DALLAS (NCBWA) – Thirteen finalists have been announced for the 20th NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, given to the nation’s top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.
LSU’s Casan Evans (4-1, 1.90 ERA, six saves) and Arizona’s Tony Pluta (2-0, 1.39 ERA, 13 saves) are on the verge of reaching the 2025 College World Series in Omaha. Alabama’s Carson Ozmer (4-2, 3.29 ERA) leads the nation with 17 saves, while Oklahoma’s Dylan Crooks (2-1, 1.69 ERA) ranks second with 16 saves and Clemson’s Lucas Mahlstedt (4-1, 3.00 ERA) is third nationally with 15 saves.
A trio of finalists won individual awards in their respective conferences. Houston’s Antoine Jean (5-1, 2.55 ERA, five saves) was tabbed the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, Texas’ Dylan Volantis (4-1, 1.94 ERA, 12 saves) was named SEC Freshman of the Year and UC Irvine’s Ricky Ojeda (13-1, 3.55 ERA, 2 saves) were tabbed Big West Pitcher of the Year.
Other notable relievers on this year’s finalists list include Baylor’s Gabe Craig (3-0, 0.56 ERA, 10 saves), Creighton’s Garrett Langrell (7-2, 3.61 ERA, 13 saves), Georgia Tech’s Mason Patel (11-2, 3.34 ERA, 5 saves), Sacramento State’s Kade Brown (3-2, 2.93 ERA, 14 saves) and Vanderbilt’s Sawyer Hawks (4-0, 1.60 ERA, eight saves).
Six conferences are represented with finalists, with the Southeastern Conference leading the way with five. The Big 12 Conference (three finalists) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (two finalists) are the other conferences featuring multiple finalists. The Big East Conference, the Big West Conference and the Western Athletic Conference each had one representative. Ten of the 13 finalists were on the NCBWA’s Midseason Stopper of the Year watch list.
These finalists are amongst a list of previous standout NCBWA Stoppers of the Year with Texas’ J. Brent Cox, 2005; Kansas’ Don Czyz, 2006; Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State, 2007; Georgia’s Joshua Fields, 2008; San Diego State’s Addison Reed, 2009; Texas’ Chance Ruffi, 2010; Texas’ Corey Knebel, 2011; Southeastern Louisiana's Stefan Lopez, 2012; UCLA’s David Berg, 2013 and 2015; Louisville’s Nick Burdi, 2014; Miami (Fla.) hurler Bryan Garcia, 2016; Louisville’s Lincoln Henzman, 2017; Florida’s Michael Byrne, 2018; UCLA’s Holden Powell, 2019; Arkansas’ Kevin Kopps, 2021; Texas State’s Tristan Stivors, 2022; Oral Roberts’ Cade Denton in 2023 and Texas A&M’s Evan Aschenbeck in 2024. There was no winner in 2020 due to the COVID-19-shortened season.
The Stopper of the Year recipient will be announced via a news conference on Friday, June 13, at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
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 nations top coach. In 2025, the organization also will name the inaugural winner of the Tony Gwynn Trophy, which honors an NCAA baseball student-athlete who exemplifies the Gwynn legacy of community service and integrity. 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 and Pitchers of the Year.
2025 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalists
Kade Brown, So., Sacramento State (WAC)
Casan Evans, Fr., LSU (SEC)
Gabe Craig, Sr. Baylor, (Big 12)
Dylan Crooks, Sr., Oklahoma (SEC)
Sawyer Hawks, Sr., Vanderbilt (SEC)
Antoine Jean, Gr., Houston (Big 12)
Garrett Langrell, Gr., Creighton (Big East)
Lucas Mahlstedt, Sr., Clemson (ACC)
Ricky Ojeda, So., UC Irvine (Big West)
Carson Ozmer, Gr., Alabama (SEC)
Mason Patel, Gr., Georgia Tech (ACC)
Tony Pluta, Jr., Arizona (Big 12)
Dylan Volantis, Fr., Texas (SEC)