Byrne on Midseason Watch List
Thursday, April 26, 2018 | Baseball
Junior Michael Byrne is one of 41 players on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List
GREENVILLE, N.C. (NCBWA) – Florida junior Michael Byrne is one of 41 relief pitchers named to the Midseason Watch List for the 14th Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, announced today by the organization.
Byrne has a 1.62 earned run average in 20 appearances this season. He has 10 saves on the year, most in the SEC, and broke the UF record with 29 career saves.
Twelve of the 41 players were on the preseason watch list released in February, including Byrne, who is the only returner among last year's five finalists for an award given annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
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 by the Louisville' Lincoln Henzman in 2017.
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, II and III Players of the Week and Division I, II and III Players of the Year.
2018 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
Byrne has a 1.62 earned run average in 20 appearances this season. He has 10 saves on the year, most in the SEC, and broke the UF record with 29 career saves.
Twelve of the 41 players were on the preseason watch list released in February, including Byrne, who is the only returner among last year's five finalists for an award given annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
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 by the Louisville' Lincoln Henzman in 2017.
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, II and III Players of the Week and Division I, II and III Players of the Year.
2018 NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
| Sam Bordner | Louisville | Jr. | ACC |
| Robert Broom | Mercer | Jr. | Southern |
| Michael Byrne | Florida | Jr. | SEC |
| Parker Caracci | Ole Miss | So. | SEC |
| Brett Conine | Cal State Fullerton | Jr. | Big West |
| Clark Cota | UNCW | Jr. | Colonial Athletic |
| Matt Cronin | Arkansas | So. | SEC |
| Tanner Dodson | California | Jr. | Pac-12 |
| Durbin Feltman | TCU | Jr. | Big 12 |
| Justin Garcia | Little Rock | Sr. | Sun Belt |
| Joey Gerber | Illinois | Jr. | Big Ten |
| Ryley Gilliam | Clemson | Jr. | ACC |
| Carter Henry | Houston | So. | American Athletic |
| Michael Hobbs | St. Mary's (CA) | Fr. | West Coast |
| Nolan Hoffman | Texas A&M | Jr. | SEC |
| Jake Hohensee | Nebraska | Sr. | Big Ten |
| Brendan Jenkins | San Francisco | Sr. | West Coast |
| Seth Kinker | Ohio State | Sr. | Big Ten |
| Jack Labosky | Duke | Sr. | ACC |
| Joe LaSorsa | St. John's | So. | Big East |
| Zack Leban | Kansas | Jr. | Big 12 |
| Casey Legumina | Gonzaga | So. | West Coast |
| Jack Little | Stanford | So. | Pac-12 |
| Chris Mauloni | Jacksonville | Fr. | Southern |
| Jack Maynard | UNCG | Sr. | Southern |
| Mac McCarty | VCU | Jr. | Atlantic 10 |
| Brian Menendez | UNLV | Sr. | Mountain West |
| Max Meyer | Minnesota | Jr. | Big Ten |
| Dakota Mills | Sam Houston State | Sr. | Southland |
| Troy Montemayor | Baylor | Sr. | Big 12 |
| Jake Mulholland | Oregon State | So. | Pac-12 |
| Joe O'Donnell | NC State | Sr. | ACC |
| Aaron Pinto | Stony Brook | Sr. | America East |
| Chris Rivera | Long Beach State | Jr. | Big West |
| Ethan Roberts | Tennessee Tech | Jr. | Ohio Valley |
| Zach Schneider | Florida Atlantic | Jr. | Conference USA |
| Tyler Smith | Canisius | Sr. | Metro Atlantic Athletic |
| Logan Stoelke | Louisiana | Sr. | Sun Belt |
| Dylan Thomas | Hawai'i | So. | Big West |
| Jose Tirado | Jackson State | Sr. | Southwestern Athletic |
| Brooks Wilson | Stetson | Sr. | Atlantic Sun |
Players Mentioned
RHP
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