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 19. Nebraska freshman outfielder Drew Grego was named National Hitter of the Week, while Arizona sophomore right-handed pitcher Smith Bailey was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Grego sparked the Husker offense across a four-game stretch last week, going 8-for-18 with two doubles, three home runs, 12 RBI and six runs scored. The Papillion, Nebraska, native recorded the second-most RBI nationally last week and posted a 1.056 slugging percentage and a .444 on-base percentage over the stretch.
Grego opened the week with a 2-for-4 performance with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in Nebraska’s 5-4 win against Creighton. He followed that up with a double and an RBI in the series opener vs. No. 12 USC before going 3-for-4 with a double, home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Saturday’s run-rule win over the Trojans.
The freshman concluded the week with a 2-for-5 outing with a home run and four more RBI in the 16-6 win against USC in the series finale on Sunday.
Bailey had a masterful performance on Saturday against Kansas State in which he allowed just one hit and struck out a career-high 15 batters over 6.0 innings of work, the Peoria, Arizona, native’s outing etched his name into the program record books, as he became the first Arizona pitcher in over 15 years to record 15 strikeouts in a game. He also finished one strikeout shy of matching the program record for strikeouts in a conference game.
Bailey struck out 15 of the 21 batters he faced, including a stretch of seven consecutive punchouts during the game. He surrendered just one hit and one walk in what was nothing short of a sensational performance on the mound.
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; Shane Brinham, Fr., LHP, Michigan (Pitchers)
• Week ending April 12: Landon Hairston, So., INF, Arizona State (Hitter); Logan Reddemann, Jr., RHP, UCLA (Pitcher)
• Week ending April 19: Drew Grego, Fr., OF, Nebraska (Hitter); Smith Bailey, So., RHP, Arizona (Pitcher)