Dietz, Helfrick Named Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalists

DALLAS – Arkansas’ Hunter Dietz and Ryder Helfrick have been named semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is awarded to college baseball’s top player based on two rounds of national voting by NCBWA members.

Finalists for this year’s Dick Howser Trophy will be announced Thursday, June 4. The winner will be unveiled in a news conference held at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., home of the College World Series. The winner also will be announced on MLB Network in a special national presentation at 9:30 a.m. CT prior to the Friday, June 12, news conference in Omaha at 10 a.m. CT in the Schwab Field Media Room before the first game of the College World Series.

Dietz and Helfrick, both semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award, are two of 48 semifinalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, given in memory of the former Florida State All-America shortstop and major leaguer and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987. Criteria for consideration of the trophy, regarded as one of the sport’s most prestigious, include performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage – all qualities that were exemplified by Howser’s life.

Arkansas (2) is one of 12 schools, along with UCLA (4), Georgia Tech (3), Texas (3), Texas A&M (3), Arizona State (2), Auburn (2), Georgia (2), Mississippi State (2), North Carolina (2), Oregon State (2) and West Virginia (2) with multiple semifinalists for the award. This year’s 48 semifinalists come from 12 different conferences and 31 different schools.

Dietz, the Razorback ace, owns a 7-2 record with a 3.22 ERA and an SEC-leading 108 strikeouts in 72.2 innings through 13 starts this season. The left-hander, who is limiting opposing hitters to a meager .221 batting average, has logged a team-leading eight quality starts this year, the most by a Razorback pitcher in a season since Hagen Smith tallied 11 in 2024.

Additionally, Dietz, the first pitcher in the SEC this year to reach the 100-strikeout mark, has recorded three double-digit strikeout games during the campaign. He is just six strikeouts shy of entering the Hogs’ top 10 for strikeouts in a season.

Helfrick, meanwhile, has started all 51 of his games played at catcher and is slashing .294/.439/.583 with 15 home runs and 45 RBI on the year. The team leader in runs scored with 48 and walks with 51, good for sixth most in the program’s single-season top 10, Helfrick reached base safely in a team-best 26 consecutive games to begin the 2026 campaign.

The Razorbacks’ star catcher, also on the watch lists for the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award and Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award, grades out as the nation’s best defender, leading the country in defensive runs saved (20.15), catcher framing runs (17.93) and defensive wins above replacement (1.48) as of May 6.

Arkansas has had two Dick Howser Trophy winners in program history: Andrew Benintendi (2015) and Kevin Kopps (2021). Arkansas (2) is one of seven schools, along with Texas (5), Clemson (3), Florida State (3), Florida (2), Georgia Tech (2), LSU (2), with multiple Dick Howser Trophy winners in program history.

2026 Dick Howser Trophy semifinalists
Jarren Advincula, Georgia Tech, 2B
Drew Burress, Georgia Tech, OF
Dylan Carey, Nebraska, SS
Lorenzo Carrier, Pitt, OF
Roch Cholowsky, UCLA, SS
Quinton Coats, Cincinnati, 1B
Nu’u Contrades, Arizona State, 2B
Tague Davis, Louisville, 1B
Jason DeCaro, North Carolina, SP
Evan Dempsey, FGCU, UTIL
Hunter Dietz, Arkansas, SP
Mason Edwards, USC, SP
Jackson Flora, UCSB, SP
Will Gasparino, UCLA, OF
Joey Giordano, Richmond, SP
Caden Glauber, North Carolina, RP
Graham Grahovac, Texas A&M, 1B
Eric Guevara, Auburn, 3B
Easton Hawk, UCLA, RP
Landon Hairston, Arizona State, OF
Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas, C
Daniel Jackson, Georgia, C
Jimmy Janicki, Troy, C
Jorsixt Jimenez, Tennessee Tech, OF
Gavin Kelly, West Virginia, 2B
Dee Kennedy, Kansas State, SS
Aidan King, Florida, SP
Vahn Lackey, Georgia Tech, C
Tyson LeBlanc, Kansas, SS
Tanner Malley, Western Michigan, OF
Michael Malki, California Baptist, SP
Wes Mendes, Florida State, SP
Kyle Morrison, Southern Miss, 2B
Alex Petrovic, Auburn, SP
Tre’ Phelps, Georgia, 3B
Logan Redderman, UCLA, SP
Ace Reese, Mississippi State, 3B
Kollin Ritchie, Oklahoma State, OF
Aidan Robbins, Texas, OF
Albert Roblez, Oregon State, RP
Aiden Sims, Texas A&M, SP
Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M, OF
Carson Tinney, Texas, C
Tomas Valincius, Mississippi State, SP
Dylan Volantis, Texas, SP
KJ White, Southern Univ., SS
Dax Whitney, Oregon State, SP
Maxx Yehl, West Virginia, SP

For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).