DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association has named its Dick Howser Trophy Players of the Month for April, presented by The Game Headwear, tabbing Cal outfielder Kade Kretzschmar its national player of the month and Duke’s Andrew Healy its national pitcher of the month.
Kretzschmar, a native of Carlsbad, California, hit .462 (36-for-78) during a 19-game stretch in April. He slugged seven doubles, one triple and eight homers, driving in 23 runs while scoring 19 times. The fifth-year senior owned a .885 slugging and a .488 on-base percentage, and stole three bases. In 2023, Kretzschmar – who joined the Bears this season after three years at Dartmouth – has hit a team-leading .331 (51-for-154) with nine doubles, one triple, 11 homers and 28 RBI in 41 games, with five stolen bases. Last year at Dartmouth, he hit .353 with 16 doubles, five triples and seven homers and drove in 46 runs.
A freshman out of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, Healy had a strong five-start stretch in April that saw the 6-foot-6 lefty move from early season reliever to midweek starter to Sunday starter. Over five starts, Healy worked 19 innings, allowing just 11 hits and one unearned run, walking just three and striking out 23. Opponents hit just .169 vs. Healy over the course of the month. On the year, Healy is 5-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 15 games and seven starts, working 32 innings, allowing only 27 hits and four walks, while striking out 36.
This marks the eighth consecutive year that the NCBWA has honored a player and pitcher of the month. 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.