DALLAS – Southern Illinois third baseman Matt Schark was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Dick Howser Trophy, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Dick Howser Trophy Committee announced Thursday. The award, presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate player, features 67 semifinalists, including just two from the Missouri Valley Conference.
Schark has put together a record-breaking senior season for the Salukis, entering the final weekend of the regular season batting .346 with a .738 slugging percentage, 22 home runs, 16 doubles and 77 RBIs. The St. Charles, Missouri native recently became SIU’s single-season record holder for both home runs and RBIs following a series win over Evansville.
Nationally, Schark ranks second in both home runs and RBIs. Within the MVC, he sits among the league’s top eight in batting average, hits, runs, doubles, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and sacrifice flies.
About the Dick Howser Trophy
Presented by The Game Headwear, the Dick Howser Trophy honors the legacy of Florida State All-American shortstop, major league player, and World Series-winning manager Dick Howser, who passed away from brain cancer in 1987. The award is recognized as college baseball’s most prestigious honor, celebrating excellence on the field along with leadership, moral character, and courage.
Howser, a Florida native, was twice an All-American at FSU (1957-58) before coaching the Seminoles in 1979. He later managed the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals, leading the Royals to the 1985 World Series championship. Florida State’s baseball stadium bears his name.
“This award isn’t just about being the best pro prospect but honoring the player who best reflects the values Dick Howser represented,” said David Feaster, chairman of the Howser Trophy Committee. “Many of our past winners have gone on to great things not only in baseball but as leaders in their communities and professions.”
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has served as the official voting body for the award for 28 consecutive years. Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is the sport’s only college media-related organization, dedicated to promoting and publicizing college baseball.
