DALLAS — BYU baseball’s Stone Cushing was named to the Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) on Wednesday.
The Cougars’ closer is one of only three Big 12 relievers featured on the 59-man midseason watch list. Following two seasons at the College of Southern Idaho, Cushing arrived in Provo and quickly established himself as a reliable closer.
Cushing’s seven saves on the season are tied for 12th nationally and first in the Big 12 with Chase Centala of UCF. With four saves in Big 12 play, Cushing has sole possession of league saves leader in conference games. Cushing recorded a league-leading 17th game finished and his first-career win in BYU’s 5-4 comeback victory over rival Utah on April 23.
The junior from Salem, Utah has a BYU-best ERA of 2.25 with 32 strikeouts through 20 innings pitched and 82 batters faced.
Cushing joins Reid McLaughlin (2019-23) and Mason Marshall (2012, 2015-17) as the third BYU reliever to be recognized on the Stopper of the Year midseason watch list. McLaughlin was featured on the watch list’s 2022 edition while Marshall garnered a spot on the list in 2012. McLaughlin and Marshall rank first and second, respectively, all-time at BYU in saves.
Each year since 2005, the NCBWA announces the preseason Stopper of the Year watch list and then updates the list at midseason. Prior to the NCAA baseball regionals, the association will announce up to five finalists for the award with the winner being named at the College World Series.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA also presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation’s best player and the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year award to the nation’s top coach. The NCBWA also selects a Division I All-America team as well as district players and stoppers of the year.