Hultzen, Roberts Named Semifinalists for Dick Howser Trophy

Story Links

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia Baseball’s Danny Hultzen (Jr., Bethesda, Md.) and Will Roberts (Jr., Richmond, Va.) each have been named semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, presented by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. The award honors the top player in college baseball.

From the list of 36 semifinalists, the membership of the NCBWA will choose the Dick Howser Trophy recipient based on two rounds of national voting. The award will be presented on June 21 during the College World Series.

Hultzen owns a 9-2 record this season with a 1.42 ERA. He ranks second in the nation in strikeouts with 121, trailing Trevor Bauer of UCLA (167). He has struck out at least nine batters in nine of his 12 starts this season (13.17 per nine innings). Hultzen also has issued only 13 walks (9.31:1 strikeout to walk ratio).

Earlier this season Hultzen broke the Virginia career strikeouts record. With 351 career strikeouts he has passed Seth Greisinger (1994-96), who had 290. Hultzen currently is 10th in career strikeouts in ACC history. He also owns the Virginia career wins record with 29 victories.

Roberts boasts a 10-0 record and 1.41 ERA in 2011. He currently ranks among the ACC leaders in several categories. He stands second in the ACC in ERA, is tied for the league lead in wins (10), is second in shutouts (2) and holds fifth in opponent batting average (.200). He also is tied for fifth nationally in wins and 10th in ERA.

Roberts has been a part of five shutouts – tied with Kent State’s Justin Gill for most in the nation this year. He has walked eight and hit just one batter in 76.1 innings. He notched the first perfect game in Virginia baseball history and just the eighth nine-inning perfect game in Division I history on March 29 in a 2-0 win over George Washington.