GREENVILLE, N.C. (NCBWA) – Forty-five players
have been named to the initial Watch List for the 16th Annual
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the
Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division
I Baseball, the association announced Friday.
This year's talented group are led by 12 preseason NCBWA All-America
selections including first-teamers Luke Boyd (Baylor), Tyler Grauer
(Indiana State), Michael Kirian (Louisville) and Jason Ruffcorn
(Oklahoma). Both Boyd and Kirian lead the way with six saves from
a year ago, which was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In
seven appearances, Grauer notched five saves and posted a 1.59 ERA,
while Ruffcorn also tallied five in seven outings sporting a 0.00
ERA.
Other preseason NCBWA All-Americans on this year's list include
Kyle Brennan (Belmont/third-team), Micah Dallas (Texas Tech/second-team),
Devin Fontenot (LSU/second-team), Haylen Green (TCU/third-team),
Jaden Hill (LSU/third-team), Kyle Mora (UCLA/second-team), Stephen
Schoch (Virginia/second-team) and Caleb Wurster (UConn/third-team).
The Southeastern Conference had the most representatives with
10 players finding their names on the watch list. Fontenot led the
group earning four saves, while Brock Guffey (Alabama) posted a
3-0 record in five appearances. In all, the 10 players sported a
combined 11-1 record with 14 saves in 60 outings. The Atlantic Coast
Conference had seven, while the Big 12 had four landing on the list.
Of the initial 45 members, 13 were named to last year's watch
list including Chase Haney (Florida State/3-0 with a 1.29 ERA),
Bruce Hudson (Radford/4 saves), Brett Kerry (South Carolina/2-0
and 1 save), Kent Klyman (NC State/2 saves with a 1.42 ERA), Hunter
McGarry (FGCU/3-1 and 3 saves), Colten Rendon (Winthrop/4 saves
with 1.29 ERA), Blake Schriever (CSUN/4 saves with 0.82 ERA) and
Redmond Walsh (Tennessee/2 saves and 0.00 ERA).
In total, 19 conferences are represented on this list with at
least two players coming from 10 different leagues.
2021 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR PRESEASON WATCH LIST (45) |
Luke Boyd, Baylor |
Jaden Hill, LSU |
Jason Ruffcorn, Oklahoma |
Kyle Brennan, Belmont |
Bruce Hudson, Radford |
Derek Salata, Illinois State |
Taylor Broadway, Ole Miss |
Hayden Juenger, Missouri State |
Frankie Scalzo, Grand Canyon |
Britt Buckelew, Alabama State |
Brett Kerry, South Carolina |
Stephen Schoch, Virginia |
Jason Crumley, Winthrop |
Michael Kirian, Louisville |
Blake Schriever, CSUN |
Micah Dallas, Texas Tech |
Kent Klyman, N.C. State |
Carson Skipper, Auburn |
Brandon Dufault, Northeastern |
Chase Lee, Alabama |
Adam Smith, UNCW |
Devin Fontenot, LSU |
Hunter McGarry, FGCU |
Dalton Smith, Georgia Tech |
Evan Gates, North Carolina A&T |
Connor Manous, Indiana |
Triston Stivors, Texas State |
Stone Churby, Sacramento State |
C.J. Mayhue, East Carolina |
Joe Taylor, Nicholls |
Geoffrey Gilbert, Clemson |
Scott Meylan, N.C. Central |
Michael Townsend, UCLA |
Tyler Grauer, Indiana State |
Kyle Mora, UCLA |
Zebulon Vermillion, Arkansas |
Haylen Green, TCU |
Carson Palmquist, Miami |
Redmond Walsh, Tennessee |
Brock Guffey, Alabama |
Spencer Price, Mississippi State |
Caleb Wurster, UConn |
Chase Haney, Florida State |
Colten Rendon, Winthrop |
Elliot Zoellner, Maryland |
Click here
for .pdf version of release with complete player statistics |
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year
Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006
and Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007. Georgia's
Joshua Fields topped the field in 2008, San Diego State's Addison
Reed grabbed the honor in 2009 and Texas' Chance Ruffin earned the
honor in 2010. The Longhorns' Corey Knebel won in 2011, with Southeastern
Louisiana's Stefan Lopez picking up the honor in 2012. UCLA's David
Berg was crowned the winner in 2013, Louisville's Nick Burdi took
home the 2014 honor, and Berg became the award's first two-time
winner in 2015. Miami (Fla.)'s Bryan Garcia was honored as the 2016
recipient followed the Cardinal's Lincoln Henzman in 2017, Florida's
Michael Byrne in 2018 and UCLA's Holden Powell in 2019.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to
the nation's top player and the Mike Martin National Coach of the
Year to the nation's top coach. It also selects All-America Teams
for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division
I, II and III Players of the Week and Division I, II and III Players
of the Year.
2021 NCBWA Stopper of the Year key dates:
• Fri., Feb. 19: Preseason Watch List
• Wed., April 28: Midseason Watch List
• Wed., June 9: Stopper of the Year finalists announced
• Sat., June 19: Stopper of the Year winner announced
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