University of South Carolina junior pitcher Josh Gunther has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Watch List, according to an announcement made on Tuesday, February 10. The Stopper of the Year Award recognizes the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
Gunther joined South Carolina after spending two seasons with Wake Forest. Last season, he recorded six saves, a 3.41 earned run average, and 47 strikeouts over 29 innings pitched. Opposing batters hit just .194 against him, and he allowed only one extra-base hit during the 2025 season. In 2024, Gunther made 28 appearances and struck out 38 batters in 31.1 innings.
The NCBWA’s Stopper of the Year Watch List includes 104 relief pitchers from Division I programs.
South Carolina will begin its 2026 baseball season on Friday, February 13, hosting Northern Kentucky for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., with streaming available on SEC Network Plus.
