DALLAS – UCF senior right-handed relief pitchers Kyle Kramer and Najer Victor have both been named to the 2024 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List, as announced by the association on Wednesday.
The sixth-year senior Kramer has led the Knights in saves over each of the past two seasons with six in 2022 and eight in 2023. His 14 saves at UCF are good enough to rank him sixth in the program’s record books. A season ago, he also tied for the team lead in wins with six (6-2), posted a 3.96 ERA, and struck out 60 batters in 38.2 innings. Kramer was previously named to the NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch List as well as preseason all-conference last year.
The senior Victor too was tabbed to NCBWA’s Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List after having a strong 2023 campaign in which he went 3-1 with a team-best 2.88 ERA and one save. He also fanned 50 batters over 34.1 innings and limited opposing hitters to just a .218 average. Earlier this preseason, he was named No. 19 on D1Baseball’s Preseason Top 50 Relief Pitchers List.
Kramer and Victor are also team captains for the Black and Gold this season, as they make up two of UCF’s 2024 team captains.
In all, 73 pitchers were named to the 2024 NCBWA Preseason Stopper of the Year Watch List. The Southeastern Conference led the way with the most representatives with 12 players finding their names on the watch list. The Atlantic Coast Conference followed with 10, while the Big 12 and Big Ten each had six and the Pac-12 had five.
Of the initial 73 members, 12 were featured on last year's midseason watch list. In total, 21 conferences are represented on this list, with at least two players coming from 16 different leagues.
The Knights will officially open their 2024 campaign by hosting Bryant for a three-game series Friday to Sunday at John Euliano Park. Opening Knight is set for 6 p.m. on Friday and will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.