Latest news with #2025StopperoftheYear
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia Tech's Mason Patel named finalist for 'Stopper of the Year'
Staff Reports THE FLATS – Senior RHP Mason Patel was named one of 13 finalists for the 2025 Stopper of the Year award, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced today. Patel, who was named All-ACC for the first time in his career this season, served as the Yellow Jackets primary high-leverage option out of the bullpen, becoming the first player in GT history to be named a finalist for the nation's best relief pitcher. Advertisement Patel was nothing short of dominant, becoming the first Yellow Jacket in program history to record at least 11 wins in a single season without ever starting a game. The Knoxville, Tenn. native was the go-to during high-leverage moments all season, often entering games with runners on or while the team was trailing, leading to a record-setting 11 victories in 23 relief appearances with five saves. He was the only pitcher this season to collect double-digit wins and at least five saves, the first relief pitcher to do so from a Power 4 conference since Kevin Kopps' Golden Spikes Award-winning season in 2021 (Arkansas). He posted a 3.34 ERA over 23 appearances and became the first Yellow Jacket pitcher this century to win each of his first six starts, finishing with an 11-2 record. His 11 wins is tied for the 13th-most in a single season in GT history and the most since Kyle Bakker posted 13 wins in 2002. Patel pitched the first 22.2 innings of the season without allowing a run and has posted career-bests in wins (11), saves (5), innings pitched (70.0), strikeouts (64) and opponent's batting average (.223). He is one of 13 pitchers from around the nation to be named a finalist and one of two in the ACC. Of the finalists, Patel leads the field in innings pitched (70.0) and wins (11). Advertisement The Stopper of the Year recipient will be announced via a news conference on Friday, June 13, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. 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. In 2025, the organization also will name the inaugural winner of the Tony Gwynn Trophy, which honors an NCAA baseball student-athlete who exemplifies the Gwynn legacy of community service and integrity. 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 and Pitchers of the Year.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gabe Craig named NCBWA Stopper of the Year finalist
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) — The recognition keeps coming in for Baylor reliever Gabe Craig. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named Baylor baseball sixth-year senior right-handed pitcher Gabe Craig as a finalist for the 2025 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award on Wednesday. The NCBWA announced thirteen of the nation's top relief pitchers finalists for the 20th annual award, which recognizes the best reliever in college baseball. Craig finished the 2025 season with a 3-0 record and earned 10 saves in 32 innings of work. He struck out 51 batters and walked just three, holding opponents to a .124 batting average. He led the country with a microscopic 0.56 ERA, a 0.50 WHIP and a 17:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Craig also ranked second nationally in H/9 (3.66) and BB/9 (0.84) and owned the sixth-best K/9 (14.34). Of his 24 appearances, Craig logged 22 scoreless outings, 14 hitless outings, and struck out at least two batters 16 times. He finished the year on a 20.1-inning scoreless streak across his last 12 appearances, a stretch that spanned back to April 4. Craig was even better in conference play, lowering his ERA to 0.49. He allowed just one run on seven hits across 18.1 innings and 12 appearances, locking down six saves. Against Big 12 opponents, Craig struck out 31 batters and walked just one. In 2025, Craig led all Big 12 pitchers with 20 games finished and did not allow an extra-base hit all season. His 10 total saves, which ranked 17th in the country, are the most by a Bear in a single season since Troy Montemayor had 11 in 2018. Already named a finalist for the 2025 College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award, Craig is looking to becoming the first Bear in program history to receive the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award. Craig also picked up All-Big 12 First Team accolades for the first time in his career this season. The 2025 Stopper of the Year recipient will be announced via a news conference on Friday, June 13, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. In the 19-year history of the award, only four players from the Big 12 have ever brought home the honor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
