Seth and I have a discussion about this on our podcast this week. The first Dick Howser Trophy ballot went out this week and it asks to rank the eight best players in college baseball. The Howser Trophy and Golden Spikes Award go to national player of the year. The Howser Trophy is voted on by baseball writers and the Golden Spikes is presented by USA Baseball.
Kevin Kopps will go on my ballot, although I have a hard time believing he’ll win the award. A relief pitcher winning national player of the year would be kind of like an offensive lineman winning the Heisman — just not very likely.
But the numbers suggest he is one of a handful of the best players this year. His 0.72 ERA remains the lowest in college baseball, based on qualifying innings. He is also fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (15.04) and 13th in WHIP (0.87).