Ryan Hagenow Named to 2023 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List

It's award watch list season, and Kentucky baseball had another Wildcat crack a midseason list on Wednesday.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association unveiled its midseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award, honoring the top relief pitcher in college baseball. Among the 56 arms named is Kentucky junior Ryan Hagenow, who has also been named a Midseason All-American by Perfect Game.

In 14 appearances this season, Hagenow owns a 1.04 ERA, having allowed just two earned runs and seven hits across 17.1 innings. He's struck out 24 batters while walking just six.

The highlight of the Knoxville, Tenn. native's season came on March 18 against Mississippi State, as he hurled 4.1 innings of one-hit baseball, striking out five of the 15 batters he faced in a big winning effort. Eight of his 14 outings this season have been hitless.

After stumbling a bit in an outing at No. 1 LSU, in which he allowed his only two earned runs of the season, Hagenow had an 11-day gap before making his next appearance, which came on Tuesday night in Kentucky's 7-0 loss to Louisville. He threw a one-two-three top of the sixth, throwing 13 pitches, eight of which were strikes.

Following the game, head coach Nick Mingione eluded to Hagenow getting "back healthy and feeling good and strong."

"I gave him a big ole hug, because we need that guy," Mingione said. "He's our dugout, captain. I mean, that guy does so much for our team and we're definitely a different team when he's on the mound."

Hagenow is one of eight SEC relievers on the watch list:

Will Canon (Auburn)
Alton Davis II (Alabama)
Garrett Edwards (LSU)
Ryan Hagenow (Kentucky)
Will Johnston (Texas A&M)
Nick Maldonado (Vanderbilt)
Brandon Neely (Florida)
Chris Veach (South Carolina)

The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 7 with the winner being named on Friday, June 16 at the 2023 College World Series.

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