Sophomore Mathew Troupe was named to the mid-season watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award.

Troupe was one of 51 players named to the watch list award, which is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division 1 baseball.

Troupe (3-0) currently posts a 2.67 earned run average in 20 appearances so far this season. His nine saves rank him No. 19 in the country and third among all closers in the Pac-12 Conference. Troupe has contained opposing hitters to an average of .167.

The right-hander has 15 career saves, which ties him for third all-time in Arizona baseball history. Jason Stoffel (2007-09) is the all-time Wildcat leader in saves with 29. Stoffel currently is in the Houston Astros organization.

Following his graduation from Chaminade College Prep in West Hills, Calif., Troupe was drafted in the 17th round (539 overall) by the New York Yankees, but chose to join the Wildcats to be a potential starter.

However, as the season progressed, Troupe moved to the bullpen and eventually became the closer at the end of his freshman season.

In his career, Troupe has 44 career appearances with a 9-1 record and a 3.13 ERA. Troupe has posted an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio with 83 strikeouts and only 33 walks in his 63.1 career innings of work.

Troupe has a tendency to make things exciting in the ninth inning before closing the game out, but he has yet to blow a save this season. He came close at Washington State, allowing three earned runs in 0.1 innings of work.

All that happened, though, was a save by fellow reliever Tyger Talley.

Troupe was one of four Pac-12 closers to be named to the watch list. UCLA’s David Berg, Oregon’s Jimmie Sherfy and Oregon State’s Scott Schultz joined Troupe in representing the conference.

Arizona (25-14, 9-9 Pac-12) is returning to Hi Corbett Field this weekend as it hosts Alabama State in a three-game nonconference bout.