STARKVILLE, Miss. - Junior right-handed pitcher Danny Farquhar (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) was one of the 40 players named to the fourth annual National College Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watch List, the association announced Thursday. The award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Last season, Farquhar earned second team All-Sun Belt honors after posting a 6-3 record on the mound. He started the season as a closer before making his way into the starting role, recording a team-best six saves. Farquhar also struck out 115 batters, while walking just 22 in 87 2/3 innings of work. He finished the season ranked ninth among NCAA Division I pitchers in strikeouts per nine innings.
On Tuesday, the junior was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team and was named the league's Preseason Pitcher of the Year. In December, Farquhar was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award Watch List.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information contacts. The initial list will be updated with a mid-season release the week of April 14, including national saves leaders. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Division I national saves leader and four other relief pitching standouts will be selected as finalists and released Wednesday, May 28, prior to start of NCAA regional tournament competition.
The NCBWA's All-America Committee will then select the winner, with this year's recipient to be announced Wednesday, June 4, before the opening of NCAA super regional play. The NCBWA, founded in 1962, also presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player in addition to naming a Division I All-America Team, Division I and Division III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.