BSB's Caleb Bunch Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List
4/22/2026 2:30:00 PM | Baseball
Fifth-year senior closer holds 4-2 record, 2.40 ERA with six saves in 2026
DALLAS – Baylor baseball fifth-year senior right-handed pitcher Caleb Bunch has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award Midseason Watch List, as announced Wednesday by the organization.
Sixty-one of the nation's top relief pitchers were included on the midseason list for the 21st annual award, which recognizes the best reliever in college baseball. Pitchers from 21 different conferences were represented on the list, including six from the Big 12: Bunch, Arizona's Garrett Hicks, Arizona State's Derek Schaefer, Kansas' Boede Rahe and West Virginia's Reese Bassinger and David Perez.
In 17 appearances so far this season, Bunch has been fantastic out of the BU bullpen with a 4-2 record and a 2.40 ERA. He has collected six saves and struck out 35 batters while walking 16 in 30 innings of work. Bunch owns a 1.20 WHIP and has held opposing batters to a .198 average.
Fourteen of Bunch's 17 outings this season have been scoreless, and six have been hitless. The Keller, Texas, product has racked up multiple strikeouts in nine outings, including a season-high six at Oklahoma State on March 20 and an impressive five in five batters faced against TCU on April 17.
Bunch's six saves are tied for the most in the Big 12 and his four wins are the second-most among any Big 12 reliever. His 11 games finished are tied for third in the conference ranks.
The NCBWA will announce finalists for this year's Stopper of the Year Award on Wednesday, June 3, with the winner being named on Friday, June 12, at the 2026 Men's College World Series.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.
Sixty-one of the nation's top relief pitchers were included on the midseason list for the 21st annual award, which recognizes the best reliever in college baseball. Pitchers from 21 different conferences were represented on the list, including six from the Big 12: Bunch, Arizona's Garrett Hicks, Arizona State's Derek Schaefer, Kansas' Boede Rahe and West Virginia's Reese Bassinger and David Perez.
In 17 appearances so far this season, Bunch has been fantastic out of the BU bullpen with a 4-2 record and a 2.40 ERA. He has collected six saves and struck out 35 batters while walking 16 in 30 innings of work. Bunch owns a 1.20 WHIP and has held opposing batters to a .198 average.
Fourteen of Bunch's 17 outings this season have been scoreless, and six have been hitless. The Keller, Texas, product has racked up multiple strikeouts in nine outings, including a season-high six at Oklahoma State on March 20 and an impressive five in five batters faced against TCU on April 17.
Bunch's six saves are tied for the most in the Big 12 and his four wins are the second-most among any Big 12 reliever. His 11 games finished are tied for third in the conference ranks.
The NCBWA will announce finalists for this year's Stopper of the Year Award on Wednesday, June 3, with the winner being named on Friday, June 12, at the 2026 Men's College World Series.
To stay up to date on all things Baylor baseball, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorBaseball.
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