Cooper was named a semifinalist for USA Baseball's Gold Spikes Award and the College Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year award.
This is the 31st year of the Dick Howser Trophy. The finalists will be announced on Friday, June 9. The 2017 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the seventh year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Friday, June 16 and then a press conference with the winner will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the opening day of the 2017 CWS.
Texas has had three Dick Howser Trophy winners since the award was created in 1987: Scott Bryant (1989), Brooks Kieschnick (twice: 1992, 1993) and Taylor Jungmann (2011).
2017 DICK HOWSER TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Riley Adams, C, San Diego
Hunter Hargrove, 1B, Texas Tech
J.B. Bukauskas, SP, North Carolina
Adam Haseley, UT, Virginia
Seth Beer, OF, Clemson
Luke Heimlich, SP, Oregon State
Dylan Burdeaux, 1B, Southern Miss
Niko Hulsizer, OF, Morehead State
Jake Burger, 3B, Missouri State
Ryan Mahan, 2B, Kentucky
Morgan Cooper, SP, Texas
Brendan McKay, UT, Louisville
Greg Deichmann, OF, LSU
David Peterson, SP, Oregon
Jeremy Eierman, SS, Missouri State
Brent Rooker, 1B, Mississippi State
Drew Ellis, 3B, Louisville
Jake Scheiner, SS, Houston
Stuart Fairchild, OF, Wake Forest
Braden Schewmake, 2B, Texas A&M
Ben Fisher, 1B, Eastern Kentucky
Taylor Schwaner, SS/3B, SE Louisiana
Steven Gingery, SP, Texas Tech
Jake Thompson, SP, Oregon State
Brian Glowicki, RP, Minnesota
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.
"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 25 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 now 31 years old and growing stronger," 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; and Seth Beer, OF, Clemson, 2016.
2017 Dick Howser Trophy:?• Thu., May 18: Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists announced?• Thu., June 8: Dick Howser Trophy finalists announced?• Sat., June 17: Dick Howser Trophy presented at College World Series
