GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Missouri State senior pitcher Bryan Young was one of 60 players named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's initial watch list for its 2017 Stopper of the Year Award, given annually to the top relief pitchers in NCAA Division I baseball, the organization announced Monday.

A 2017 preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, Young is coming off one of the more dominant two-year stretches ever produced by a Bears reliever. He became Missouri State's 10th first-team All-American after setting a school record with 16 saves in 2015. The right-hander led the MVC and ranked third nationally in saves, while logging a perfect 7-0 record and a 1.30 earned run average. The MSU closer earned first-team All-America recognition from the NCBWA, as well as third-team honors from both Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball at the conclusion of the season. 

Young, who was one of five finalists for the 2015 NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, picked up right where he left off as a sophomore, logging a 1.31 earned run average, while saving 11 games in his 24 mound appearances last season. The Kansas City, Mo., native owns the MSU career saves record with 27 and enters the 2017 campaign second on the Bears' all-time ERA list (1.74). 

The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I and III Players of the Week, Division I District Players of the Year and Division III Players of the Year.

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 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.