Garcia Named Stopper of the Year Finalist
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Junior righthander Bryan Garcia was among those players selected as finalists for the 12th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the NCBWA announced Wednesday.
Garcia joins Sam Donko of VCU, Shaun Anderson of Florida, Zack Burdi of Louisville and Troy Rallings of Washington as finalists for the award, honoring the nation’s top closer.
Garcia was named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and earned third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors after helping Miami earn the ACC Regular Season Championship and the No. 3 national seed for the NCAA postseason.
The Miami native has 16 saves, tied for third in the nation, and a 2-0 record with a 2.04 ERA in 35.1 innings over 32 appearances. He has allowed 25 hits and 17 walks while striking out 52, holding opponents to a .191 batting average.
Garcia established the school’s career saves record on May 26 at the ACC Championship against NC State with his 40th career save. He recorded his 41st career save in Miami’s NCAA Coral Gables Regional opener against Stetson.
The NCBWA’s All-America Committee will select the winner, with this year’s recipient to be announced Saturday morning, June 18, at a news conference at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha at 10 a.m. CT.
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 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.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation’s top player. 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.
NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalists
Shaun Anderson, Florida
Zack Burdi, Louisville
Sam Donko, VCU
Bryan Garcia, Miami (FL)
Troy Rallings, Washington
