@MizzouBaseball’s Sikkema Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List
2/12/2018 12:30:00 PM | Baseball
Sikkema is up for honor that goes to nation’s top reliever
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) earned a spot on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) Preseason Stopper of the Year Award Watch List, announced Monday (Feb. 12). Sikkema is coming off a tremendous freshman season during which he went 8-2 in 22 appearances, compiling a 2.72 ERA with four saves. His 0.88 WHIP was second among all freshmen nationally, while his 5.90 hits per nine innings was the nation's 18th-best mark. This is Sikkema's second major preseason honor after earning Second Team All-America status from PerfectGame.org back in January.
Sikkema was twice named SEC Freshman of the Week last year and was an All-SEC Freshman Team selection. His eight wins are tied for the most ever by a Mizzou true freshman (Tanner Houck and Kyle Gibson). He led the SEC in WHIP and hits allowed per nine innings and was used in a variety of different roles, both out of the bullpen and as a starter. At one point last year, Sikkema had a streak of 29.2 innings without an earned run, striking out 48 while allowing just 16 hits in that span.
Expected to be the centerpiece of one of the nation's top pitching staffs, Sikkema gives the Tigers and head coach Steve Bieser an elite pitcher that can be used in all situations.
Sikkema and Mizzou will open 2018 on Feb. 16 in Miami, Fla., against Florida International. For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (Mizzou Baseball).
