Johnny Hummel on Stopper of the Year Watch List

Kentucky graduate senior Johnny Hummel is one of 73 relievers named to the initial Watch List for the 19th Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball, the association announced Wednesday.

Hummel, a 6-foot, 180-pounder from Charlotte, North Carolina, is in his first season at Kentucky after a dominating prior stop at Erskine College. Hummel was one of the premier arms in Division II, being named to the All-Carolinas Conference First Team in both 2022 and 2023. He also was to the NCBWA’s First-Team All-Southeast Region in 2023 after posting a 3-2 record with seven saves and a 1.35 earned run average in 23 appearances. In 33.1 innings he allowed just 14 hits and struck out 63, a ridiculous 17 punchouts per nine innings.

Hummel has 18 career saves and an ERA of 2.00

Kentucky opens its season Friday, February 16 at USC Upstate.