DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis right-hander Rowen Barnes has been named to the midseason watch list for the 21st annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Award.

Barnes is one of 61 relief pitchers nationally to earn a spot on the midseason list, which recognizes the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. He is one of two Big West Conference representatives on the watch list.

The graduate student from Atherton, Calif., has been one of the most dominant relievers in the conference this season. In 18 appearances, Barnes has posted a 1.13 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP with a 2-0 record and seven saves. Opponents are hitting just .193 against him, and he has struck out 22 batters while walking just eight.

Barnes' steadiness out of the bullpen has been critical for the Aggies throughout the 2026 season. He has allowed earned runs in just three of his 18 outings, holding opponents scoreless in 15 appearances. His longest outing came April 19 against CSUN, when he tossed 3.0 innings of one-hit, shutout ball.

The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 3, with the winner being named on Friday, June 12, at the 2026 Men's College World Series.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.