STARKVILLE – Spencer Price received a significant appraisal ahead of the 2021 season as the reliever was named to the initial watch list for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year award on Friday (Feb. 19), the prize given annually to the top reliever in college baseball.
Among 45 student-athletes to make the list, Price is one of 10 SEC relievers to be picked. The midseason watch list will be announced on Wednesday, April 28.
Price pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings over eight appearances during the abbreviated 2020 season. He closed the campaign out with SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after earning a save in both games of MSU’s midweek sweep of No. 2 Texas Tech on March 10-11.
The Olive Branch, Mississippi, native ranks tied for No. 7 on the career saves chart (16) with Bryan Hardwick (1979-80, 82) and former teammate Cole Gordon(2016-19).
Price and the Diamond Dawgs begin their season Saturday (Feb. 20) with an 11 a.m. matchup against Texas to kick off the State College Baseball Classic at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, the home of the Texas Rangers.