LEXINGTON ? Kentucky junior Ryan Strieby has been named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is awarded to the National Player of the Year, it was announced Thursday.
Strieby is one of 16 players from across the country to make the cut and the only player from the Southeastern Conference. Currently, he leads UK in batting with a .347 average and has 18 home runs, which ranks third in the SEC. His 74 RBIs lead the nation and have already broken a 15-year old school record. He also leads the conference in doubles (20), on-base percentage (.476) and slugging (.729).
More importantly, Strieby has anchored the Wildcats lineup, which leads the SEC and ranks among the nation?s top 10 in scoring. He has helped lift Kentucky to the top of the SEC race and positioned the Wildcats for their first SEC Championship in school history.
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 for the trophy include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage, qualities that were exemplified by Dick Howser’s life.
A Florida native, Howser was twice an All-America shortstop at Florida State University (1957-58), then coached the Seminoles in 1979 after a career as a major league player and coach. After one year in the college ranks, Howser returned to the majors to manage the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals and won the World Series with the Royals in 1985. The baseball stadium on the Florida State campus is named for Howser.
The winner will be announced on June 16 in Omaha, Neb. Established in 1987, former Howser Trophy winners include 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; and Alex Gordon, 3B, Nebraska, 2005.
