Kyle Bellamy Named a National Pitcher of the Year Semifinalist

May 14, 2009

LUBBOCK, Texas – University of Miami junior closer Kyle Bellamy has been named a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation’s National Pitcher of the Year Award, as announced Thursday. Bellamy – one of 15 pitchers named to the prestigious list – leads the Atlantic Coast Conference and is among the national leaders with 14 saves this season.

A Rivals.com and NCBWA second-team All-American in 2008 as a set-up man, Bellamy has emerged as one of the nation’s top closers this year and enters the final week of the regular season with a 3-1 record and a 1.15 ERA. In 39 innings of work, Bellamy has allowed just five earned runs while striking out 56.

His 14 saves this year is five more than any other closer in the ACC and his 1.00 ERA in league play is the lowest mark for any pitcher in the conference. He currently sits in a tie for sixth place on UM’s single-season saves list.

The Big 12 Conference leads all conferences in representation with three players on the semifinalist list — A.J. Morris of Kansas State, Austin Wood of Texas and Brooks Raley of Texas A&M. San Diego State has two representatives in starter Steven Strasburg and closer Addison Reed while the ACC and Big Ten have two representatives apiece.

Earlier this season, Bellamy was named the closer on Baseball America’s Midseason All-America team on April 10.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST
Name – School – Conference
Mike Leake – Arizona State – PAC 10
Deck McGuire – Georgia Tech – ACC
Eric Arnett – Indiana – Big 10
A.J. Morris – Kansas State – Big 12
Louis Coleman – LSU – SEC
Kyle Bellamy – Miami – ACC
Buddy Baumann – Missouri State – MVC
Daniel Calhoun – Murray State – OVC
Alex Wimmers – Ohio State – Big 10
Mark Serrano – Oral Roberts – Summit League
Addison Reed – San Diego State – Mountain West
Stephen Strasburg – San Diego State – Mountain West
Austin Wood – Texas – Big 12
Brooks Raley – Texas A&M – Big 12
Daniel Bibona – UC Irvine – Big West