America’s Ace has been named the top player in college baseball.
LSU All-American Paul Skenes has been awarded the Dick Howser Trophy, which is presented to the most outstanding player in NCAA Division I Baseball.
Skenes is now the second LSU player to receive the honor, with Eddy Furniss winning the award back in 1998.
The Dick Howser Trophy goes beyond a player’s ability on the baseball field, as it is also based upon the pillars of leadership, moral character, and courage. The finalists for the award are typically top draft prospects, although this isn’t needed for the award.
“Paul Skenes certainly is deserving of the 2023 Dick Howser Trophy,” said David Feaster, chairman of the Howser Trophy. “He has established himself as head and shoulders above any pitcher in NCAA Division I this season as well as a team leader and community service champion. His tremendous talent also has helped LSU make the NCAA World Series field for the 19th time overall and the first time since 2017.”
Skenes leads the SEC with 12 wins, 188 strikeouts, a 1.77 ERA, 107 innings pitched, and holding his opponents to a .170 batting average. He is currently second on LSU’s single-season strikeout list, behind 202 from Ben McDonald in 1989.
The Lake Forest, CA product was also named Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of the Year and the SEC Pitcher of the Year while leading the nation in strikeouts and WHIP (0.78) while being second in ERA.
He has pledged $10 for every strikeout recorded to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military and first responders who have died or been disabled.
Dick Howser was a two-time All-American shortstop at Florida State before becoming the Seminoles’ head coach after an MLB career and coaching in the majors.
After spending one year in Tallahassee, he returned to The Sow to manage the Yankees and Royals, winning a World Series with Kansas City in 1985. He passed away two years later after a battle with cancer.
Florida State’s baseball stadium on campus is named in honor of Howser.