Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Sports Highlights

University of Arkansas pitcher Hagen Smith has been making waves in the college baseball world, as he was recently named one of five finalists for the prestigious Dick Howser Trophy. This award, presented annually by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, recognizes the top player in college baseball based on their on-field performance, leadership, moral character, and courage.

Smith, who was previously named the SEC pitcher of the year, had an outstanding season for the Razorbacks. The junior left-hander from Bullard, Texas, finished with a 9-2 record and an impressive 2.04 ERA in 16 starts. He led the nation with an NCAA-record 17.3 strikeouts per nine innings and allowed the fewest hits per nine innings at just 4.4.

In addition to being a Howser Trophy finalist, Smith is also in the running for the Golden Spikes Award, along with Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana and Georgia’s Charlie Condon.

Smith’s stellar performance this season saw him break two long-standing Arkansas records, including the career strikeouts record previously held by Nick Schmidt. With 161 strikeouts this season, Smith surpassed David Walling’s record set in 1999.

The Dick Howser Trophy will be presented on June 14 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., in conjunction with the opening day of the College World Series. If Smith emerges as the winner, he will join the ranks of past Arkansas winners Andrew Benintendi and Kevin Kopps, solidifying the Razorbacks’ reputation as a powerhouse in college baseball.