Kennedy’s Historic Season Earns National Accolades
Dee Kennedy, a standout shortstop for Kansas State, has been named a semifinalist for two of the most prestigious awards in college baseball. The native of Fort Worth, Texas, now vies for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation’s top amateur player, and the Dick Howser Trophy, which honors the collegiate player of the year.
Kennedy’s season statistics read like a record book: a .364 batting average, an on‑base percentage of .465 and a slugging percentage of .768, complemented by 16 doubles, two triples and 20 home runs. He has also stolen 20 bases, becoming only the fifth player in Big 12 history to reach the 20‑home‑run and 20‑stolen‑base plateau in the same season.
His performance has placed him among the top‑15 offensive players nationally in RBI, total bases, slugging percentage and homers, while he has logged 19 multi‑RBI games, 20 multi‑hit outings and four games with multiple homers.
A Milestone for K-State Baseball
Kennedy is also a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, which recognizes the finest shortstop in the country, and his emergence marks the first time a positional player from K-State has been nominated by either the Golden Spikes or Howser panels. The last K-State player to achieve such dual recognition was AJ Morris in 2009, setting a precedent for future Wildcats.
Fan voting will influence the Golden Spikes Award, with the ballot reopening on June 28 after an initial round, and the finalists are slated to be announced on June 10. The accolades not only spotlight Kennedy’s individual brilliance but also underscore the growing national presence of Kansas State’s baseball program.
The recognition reflects the collaborative effort behind the awards, involving organizations such as USA Baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and even the Washington Nationals, who have historically contributed to the selection process.