DALLAS — Redshirt senior right-handed pitcher
Conner Thurman has been named as one of just 10 finalists for the 2024 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, the National College Baseball Writers Association announced on Wednesday afternoon. The award is given annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Thurman set forth the most dominant college season of his career in 2024, compiling a 4-0 record, five saves, and a minuscule 1.40 ERA across 29 appearances, one start, and 38.2 innings pitched while striking out 47, walking only 10, and holding opposing hitters to a measly .168 batting average.
Though his longest outing of the season was three innings, he tallied eight appearances in 2024 with three strikeouts or more. His final save of the season came at Las Vegas Ballpark on May 25, when he sent USD to the NCAA Tournament by closing out a hard-fought WCC Championship-clinching win over Portland.
For his efforts, Thurman was selected to the 2024 All-WCC Second Team.
The Stopper of the Year recipient will be announced via a news conference on Friday, June 14, 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 nation's top coach. 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.
2024 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalists
- Ben Abeldt, TCU (6-3, 210, So., McKinney, Texas)
- Evan Aschenbeck, Texas A&M (6-2, 230, Sr., Brenham, Texas)
- Ethan Bates, Louisiana Tech (6-0, 185, Sr., Hot Springs, Ark.)
- Charlie Beilenson, Duke (6-0, 215, Gr., Los Angeles, Calif.)
- Mason Burns, Western Kentucky (6-3, 215, Sr., Bloomington, Ill.)
- Griffin Herring, LSU (6-2, 196, So., Southlake, Texas)
- Bridger Holmes, Oregon State (6-4, 218, Jr., North Bend, Ore.)
- Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman, East Carolina (6-2, 228, Jr., Leesburg, Va.)
- Izaak Martinez, UC San Diego (5-10, 180, r-Sr., Glendoda, Calif.)
- Conner Thurman, San Diego (6-0, 205, r-Sr., Mesa, Ariz.)
