Craig Named Dick Howser Trophy Finalist
6/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeBaseball)
DALLAS, Texas -- Just hours before the start of the Major League Baseball Draft, projected first round pick Will Craig was named one of five finalists for the 2016 Dick Howser Trophy, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced.
Presented by Easton Foundations, the award, given to the top player in collegiate baseball, is based on two rounds of national voting. 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.
A native of Johnson City, Tenn., Craig was named a first-team All-American by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. The first-team All-ACC selection led Wake Forest to its first NCAA Regional berth since 2007 and ranks third nationally in slugging percentage with a .731 mark. He also ranks eighth with a .520 OBP and eighth with 1.2 runs batted in per game. For the season, Craig led the Demon Deacons with a .379 average, 16 home runs, 66 RBI and 53 runs. He also posted a team-high nine saves, going 2-0 with a 3.54 ERA in 28 innings pitched.
The other four finalists include two ACC foes in Clemson outfielder Seth Beer and Louisville two-way player Brendan McKay, as well as Texas A&M's Boomer White and Kent State's Eric Lauer.
This is the 30th year of the Dick Howser Trophy, with previous winners including Kris Bryant (2013), Stephen Strasburg (2009), Buster Posey (2008), David Price (2007), and multiple other current big leaguers. The 2016 award will be presented at TD Ameritrade Stadium in downtown 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.
