DALLAS - Stanford sophomore right-hander Aidan Keenan is one of 56 relief pitchers named to the Midseason Watch List for the 20th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, members of the NCBWA announced Wednesday.
Keenan has made 16 relief appearances this season, pitching to a 1-1 record and a 2.92 ERA with four saves over 24 2/3 innings. Limiting opponents to a .200 average against, Keenan has struck out 31 compared to nine walks. The native of Morgan Hill, Calif. has allowed just six of his 16 inherited runners to score this season.
There are 21 conferences represented on the list, with the Southeastern Conference leading the way with nine relief pitchers. The Atlantic Coast Conference follows with eight, while the Big 12 Conference has five. Other multiple-selection leagues included: the American Athletic Conference (3), the Atlantic Sun Conference (3), the Big East (2), the Big Ten Conference (3), the Big West Conference (2), Conference USA (3), the Mid-American Conference (3), the Ohio Valley Conference (2), the Southern Conference (2), the Summit Conference (2) and the Western Athletic Conference (2).
The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 4, with the winner being named on Friday, June 13 at the 2025 College World Series.
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association introduced the Stopper of the Year award in the 2005 season to honor the nation’s top relief pitcher. Each year, the NCBWA announces a preseason watch list and then updates the list in midseason. Before the NCAA regionals, the association picks up to five finalists for the award. The regular-season national saves leader is automatically chosen as a finalist.
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, UCLA's Holden Powell in 2019, Arkansas' Kevin Kopps in 2021, Texas State's Tristan Stivors in 2022 and Oral Roberts’ Cade Denton in 2023. Texas A&M closer Evan Aschenbeck won the award in 2024.
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. A new award is being introduced this year, the Tony Gwynn Community Service Award, recognizing the college player who makes an impact on and off the field with their work in the community. 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.