STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford relievers Trevor Moore and Toran O’Harran are among the 76 players named to the initial 2025 Watch List for the 20th Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, presented to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.
Moore made a team-high 28 appearances, including one start, in 2024, compiling a 3-1 record with one save over 57 innings. His 28 appearances were second-most in the Pac-12 and ranked 69th in the nation. The native of Golden, Colo. struck out 57 hitters to average 9.00 strikeouts per game a year ago before earning the Russ Ford Outstanding Relief Pitcher Award as the top reliever in the Cape Cod League over the summer.
O’Harran made 24 appearances, including one start, last year, compiling a 2-4 record with seven saves over 39 1/3 innings. His 24 appearances were second-most on the team and his seven saves ranked fifth in the Pac-12 and 56th nationally. The native of Rocklin, Calif. struck out 50 hitters to average 11.44 strikeouts per game and limited opponents to a .226 average against in 2024.
The Southeastern Conference led the way with the most representatives with nine players. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference and Mid-American Conference followed with six players each, while the American Athletic Conference and Sun Belt Conference each had five. Of the initial 76 members, eight were featured on last year's midseason watch list. In total, 19 conferences are represented on this list, with at least two players coming from 13 different leagues.
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.