DALLAS - Kennesaw State pitcher Daniel Powell was one of 104 players named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List on Tuesday, the association announced. The award is presented annually to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Powell, a junior from Roswell, Ga., took on an expanded role out of the KSU bullpen in 2025, leading the team with 26 appearances. The right-hander posted the fourth-lowest ERA on the staff (4.50) and third-best WHIP (1.27), while holding opposing hitters to a .209 batting average. Despite recording only one save on the season, Powell led all Conference USA relievers with seven wins, including a stretch of four consecutive winning decisions from April 19 to May 6, during which he allowed just three runs in 11.2 innings.
Powell becomes the first Owl to earn a spot on the Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List since Erich Stahl was selected prior to the 2017 season.
The complete NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List can be found by clicking HERE.
KSU opens its 2026 season at Mickey Dunn Stadium at Henssler Financial Field against Evansville at 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
