NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt junior relievers Jackson Gillis and Zach King are among 75 pitchers named to the 2019 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List, the organization announced Monday.
Gillis posted a 4-1 record and 4.81 ERA across 20 appearances including one start a season ago. The Wilmington, Mass., native struck out 39 batters while tossing 28.2 innings and walking nine. He struck out multiple batters 13 times.
King went 1-4 alongside a 3.46 ERA in 21 appearances and three starts in 2018. His 21 appearances were tied with Reid Schaller for the team lead. The Spring Hill, Tennessee, native limited opponents to a .237 average while leading all Vandy relievers with 51 strikeouts and 52.0 innings pitched.
The SEC has the most representation with 12 student-athletes finding their names on the watch list. In total, 26 conferences are represented on this list with at least two players coming from 17 different leagues.
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation’s top player. 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.
Vanderbilt opens its season on Friday against Virginia as part of the MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament in Talking Stick, Arizona. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CT on the MLB Network. Vandy will face No. 25 Cal State Fullerton on Saturday (2 p.m.) and TCU on Sunday (noon CT).
