NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Cal State Fullerton right-hander Chad Hockin was one of 70 players named to the initial Watch List for the 12th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Monday.
The NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball at the end of the season. Hockin was one of three players from the Big West Conference named to the initial Watch List, joining Conner O'Neil of CSUN and Ty Provencher of Long Beach State.
In 2015, Hockin made 18 appearances and one start, tossing 18 and 1/3 innings. He was a part of three shutouts for the Titans last season and struck out 17 batters and issued just three walks, finishing the season with a 2.95 ERA. During the summer, Hockin pitched in the renowned Cape Cod League and was part of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox squad that scored its second straight Cape League Championship in 2015. Hockin appeared in nine games for the YD Red Sox and tallied two saves, including one in the Cape League playoffs. He posted a 2.08 ERA and struck out 19 batters in 13 innings pitched
Last year, former Titans pitcher Tyler Peitzmeier was named to the Midseason Watch List.
The Atlantic Coast Conference led the way with 10 players on this year's Watch List, while the Big Ten and Pacific-12 each had eight honorees and the Southeastern Conferences had seven. The Big South, Colonial and Sun Belt each had four and a total of 18 different conferences were represented.
More about the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award:
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relations contacts. The 2016 Stopper of the Year Watch List will be updated with a midseason release on Wednesday, April 27, 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 8, 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 at the 2016 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, Louisville's Nick Burdi took home the 2014 honor and Berg became the award's first two-time winner in 2015.
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.
2016 NCBWA Stopper of the Year key dates:
• Mon., Feb. 15: Preseason Watch List
• Wed., April 27: Midseason Watch List
• Wed., June 8: Stopper of the Year finalists announced
• TBA at College World Series: Stopper of the Year winner announced