Andrew Benintendi, center, has hit an SEC-best 19 home runs this year.
Arkansas sophomore outfielder Andrew Benintendi was named the winner of the 2015 Dick Howser Trophy on Friday. The award is given annually to the best player in college baseball.
Benintendi, who is currently in Omaha, Nebraska, with his teammates for the College World Series, led the Southeastern Conference in batting average (.380), home runs (19), on-base percentage (.489), slugging (.715) and walks (47). That came one year after hitting just one home run and 27 RBI his freshman year.
The Boston Red Sox selected Benintendi in the first round of the MLB draft -- seventh overall -- on Monday, making him the third-highest draft pick from the school. Only Jeff King (No. 1, 1986) and Kevin McReynolds (No. 6, 1981) were selected higher.
An SEC player has now won the Dick Howser Trophy in three of the past four years. Last year, Kentucky's A.J. Reed took home the award, and Florida catcher Mike Zunino won it in 2012. The only non-SEC player to win it during that span was San Diego third baseman Kris Bryant.
Benintendi and his Razorback teammates kick off the College World Series with the opening game at 3 p.m. ET Saturday against Virginia. The Cavaliers knocked the Razorbacks out of the 2014 tournament in the regional round.
