CLEMSON, S.C. – Sophomore Max Wagner (Green Bay, Wis.) was named one of five finalists for the Dick Howser Trophy, presented to the national player-of-the-year, on Thursday. The winner will be announced on June 17.
Connor Hjerpe (Oregon State), Trey Lipscomb (Tennessee), Ivan Melendez (Texas) and Kevin Parada (Georgia Tech) join Wagner as finalists for the prestigious award. Each of these five finalists symbolizes the major principles of character, leadership, desire and competitive spirit exhibited by Dick Howser, the All-America shortstop, head coach at Florida State and manager of the 1985 World Series champion Kansas City Royals.
Wagner, the ACC Player-of-the-Year and a first-team All-American, led the 2022 Tigers in batting average (.369), runs (66), hits (75), doubles (15), homers (27), RBIs (76), total bases (173), slugging percentage (.852), walks (45) and on-base percentage (.496). He is tied for third in the nation in home runs and is second in slugging percentage. His 27 homers tied the school season record and are tied for third most in a season in ACC history as well.
Wagner hit a home run every 7.5 at bats in 2022, easily setting a school record, and his .852 slugging percentage was second highest in a season in school history. He also reached base via a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch in each of the last 42 games.
Three former Tigers, Kris Benson (1996), Khalil Greene (2002) and Seth Beer (2016), have won the Dick Howser Trophy.
