CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (NCBWA) — Thirty-seven players have been named to the initial watch list for the 11th 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 Tuesday.
UC Irvine senior Sam Moore and UCLA senior David Berg – the national leaders in saves in 2014 and 2013, respectively – headline this year’s list of preseason nominees. Moore was a 2014 NCBWA first-team All-American and finalist for the 2014 Stopper of the Year Award after posting nation-best 23 saves and a 1.90 ERA in 42.2 innings, while Berg led the country with 24 saves en route to being named the 2013 Stopper of the Year and leading the Bruins to their first College World Series title.
Twenty-five of the 37 players on the watch list notched double-digit saves last season, including All-Americans Riley Ferrell (TCU) and Bryan Garcia (Miami). Thirteen players on the watch list also earned NCBWA preseason All-America honors: Ferrell, Garcia, Berg, Moore, Jacob Cronenworth (Michigan), Matt Ditman (Rice), Andres Gracia (Samford), Reilly Hovis (North Carolina), Skylar Hunter (The Citadel), Tyler Jay (Illinois), Brandon Koch (Dallas Baptist), Hayden Stone (Vanderbilt) and Travis Stout (Jacksonville State).
The Pac-12 and Big Ten Conferences led the way with five players each on this year’s watch list, while the Atlantic Coast, Big West and Southern Conferences each had three. Four conferences have two players apiece on the list: the Southeastern, Mountain West, Missouri Valley and Mid-American Conferences.
The 2015 Stopper of the Year watch list will be updated with a midseason release the week of April 20, including the national saves leaders. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, June 3, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional competition.
The NCBWA’s All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year’s recipient to be announced during the 2015 College World Series.
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 Berg was crowned the winner in 2013, while Louisville’s Nick Burdi took home the 2014 honor.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation’s top player. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.
2015 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
Pitcher School Class
David Berg UCLA Sr.
Gabe Berman Western Michigan Jr.
Tim Black Central Michigan Sr.
Ryan Burr Arizona State Jr.
Thomas Burrows Alabama So.
Jacob Cronenworth Michigan Jr.
Kyle Davis Southern Cal Jr.
Matt Ditman Rice Jr.
Matt Eckelman Saint Louis Jr.
Andrew Elliott Wright State Sr.
Riley Ferrell TCU Jr.
Aaron Fossas Wake Forest Jr.
Bryan Garcia Miami So.
Andres Gracia Samford Sr.
Ian Hamilton Washington State So.
Reilly Hovis North Carolina Jr.
Skylar Hunter The Citadel Jr.
Tyler Jay Illinois Jr.
Reece Karalus Santa Clara So.
Ryan Keaffaber Indiana State So.
Brandon Koch Dallas Baptist Jr.
Joe Kuzia St. John’s Sr.
Sutter McLoughlin Sacramento State Jr.
Kevin Mooney Maryland Jr.
Sam Moore UC Irvine Sr.
Ashton Perritt Liberty Sr.
Tyler Powell Western Carolina Sr.
Troy Rallings Washington Jr.
Josh Roeder Nebraska Sr.
Victor Sanchez New Mexico Jr.
Hayden Stone Vanderbilt So.
Zach Stone UC Davis So.
Travis Stout Jacksonville State Sr.
Dillon Tate UCSB Jr.
Brayden Torres UNLV Jr.
Tyler Warmoth Stetson r-Jr.
Jon Young Rutgers Sr.