Ohio State sophomore right-handed pitcher Trace Dempsey has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Associations' Stopper of the Year mid-season watch list. The mid-season watch list is comprised of 51 of the nation's top relief pitchers. Five finalists will be announce on June 5 before the ninth annual award be presented by the association to the nation's top relief pitcher during the 2013 College World Series.

Profiled last week, Dempsey has emerged as a lock-down stopper for the Buckeyes, the best in the Big Ten. Dempsey leads the conference in relief appearance (21) and games finished (19), carrying a 0.36 ERA over 25.1 innings in the 21 outings. Opponents are batting .143 of the product of second-year Buckeye, falling victim to 21 strikeouts.

Tops in the Big Ten, Dempsey's 11 saves rests tied for eighth nationally, seven behind the school and conference mark set by Jake Hale in 2009. Dempsey has pitched 23.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run in being the Big Ten's lone representative on the mid-season watch list.