May 20, 2016
DALLAS -- Missouri State sophomore Jake Burger was one of five Division I third basemen and 43 players nationwide named semifinalists for the 2016 Dick Howser Trophy Friday by the National Colle-giate Baseball Writers Association. The award, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, is based on two rounds of national voting, with the winner announced on June 17 prior to the start of the 2016 Col-lege World Series, at TD Ameritrade Stadium in Omaha.
This is the 30th year of the Dick Howser Trophy, presented by Easton Foundations. The finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 9. The 2016 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in down-town Omaha, the home of the College World Series for the sixth year. The winner will be unveiled on MLB Network on Friday, June 17 and then a press conference with the winner will be held on Saturday, June 18 at 10 a.m. (CDT), the opening day of the 2016 CWS.
Burger has turned in one of the top all-around seasons in the country, currently ranking among the na-tion's leaders in home runs (19), RBIs (62), total bases (143) and slugging percentage (.715). The Ches-terfield, Mo., product, who was chosen by Collegiate Baseball as one of its Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week on March 21, has been cited for MVC Player of the Week honors three times this spring and currently leads the league in runs scored (54), homers, RBIs, slugging and total bases.
A Midseason All-America choice at third base by D1Baseball, Burger leads the Bears with 16 multi-RBI performances this season, including 13 different games in which he has driven in at least three runs. Burger, who was also selected for USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award watch list in April, currently ranks eighth in school history with his 19 home runs, which represent the most for a Valley player since 2010, when Evansville's Cody Fick hit 19 homers.
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 candidates hail from 17 different conferences and 34 different schools. The Atlantic Coast Confer-ence leads the way with 13 semifinalists, followed by the Southeastern Conference with eight, Big 12 with three, Sun Belt with three, Atlantic Sun, Colonial, Missouri Valley with two and Big South, Big East, Big Ten, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Pac-12, Southland, Southwestern Athletic and West Coast Conferences with one each. Every position on the diamond is represented, including eight starting pitchers, five third basemen, five outfielders, four shortstops, four first basemen, four catchers, four relief pitchers, three second basemen, three utility players and three designated hitters, among this diversified group.
The Bears (32-19, 5-13 MVC) conclude the regular season with a 6:35 p.m. game Friday (May 20) and a 2:05 p.m. contest Saturday against Illinois State at Hammons Field.
