Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — February | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2019-20
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior Grant Leonard has been named to the initial National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Watch List, it was announced Monday by the NCBWA. The honor will be presented to the top relief pitcher in Division I collegiate baseball.
Leonard is one of 70 players from across the country and six players from the Big Ten Conference named to the watch list. It is the second straight season Leonard has appeared on the list, and he made the cut to the midseason list a season ago.
The Mokena, Illinois, native has been named a preseason All-American by two publications this spring. He was selected as a second-team preseason All-American by the NCBWA last week and was tabbed as a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball in December.
As a junior, Leonard set a school record with 14 saves in 14 chances. He finished the season with a 2-3 record and 3.37 ERA over 34 2/3 innings en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors. The right-hander finished his junior season ranked second in the Big Ten in saves and 10th in appearances (28).
Leonard enters his senior season with 16 career saves, which are the fifth most in school history.
The Hawkeyes open the 2020 season Friday at the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida, against Kent State.
