DALLAS, Texas – Illinois State senior right-hander Joe Husak has been named to the 2025 Watch List for the 20th Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award, announced by the organization on Wednesday.
Seventy-six players are included on the watch list for the award, which honors the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. Husak is joined by fellow MVC reliever, UIC's Reece Lawler, as the two Missouri Valley Conference representatives on this year's list.
Last year, Husak earned Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Conference honors, after leading the 2024 Redbirds with seven saves while boasting a team-low 3.96 ERA. Husak also established a 5-3 record with 35 strikeouts through 50.0 innings as he made 24 appearances for the Redbirds last year.
Nominations for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award were made by baseball sports information/media relation contacts. The initial list will be updated with a mid-season release the week of April 23. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Stopper of the Year finalists will be released June 4, prior to start of NCAA Super Regional tournament competition.
Husak and Illinois State will begin the 2025 season Feb. 14 against Western Kentucky at 12 p.m. in the first of four games against the Hilltoppers.
Live stats for this weekend's games are available at goredbirds.com.
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