A total of 142 of the nation's best are listed on the Pitcher of the Year watch list, released on Wednesday. The pitchers on the watch list represent 26 different conferences and reflect the top mound performers to this point of the 2026 season. 

The National Pitcher of the Year Award was first awarded in 2009. Previous winners of the award are Stephen Strasburg, RHP, San Diego State, 2009; Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State, 2010; Trevor Bauer, UCLA, RHP, 2011; Mark Appel, RHP, Stanford, 2012; Jonathan Gray, RHP, Oklahoma, 2013; Aaron Nola, RHP, LSU, 2014; Carson Fulmer, RHP, Vanderbilt, 2015; Eric Lauer, LHP, Kent State, 2016; Steven Gingery, LHP, Texas Tech, 2017; Luke Heimlich, LHP, Oregon State, 2018; Ethan Small, LHP, Mississippi State, 2019; Kevin Kopps, RHP, Arkansas, 2021; Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State, 2022; Paul Skenes, RHP, LSU, 2023; Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas, 2024 and Jake Knapp, RHP, North Carolina, 2025. 

Bryce Riggs was named to the 2026 Pitcher of the Year Watch List. The junior from Cicero, Ind., has been dominant to start the season for the Panthers. In 22.2 innings of work, Riggs has allowed only three earned runs and struck out 23 batters. Last time out, he threw six scoreless innings, striking out seven. In his 2026 debut, he threw a complete game shutout against Florida A&M with six strikeouts.  

Riggs is first in the OVC in opponent batting average, holding hitters to a .132. Nationally, Riggs are tied for first in complete games and 22nd in hits allowed per nine innings at 3.97.  

Last season, Riggs finished the season with a 2.30 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 47 innings of work as a relief pitcher.  

For more information on the National Pitcher of the Year Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at College Baseball Foundation.