UC San Diego reliever Izaak Martinez has been named a semifinalist for 2024 National Pitcher of the Year.
Martinez is one of 14 hurlers named to the watch list, announced by the College Baseball Foundation, and one of two pitchers from the Big West.
The left-hander has added to his growing list of accolades, after earning a spot on the Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalists list. He was also part of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year midseason watch list, which recognizes the best relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball.
The Glendora native served as the Tritons’ closer in his fifth season, leading the Big West in earned run average, opponent batting average and saves for the majority of the campaign.
Martinez also spent multiple weeks atop the nation in ERA and currently ranks second overall with a 1.85 ERA.
He led the Tritons with 25 appearances out of the bullpen, collecting 61 strikeouts in 63.1 innings of work. He ranks first in the Big West in hits allowed (40), runs allowed (16), earned runs allowed (13), doubles allowed (5), home runs allowed (1) and second in saves (9).
Opponents hit .183 against him this season, which ranks third in the conference.
Nick Pinto of UC Irvine, with nine victories this year, is the other finalist from the Big West.