DALLAS – Western Michigan junior center fielder Tanner Mally has been selected by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association as one of 48 semifinalists for the 2026 Dick Howser Trophy presented by The Game Headwear. He is the lone representative from the Mid-American Conference among the list of semifinalists.
 
The Dick Howser Trophy, now in its 39th year, is given to the top player in college baseball after two rounds of national voting by members of the NCBWA. The award is given in memory of former Florida State All-American shortstop and major league player and manager Dick Howser, who died of brain cancer in 1987. It is regarded as baseball's most prestigious award.
 
After hitting .356 as a sophomore, Mally has proven himself to be one of the top hitters in all of college baseball this season, having led NCAA Division I in both batting average and on-base percentage since early March. He enters the final weekend of the regular season with a .465 average and .573 OBP, while also ranking second in the nation in hits per game (1.80), 11th in total hits (79), 20th in runs per game (1.25) and 27th in hit by pitches (21). The junior has been the fourth-toughest hitter in the country to strike out, having fanned just nine times in 170 at-bats.
 
A native of Lisle, Ill., Mally is also among the Mid-American Conference leaders in OPS (1.120, 5th), runs scored (55, T-5) and stolen bases (19, 9th). Earlier this season, he was selected as a Midseason All-American by both D1Baseball (Second Team) and Perfect Game (Third Team), and named to the Bobby Bragan National Collegiate Slugger Award Midseason Watch List.
 
Mally and the Broncos open up their final regular season series on Thursday afternoon, as they take on NIU from Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field. For tickets to any WMU baseball home game, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.