Johnny Hummel on Midseason Stopper of Year Watch List

Kentucky senior reliever Johnny Hummel has been named to the Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch List, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced Wednesday. The finalists will be announced June 5.

Hummel, from Charlotte, has given the Wildcats an anchor in the bullpen while serving as the team’s primary closer and stopper in tough tight-game situations. Four of his five saves have come in Southeastern Conference play, and four have come in the lion’s den of road games.

Nicknamed “Lightning” and serving as the team’s first base coach early in games, Hummel is tied for the second-most appearances on the team (15) and has allowed just seven hits in 21.2 innings. Opponents are batting a scant .096 against him and he has struck out 31 against just seven walks, a K/9 rate of 12.88. He currently owns an earned run average of 1.25.