LITTLE ROCK – Little Rock graduate pitcher
Aaron Barkley has been named to the 2021 Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List, announced by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Barkley has been a force out of the bullpen for Little Rock this season, boasting a Sun Belt-best 1.75 ERA with 45 strikeouts and just nine walks in 51.1 innings pitched. Barkley has been even more efficient in league play, registering a 1.40 ERA with five saves in 25.2 innings pitched.
Barkley is tied for the team lead in wins with six and has registered six saves on the season, tied for second in the league. His .198 opponent batting average is fourth in the Sun Belt as he has allowed just 10 earned runs on the seasons with nine walks, both of which are tied for the best in the league.
The El Cajon, California native has made his mark on the national rankings as well, sitting among the top-60 in six statistical categories. Barkley is 11th nationally in WHIP (0.86), 21st in ERA (1.75), 51st in saves (six), 55th in walks per nine innings (1.58) and 58th in hits per nine innings (6.14).
Barkley is one of three Sun Belt pitchers on the midseason watch list, joined by Georgia Southern's Nick Jones and Louisiana's Brandon Talley. The award is given each year to the nation's top reliever, with finalists announced on June 9 and the winner being named on June 19 at the 2021 College World Series.
Barkley and the rest of the Trojans return home this weekend for the final three games of the season at Gary Hogan Field, hosting Appalachian State. Game one is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Friday as Little Rock looks to help solidify its seeding heading into the Sun Belt Tournament in Montgomery, Alabama May 25-30.
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