The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 3 Baseball trio land on NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award preseason watch list
02.10.2026 | Baseball
Longhorns are one of three SEC programs with a co-nation’s best three honorees
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas standouts Thomas Burns, Max Grubbs and Cal Higgins were selected to the preseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Longhorns are one of three Southeastern Conference programs with a co-nation's best three honorees, joining Arkansas and Tennessee.
The complete list can be viewed HERE.
Among hurlers who threw at least 25 innings, Burns posted a team-best 13.5 K/9 in his debut campaign on The Forty Acres.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-hander registered 40 strikeouts across 26 2/3 frames, holding opposing hitters to a .185.
Burns posted a 1-2 ledger with a 3.71 ERA and four saves over 19 appearances.
A 2024 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention, Grubbs totaled a 6-2 record with a 2.84 ERA and five saves as a key reliever for the Longhorns last season.
The Arlington, Texas, native punched out 61 batters and issued 14 walks in 57 innings.
Grubbs limited opponents to a .238 batting average.
A transfer from Western Kentucky, Higgins notched a 1.87 ERA, which marked the fourth-best nationally (min. 40 innings).
The ABCA/Rawlings Midwest All-Region Second Team pick collected six saves and mounted 52 strikeouts across 43 1/3 frames.
Higgins held opposing batters to a .190 clip over a co-team-leading 22 appearances.
