DALLAS (NCBWA) – With the second half of the 2025 collegiate regular season now underway, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced Wednesday that 56 of the nation's top relief pitchers have been named to the Midseason Watch List for the 20th annual Stopper of the Year award. Relief pitchers not included on the midseason list remain eligible to be considered as finalists for the award.
Nine of the 56 players were on the preseason watch list, released in February, including Luke Broderick (Nebraska, 8 saves), Kade Brown (Sacramento State, 11), Peyton Cariaco (Kent State, 9), Dominick Carbone (Coastal Carolina, 4), Miller Green (Vanderbilt, 5), Cal Higgins (Western Kentucky, 5), Landon Kruer (Navy, 7), Walter Quinn (Grand Canyon, 7) and Nate Snead (Tennessee, 3). Snead (first team) and Brown (second team) were named to the Preseason NCBWA All-America Team.
Clemson’s Lucas Mahlstedt leads the country with 14 saves in 32.1 innings pitched and holds a 1.11 earned run average. Carson Ozmer from Alabama follows with 13 saves in 26.0 innings pitched (1.38 ERA). Sacramento State’s Brown follows with 11 saves (33.0 innings pitched, 2.18 ERA) and Bowling Green’s Connar Penrod has 10 saves (20.1 innings pitched, 2.21 ERA).
There are 21 conferences represented on the list, with the Southeastern Conference leading the way with nine. The Atlantic Coast Conference follows with eight, while the Big 12 Conference has five. Other multiple-selection leagues include: 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.
| 2025 STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST (56) | ||||
| Brad Afthim, UConn , Sr. | Cal Higgins, WKU, Sr. | |||
| Nick Anello, Jacksonville, Jr. | Blake Hooks , Louisiana Tech, Sr. | |||
| Kaleb Applebey, Austin Peay, R-So. | Sebastian Holt, Maine, R-Jr. | |||
| Reese Bassinger, West Virginia, Sr. | Tyler Horvath, Michigan State, Gr. | |||
| Luke Broderick^, Nebraska, Jr. | Kaden Humphrey, North Florida, Jr. | |||
| Terry Busse, Mercer, Sr. | Aidan Keenan, Stanford, So. | |||
| MJ Bollinger, Florida Atlantic, So. | Jackson Kranawetter, Southeast Missouri, Jr. | |||
| Kade Brown (2), Sacramento State, R-So. | Landon Kruer, Navy, Sr. | |||
| Bryce Calloway, New Orleans, Sr. | Danny Lachenmayer, North Dakota State, Fr. | |||
| Peyton Cariaco, Kent State, Sr. | Brandon Langley, Western Carolina, Jr. | |||
| Dominick Carbone, Coastal Carolina, So. | Garrett Langrell, Creighton, Gr. | |||
| Brendan Conner, UAB, Fr. | Michael Lombardi, Tulane, Jr. | |||
| Zac Cowan, LSU, Jr. | Lucas Mahlstedt, Clemson, Sr. | |||
| Gabe Craig , Baylor, R-Sr. | Max Martin, UC Irvine, Jr. | |||
| Dylan Crooks, Oklahoma, Sr. | Toby McDonough, Notre Dame, Gr. | |||
| Ty Cunningham, New Mexico, Jr. | Walker McDuffie, North Carolina, Fr. | |||
| Andrew Cutler, George Washington, So. | Chase Meyer, West Virginia, So. | |||
| Reid Easterly, Duke, Gr. | Carson Ozmer, Alabama, Gr. | |||
| Cason Evans, LSU, Fr. | Mason Patel, Georgia Tech, Gr. | |||
| Kade Eudy, TCU, Fr. | Connar Penrod, Bowling Green , Sr. | |||
| Conner Floyd, Oral Roberts, R-Sr. | Walter Quinn, Grand Canyon, R-Jr. | |||
| Sam Frizzi, Southern Illinois, Jr. | Joey Ryan, Boston College, Gr. | |||
| Miller Green, Vanderbilt, So. | Tanner Sagouspe, Cal Poly, R-Jr. | |||
| Max Grubbs, Texas, Jr. | Andrew Shaffner, NC State, Jr. | |||
| Lucas Hartman, WKU, Sr. | Nate Snead (1), Tennessee, Jr. | |||
| Garrett Harker, Ball State, Sr. | Juan Vargas, Tennessee Tech , So. | |||
| Sawyer Hawks, Vanderbilt, Sr. | Dylan Volantis, Texas, Fr. | |||
| Ethan Hedges, Southern California , Jr. | Sean Youngerman, Oklahoma State, Jr. | |||
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy, Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the Year, and publication and writing contests.