Springfield, Mo. -- Missouri State sophomore pitcher Tyler Burgess picked up another preseason honor Friday when the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association tabbed the left-hander for its initial 2013 Stopper of the Year Award watch list.  

Burgess was selected as a preseason second-team All-American by the NCBWA in December, and earned a preseason All-MVC nod from the league’s head coaches last week.

The Webb City, Mo., product served as the linchpin of the Bears' bullpen throughout his first collegiate season last spring, setting unprecedented standards for MSU rookie pitchers in the process while ranking second in the Valley and 30th nationally in saves. Overall, Burgess went 5-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 11 saves to lead the Bears' relief corps in 2012, notching a victory or a save in each of his first seven appearances without allowing an earned run to earn First-Team All-MVC honors and NCBWA National Stopper of the Year consideration. He surpassed fellow Bear Grant Gordon's freshman MSU saves record, finishing the campaign third on the Bears' single-season saves list, trailing only Dan Kickham (2011) and Shaun Marcum (2003), who share the school record with 13 saves.

A Freshman All-America choice of both Collegiate Baseball and the NCBWA, Burgess became just the fifth Bear to earn MVC Freshman of the Year honors, joining Ryan Howard (1999), Bob Zimmerman (2001), Brett Sinkbeil (2004), Kevin Medrano (2009) and Nick Petree (2011) on an exclusive list that now includes four Major League Baseball draftees, as well as a national collegiate player of the year honoree.

Coming off a 40-22 season and their first NCAA Regional appearance since 2003, the Bears will open the 2013 campaign next Friday (Feb. 15) against host Texas State at the CenturyLink Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas.

Bears’ season and single-game tickets for the 2013 campaign are on sale now through the MSU Athletics Box Office and may be obtained in person at the Chevy Pickup Window at JQH Arena, or by calling (417) 836-7678 or (417) 836-3302.