DALLAS, Texas (February 14, 2024) – Washington State redshirt-senior pitcher Chase Grillo was named to the 2024 NCBWA DI Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced Wednesday.
 
Seventy-three players were 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. Nominees were submitted by the institution or conference Sports Information Directors.
 
Grillo was named to the same watch list prior to last season and was later named to the Midseason Watch List after recording a team-high six saves, tied for seventh in the Pac-12 Conference. The righthander from Kennewick, Wash. recorded 31 strikeouts in 18.2 innings over 24 appearances and tallied notable saves at UC San Diego, both wins at No. 15 Oregon State and closed out the series-clinching win over Arizona. In the classroom, Grillo earned Academic All-District honors after posting a 3.74 GPA while graduating with a bachelor's degree in social sciences.
 
Of the initial 73 members, 12 were featured on last year's midseason watch list. In total, 21 conferences are represented on this list, with at least two players coming from 16 different leagues.
 
Texas hurler J. Brent Cox won the inaugural Stopper of the Year Award in 2005, with Don Czyz of Kansas claiming the honor in 2006 and Luke Prihoda of Sam Houston State winning it in 2007. Georgia's Joshua Fields topped the field in 2008, San Diego State's Addison Reed grabbed the honor in 2009 and Texas' Chance Ruffin earned the honor in 2010. The Longhorns' Corey Knebel won in 2011, with Southeastern Louisiana's Stefan Lopez picking up the honor in 2012. UCLA's David Berg was crowned the winner in 2013, Louisville's Nick Burdi took home the 2014 honor, and Berg became the award's first two-time winner in 2015. Miami (Fla.)' s Bryan Garcia was honored as the 2016 recipient, followed the Cardinal's Lincoln Henzman in 2017, Florida's Michael Byrne in 2018, UCLA's Holden Powell in 2019, Arkansas' Kevin Kopps in 2021 and Texas State's Tristan Stivors in 2022. Oral Roberts closer Cade Denton collected the honor in 2023.
 
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player and the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year to the nation's top coach. 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.