DALLAS (JMU Athletics) – James Madison senior Max Kuhle was one of 104 players named to the initial 2026 Watch List for the 21st Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, the association announced Tuesday.

The award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, as Kuhle was one of seven players representing the Sun Belt on the preseason list.

Kuhle made 19 appearances on the mound last season with 14 coming out of the bullpen. He pitched to a 4.02 ERA with a 2-4 record and three saves. The Virginia Beach, Va. native logged 56.0 innings pitched while striking out 62 batters for nearly a 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

— JMU Athletics —