DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week awards presented by The Game Headwear for the period ending April 5. Kansas junior infielder Tyson LeBlanc was named National Hitter of the Week, while Grand Canyon junior left-handed pitcher Chase Frey and Michigan freshman left-handed pitcher Shane Brinham were named National Co-Pitchers of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
LeBlanc led the Jayhawks to a 4-0 week with an 11-8 midweek win against Missouri and a series sweep over Utah. The junior infielder homered in three of the four games, making him one of five Big 12 players who hit three or more home runs this week, and has now recorded nine home runs in his last 12 games. The Maurice, Louisiana, native started his week by hitting what proved to be the game-winning shot to left field with the score tied at 8-8 in the bottom of the eighth inning, to make it 11-8. In the series opener against the Utes, he hit a two-run walk-off blast to cap a 14-12 comeback victory. In the final game of the series, LeBlanc hit the go-ahead two-run homer to give the Jayhawks the lead in the bottom of the sixth. LeBlanc recorded at least one run and one RBI in all four games and finished the week with 10 RBI, nine hits, seven runs, five walks, three doubles, three home runs and a batting average of .529 (9-for-17).
Frey authored a dominant, complete-game shutout in GCU's Friday win at Fresno State. The Las Vegas native was nearly untouchable, throwing a two-hitter with eight strikeouts to one walk in GCU's 3-0 win. He faced 31 batters, threw 95 pitches and retired seven of nine leadoff hitters.
Brinham fired a complete-game 10-0 shutout over Oregon in game one of the weekend series. The freshman earned the win with seven strikeouts over his seven innings pitched, while allowing three hits and no walks in the run-rule victory. He faced just 24 batters and threw 96 pitches, allowing just three baserunners and retiring 16 straight batters at one point in the contest.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, ncbwa.com. For more information, contact NCBWA Executive Associate Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).
2026 Dick Howser Trophy National Players of the Week
• Week ending Feb. 15: Tyce Armstrong, r-Sr., 1B, Baylor, Dee Kennedy, Jr., SS, Kansas State (Hitters); Chris Olivier, Sr., RHP, Lamar (Pitcher)
• Week ending Feb. 22: Will Gasparino, Jr., OF, UCLA (Hitter); Colin Fisher, Jr., LHP, Arkansas, Dax Whitney, So., RHP, Oregon State (Pitchers)
• Week ending March 1: Cider Cannon, Jr., C/RF, Duke, Weber Neels, Sr., C, Minnesota (Hitters); Andrew Herrmann, LHP, Graduate Student, Louisiana (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 8: Lorenzo Carrier, R-Sr., OF, Pitt, Quinton Coats, So., INF, Cincinnati (Hitters); Grayden Harris, So., LHP, Southern Miss (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 15: James Smith IV, Sr., OF/P, Memphis (Hitter); Trey Beard, Jr., RHP, Florida State, Maxx Yehl, r-Jr., LHP, West Virginia. (Pitchers)
• Week ending March 22: Brayden Bakes, Sr., OF, Illinois State; Terrick Thompson-Allen, Gr., OF, SIU-Edwardsville (Hitters); Tyler Fay, r-Jr., RHP, Alabama (Pitcher)
• Week ending March 29: Maddox Haley, Jr., INF, Gonzaga, Brandon Rogers, Sr., CF, Purdue (Hitters); Max Vaisvila, Sr., LHP, Northern Illinois (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 5: Tyson LeBlanc, Jr., INF, Kansas (Hitter); Chase Frey, Jr., LHP, Grand Canyon (Pitcher); Shane Brinham, Fr., LHP, Michigan (Pitchers)