Ole Miss outfielder Kemp Alderman named a finalist for 2023 Ferris Trophy
The season has not gone according to play for defending national champion Ole Miss but Kemp Alderman has a chance to raise up a trophy of his own.
On Friday the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced the finalists for this year’s Ferris Trophy. Named in honor of former Mississippi baseball great Dave ‘Boo’ Ferris, the award is given to the top collegiate baseball player in Mississippi every year since its inception in 2004.
Alderman is one of five finalist for the 2023 edition. Joining him is Southern Mississippi pitcher Tanner Hall and outfielder Slade Wilks along with Mississippi State infielder Hunter Hines and Jackson State infielder Ty Hill.
The Ole Miss outfielder is hitting a team-best .377 at the plate (72-for-191) and leads the team in home runs with 19 and in runs batted in with 59. In Southeastern Conference play Alderman leads the team with a .350 average and eight home runs and is second in RBIs with 21 behind shortstop Jacob Gonzalez who has 25.
Alderman also has 1.2 innings pitched this season, making his Ole Miss debut on the mound earlier this year. He has a zero earned run average, giving up zero runs off a hit while striking out four batters and walking two others.
A panel of coaches and professional scouts helped select the group of finalists. This year’s Ferris Trophy winner will be announced on May 22.
Alderman is looking to be the first Ferris Trophy winner for Ole Miss in nine years.
The last winner of the Ferris Trophy Ole Miss had was Auston Bousfield in 2014. The Rebels won the inaugural award in 2004 when pitcher Stephen Head took home the trophy.
Of the 18 overall winners Ole Miss is second on the all-time list with five former players winning behind Mississippi State’s eight winners. The Rebels are also second on the all-time finalist list with 21 former players named.
First baseman Tim Elko was the finalist for Ole Miss in 2022 but finished behind Hall who is looking to be first repeat winner in Ferris Trophy history.
