ORLANDO – A pair of UCF baseball right-handed relief pitchers have been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List in Chandler Dorsey and Evan Jones.
Both Dorsey and Jones are new to the Knights this season, as Dorsey is a senior transfer from LSU while Jones is a redshirt junior from Western Kentucky.
In all, 104 players have been named to the initial 2026 Watch List for the 21st Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award. The award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball.
A season ago in Baton Rouge, Dorsey posted an ERA just over five over 5.0 innings of work. He struck out four and tossed scoreless outings in three of his five appearances to help the Tigers claim the 2025 National Championship. During his sophomore campaign at South Florida, he had a stellar season in which he went 2-1 with eight saves and a 3.60 ERA. Over 30.0 innings of work that season, the 6-4 right-hander struck out 41 batters and limited opposing hitters to a .180 average.
During the 2025 season at WKU, Jones compiled a 1-1 record with four saves and a 3.18 ERA. He also limited opposing hitters to a .227 average in 11.1 innings of work. Over 14 appearances, he tossed 10 scoreless outings which included a stretch that spanned over seven consecutive games.
Both Dorsey and Jones are expected to be high leverage end-of-game type relievers for the Black and Gold in 2026.
The Southeastern Conference led all leagues with 17 players named to this year’s watch list. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten Conference followed with 13 selections each, while the Big 12 placed nine players on the list and the Sun Belt added seven.
Dorsey, Jones and the Knights will officially open the 2026 season on Friday, Feb. 13, with Opening Knight against Siena at 6 p.m. at John Euliano Park. The matchup kicks off a three‑game weekend series and marks the Black and Gold’s first of 30 home contests in 2026.
Tickets
UCF baseball season tickets and anytime tickets are on sale now! Lock in your seats for every home game starting at just $100. Group options and single-game tickets are also available by visiting ucfknights.com/tickets.
About UCF Athletics
UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida's preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as "Orlando's Hometown Team". To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.ecu and www.ucfknights.com.
About the NCBWA
The NCBWA, founded in 1962, presents the Dick Howser Trophy to the nation's top player and the Mike Martin National Coach of the Year to the nation's top coach. It also selects All-America Teams for all Divisions, a Division I Freshman All-American team, Division I, II and III Players of the Week and Division I, II and III Players of the Year.
