Janek named Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist
5/16/2024 3:10:00 PM | Baseball
DALLAS – Sam Houston catcher Walker Janek has been named to the list of semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, per a release on Thursday from the Trophy Committee in conjunction with the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.Â
The award is given to the top player in college baseball based on two rounds of national voting by NCBWA members. Â
This is the 37th year of the Dick Howser Trophy (first presented in 1987 to Mike Fiore of Miami and not awarded in 2020 due to COVID-19 suspension of the season). Finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 8. Â
The 2024 award will be presented at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, the home of the College World Series, for the 12th year. The winner also will be unveiled on MLB Network on Thursday, June 13, in the 9 a.m. (CDT) highlight show hour. Â
A Friday, June 14, news conference with the winner will be held at 10 a.m., the opening day just prior to the first game of the 77th NCAA College World Series, in the Schwab Stadium Media Room.Â
This year's 68 candidates come from 18 different conferences and 48 different schools. Janek is one of six Conference USA names on the list, the third-highest total among the leagues represented. Other CUSA members on the list include Ethan Bates (LA Tech), Mason Burns (WKU), Ryan Johnson (Dallas Baptist), Keith Jones (NM State) and Cole McConnell (LA Tech).Â
The SEC leads with 16 semifinalists with the ACC having 13, Pac 12 with five, Big 12 and West Coast Conference with four apiece, Big West, Conference USA, Southern and Sun Belt with three, the American Athletic, Western Athletic and Ohio Valley with two and the Atlantic 10, CAA, Southland and SWAC with one.Â
Janek has firmly established himself as one of the nation's top players and arguably the top backstop in college baseball. His nod to the Howser list goes with previous additions to watch lists for the Golden Spikes Award and the Buster Posey Award, given to the nation's top catcher. Â
The junior from Portland has thrown out more than half of opponent's attempted base stealers (15 of 29) in 2024, helping the Kats hold a 90-23 edge on the bases this season.Â
He has also taken another step forward at the plate this year as he enters the final weekend of the regular season ranked in the top five in CUSA in batting average (.378), slugging (.731), on-base percentage (.482), and hits (75). He leads the league with four triples and is in a four-way tie for the lead with 17 home runs, while also adding in a dozen stolen bases.Â
Those numbers include a 23-game hit streak to open the season, the longest hitting streak by a Bearkat to open a season in the history of the program and the third-longest overall. Â
The Dick Howser Trophy, presented by The Game Headwear, 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 trophy is regarded as baseball's most prestigious award. Criteria for consideration of the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage – all qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser's life.Â
The winner's name is inscribed on the permanent trophy - a bronze bust of Howser displayed often at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg - home of the Tampa Bay Rays – an in various national locales. The winner and his school receive a special trophy to keep.Â
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NCBWA voting 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.Â
For updates on Bearkat Baseball, be sure to check GoBearkats.com and follow @BearkatsBSB on X and Instagram.Â
