Photo by: Joe Bray
Gillian And O'Brien Named To Stopper-Of-The-Year Watch List
February 17, 2022 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina seniors Gage Gillian and Caden O'Brien have been named to the 2022 Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) announced on Thursday.
The Tar Heels were one of seven programs to have multiple players named to the list. In all, 66 players were named to the initial watch list for the 17th annual Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.
Gillian arrived at Carolina in the fall of 2019 from Walters State College where he struck 106 batters in 70 inning pitched with a 1.93 ERA.
After making just six appearances in the COVID-19 shortened-season of 2020, he made 24 appearances and posted four saves and with a 2.34 ERA. Gillian tossed 50.0 innings with 49 strikeouts versus nine walks and held opposing hitters to a .203 batting average. The 6-foot-2 right hander averaged 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings with a 5.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He collected his fourth save of the year with two strikeouts in an inning of work against UCLA in the NCAA Lubbock Regional.
One of three Tar Heels that remain on the roster from the 2018 College World Series team, O'Brien made 21 appearances on the mound last year and finished the season with a 3-1 record and three saves, ranking second on the team in wins and saves.
The Maiden, N.C. native averaged 9.41 strikeouts per nine innings with a 2.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He pitched 36.1 innings with 38 strikeouts against 15 base on balls last season
The Tar Heels open the 2022 season with a three-game series against Seton Hall beginning Friday, February 18 at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Tar Heels were one of seven programs to have multiple players named to the list. In all, 66 players were named to the initial watch list for the 17th annual Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.
Gillian arrived at Carolina in the fall of 2019 from Walters State College where he struck 106 batters in 70 inning pitched with a 1.93 ERA.
After making just six appearances in the COVID-19 shortened-season of 2020, he made 24 appearances and posted four saves and with a 2.34 ERA. Gillian tossed 50.0 innings with 49 strikeouts versus nine walks and held opposing hitters to a .203 batting average. The 6-foot-2 right hander averaged 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings with a 5.4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He collected his fourth save of the year with two strikeouts in an inning of work against UCLA in the NCAA Lubbock Regional.
One of three Tar Heels that remain on the roster from the 2018 College World Series team, O'Brien made 21 appearances on the mound last year and finished the season with a 3-1 record and three saves, ranking second on the team in wins and saves.
The Maiden, N.C. native averaged 9.41 strikeouts per nine innings with a 2.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He pitched 36.1 innings with 38 strikeouts against 15 base on balls last season
The Tar Heels open the 2022 season with a three-game series against Seton Hall beginning Friday, February 18 at Boshamer Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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