DALLAS – Junior outfielder Ike Irish has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 Dick Howser Trophy, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced Thursday.
Irish is one of 67 candidates from across the country, including a leading 18 from the Southeastern Conference. He becomes Auburn’s sixth semifinalist for the award, joining Hunter Morris (2010), Casey Mize (2018), Ryan Bliss (2021), Sonny DiChiara (2022) and Bryson Ware (2023). A complete list of the 2025 semifinalists can be found here.
A native of Hudsonville, Michigan, Irish is hitting .349 with 53 runs, 61 hits, nine doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 48 RBI in 46 games played. He has drawn 26 walks and 10 hit-by-pitches, good for a .458 on-base percentage, and is 10-for-10 in stolen bases. As a catcher and an outfielder, Irish has caught six base stealers while allowing only two stolen bases and has registered a pair of outfield assists.
In league play, Irish is tied with teammate Chris Rembert for the conference lead with a .394 average. He also leads the league in slugging (.809) and, despite missing the first weekend of the SEC season, ranks top 10 in on-base percentage (.477), runs (32), hits (37), home runs (10), RBI (29) and total bases (76).
In 151 career games, Irish has amassed 148 runs, 206 hits, including 44 doubles, five triples and 33 home runs, and 157 RBI. He became the fourth fastest player in program history to reach the 200-hit milestone with a three-run home run in the fourth inning of last week’s series opener vs. South Carolina.
This is the 38th year of the Dick Howser Trophy, and the 2025 finalists will be announced on Thursday, June 7. The winner will be unveiled on Friday, June 13 on MLB Network in a special national presentation at 9:30 a.m. CT prior to the press conference at 10 a.m. in the Charles Schwab Field Media Room before the first game of the College World Series.