WVU Baseball’s JJ Wetherholt Named Finalist for Dick Howser Trophy

JJ Wetherholt now has a chance to cap off his historic season with a prestigious award. The WVU baseball star has been named one of five finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy.

This news was announced Thursday by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). The Mars, Pennsylvania native has already been honored as a first-team All-American by multiple publications.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥@jj_wetherholt is one of 5️⃣ finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy!

📰https://t.co/m44towIHcc#HailWV pic.twitter.com/ImtWvL1xEV

— WVU Baseball (@WVUBaseball) June 8, 2023

Wetherholt’s 2023 season stands as one of the greatest years for any position player in WVU baseball history. He led the nation with a .449 batting average, hit 16 home runs, 24 doubles, two triples, 60 RBI, scored 67 runs and stole 36 bases. Wetherholt was also named the Big 12 Player of the Year.

Big 12 Names Randy Mazey, JJ Wetherholt Coach and Player of the Year

West Virginia won 40 games overall and a share of the Big 12 regular season title thanks in part due to Wetherholt’s heroics.

Joining Alek Manoah in 2019, Wetherholt becomes only the second Mountaineer to ever be named a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy. To put this recognition into perspective, many view the Dick Howser Trophy as the baseball equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.

The other finalists include outfielder Dylan Crews and pitcher Paul Skenes from LSU, Wake Forest pitcher Rhett Lowder and two-way player Jac Caglianone with Florida.

The Dick Howser winner will be announced on Thursday, June 15, on MLB Network at Charles Schwab Park prior to the 76th NCAA College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.