Freeman Named Semifinalist For Howser Trophy

Oklahoma State pitcher Michael Freeman is one of 35 semifinalists for the 2015 Dick Howser Trophy, which is given to the top player in collegiate baseball, it was announced today by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

This is the 29th year for the Howser Trophy. Finalists will be announced June 10, and the winner will be presented June 12 in Omaha, Neb.

A 6-foot-8 southpaw from Broken Arrow, Okla., Freeman has proven to be one of the nation's top starting pitchers in 2015 as the senior is 9-2 with a 1.06 ERA in 13 starts. He leads the Big 12 Conference with 93.2 innings pitched, three complete games and a .183 opponent batting average and ranks second in the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts (85). He has allowed just seven earned runs in 89.0 innings over his last 12 starts, and he ranks fifth nationally in ERA.

In Freeman's only losses this season, he's allowed just one earned run as the Cowboys have lost those games 3-2 and 2-1.

Freeman has tied a record by capturing Big 12 Pitcher of the Week honors four times this season -- March 2, 23 and 30 and April 27 -- to become one of only three pitchers in Big 12 history to achieve that feat.

In Big 12 play, Freeman is 5-2 with three complete games and a 0.80 ERA in seven starts, and he has recorded 49 strikeouts in 56 innings.

Of Freeman's non-strikeout outs this season, 145 have come via ground ball and only 37 via fly out, and he has induced nine ground ball double plays. Factor in his 85 strikeouts, and 86 percent of Freeman's outs have come via ground ball or strikeout.

The Dick Howser Trophy is named after the former Florida State All-American shortstop and Major League Baseball player and manager who died of brain cancer in 1987, and criteria for consideration of the trophy includes performance on the field, leadership, moral character and courage.

Oklahoma State has had one previous winner of the Howser Trophy – Robin Ventura in 1988.