GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Washington State pitcher Ian Hamilton was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List, the NCBWA announced recently.
Seventy players were named to the initial Watch List for the 12th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Hamilton who was also named to the Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America Second Team by Collegiate Baseball last month, has moved into the Cougars starting rotation and will start Washington State's season-opener Friday at Texas State. Hamilton, a junior, repeated as a member of the All-Pac-12 Conference team last season after finishing the year with a 1.67 ERA in 43 innings and tied for the Pac-12 lead with 13 saves. His total ranked him tied for 16th nationally as he became WSU's all-time leader with 28.
The Vancouver, Wash. native earned Freshman All-America honors as a freshman in 2014 after setting a school record with 15 saves and posted a 2.70 ERA.
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.