Alabama’s Carson Ozmer has been named a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year
Alabama’s baseball program has long prided itself on producing top-tier pitching talent, and in 2025, that tradition continues with Carson Ozmer, who has firmly etched his name into national conversation by being named a finalist for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year award. This prestigious accolade, annually given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball, recognizes not only dominance on the mound but also poise, consistency, and an ability to perform in the highest-pressure moments. For Ozmer, the recognition is more than just a personal milestone—it’s a testament to a season defined by relentless precision, unshakable confidence, and a quiet leadership that has anchored Alabama’s bullpen all year long.
As the college baseball season has unfolded, Ozmer’s performances have stood out across the nation. He has consistently delivered when called upon, whether entering games with slim leads, inherited runners, or facing the heart of opposing lineups. His numbers are a portrait of dominance. In a role that offers no room for error, he has carved out a remarkable earned run average, a strikeout-to-walk ratio that highlights his command, and a save tally that speaks to how frequently he was trusted to secure victory. But the numbers, impressive as they are, only tell part of the story. Ozmer has become a steadying presence for a Crimson Tide team that has battled through the gauntlet of SEC play and emerged as a contender with legitimate postseason aspirations. His development has mirrored the team’s rise, as his reliability has often spelled the difference between narrow defeat and hard-fought win.
What separates Ozmer from many of his peers isn’t just the results, but the way he achieves them. His pitching style blends intelligence and aggression. He attacks hitters with a fastball that rides late and a slider that disappears from the zone at the last second, both of which are executed with an economy of motion and ruthless efficiency. He rarely wastes pitches, and he never gives in. Watching Ozmer work the mound is to see a pitcher in complete control—not just of his repertoire, but of the tempo of the game itself. When he enters from the bullpen, there’s an undeniable shift in energy. The crowd senses it. The dugout responds. There’s a calm that descends over the Alabama defense, because they know who’s got the ball. For a closer, those intangible qualities are as important as velocity or movement, and Ozmer has them in spades.
His journey to this point hasn’t been without its challenges. Like most college athletes, Ozmer arrived at Alabama with talent, but also with plenty to learn. Early in his career, he had to adjust to the speed of the college game, refine his mechanics, and learn how to get elite hitters out consistently. That growth has come under the watchful eye of Alabama’s coaching staff, who saw in Ozmer not just a potential closer, but a future leader. The work he has put in between appearances—in bullpen sessions, in film rooms, in conditioning drills—has laid the foundation for his breakout year. Each step along the way has made him tougher, smarter, and more resilient. Now, as a junior, Ozmer has grown into the kind of player who thrives in the spotlight and craves the ball with the game on the line.
It is perhaps his mental approach that most distinguishes Ozmer. The closer’s role demands a unique psychology. There is no room for hesitation or doubt when you’re standing on the mound with a one-run lead and runners in scoring position. Ozmer has shown an elite capacity to manage pressure, to focus pitch-by-pitch, and to flush the past—whether good or bad. This season, even after rare moments of adversity, he has always bounced back stronger, sharpening his approach and refusing to let a single outing define him. That kind of mental toughness is rare, and it’s why he’s not only been effective, but consistent over the long grind of the season.
Ozmer’s impact stretches beyond his innings and save opportunities. He has become a mentor to younger pitchers, a trusted voice in the bullpen, and an emotional anchor for the entire team. While he’s not the most vocal player on the roster, his actions speak volumes. He leads by example, bringing the same intensity to early morning lifts as he does to ninth-inning situations. His teammates respect him not just for what he does in uniform, but for the discipline and humility he brings to every aspect of the program. In that sense, being a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year is as much about who he is as how he pitches.
For Alabama’s coaching staff, Ozmer has become an indispensable part of their strategy. Knowing they can hand the ball to someone who can shut down any lineup gives them confidence to be aggressive in earlier innings. It changes how they manage starters, how they use middle relievers, and how they approach late-game situations. Ozmer’s presence shortens games and forces opponents to play with urgency. That strategic advantage has helped Alabama stay in close contests and close out games that might have slipped away in years past. In the unforgiving world of SEC baseball, that margin is often the difference between contending and rebuilding.
The SEC, widely regarded as the most competitive conference in college baseball, has seen no shortage of elite arms. For Ozmer to rise above such stiff competition is a reflection of his performance under the brightest lights. Against top-tier programs like LSU, Arkansas, and Florida, he hasn’t blinked. In many of Alabama’s most important victories this season, Ozmer has recorded the final outs, sometimes dominating, sometimes grinding, but always finding a way to finish the job. That ability to execute in big moments has made him a player opposing coaches game-plan around and one that opposing fans fear.
Recognition from the NCBWA puts Ozmer in elite company. Past winners and finalists of the Stopper of the Year award have gone on to professional success, and there’s little doubt that Ozmer will be hearing his name called in the upcoming MLB Draft. Scouts love his poise, his arm action, and his ability to miss bats. But more than that, they love his makeup. He’s the kind of pitcher who can handle the rollercoaster of a professional career because he already understands what it takes to thrive when expectations are high and failure is never far away. For now, though, Ozmer’s focus remains firmly on the task at hand—helping Alabama make a deep postseason run and chasing a College World Series berth that would solidify his legacy in Tuscaloosa.
As the season winds toward its climax, the attention on Ozmer will only grow. With each appearance, each save opportunity, and each high-stakes outing, he continues to build his case not just as one of the best closers in the country, but as one of the most important players in college baseball. The honor of being named a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year is well-deserved and hard-earned. It reflects a season of sustained excellence, a role executed with rare precision, and a player who has risen to meet every challenge.
The journey, of course, isn’t finished. While the accolades are appreciated, Ozmer would be the first to tell you that his job isn’t done. He pitches with the urgency of someone who knows that every out matters, every inning is an opportunity, and every appearance could be the one that his team needs most. That mindset, above all, is why he’s become a cornerstone of Alabama’s season and a symbol of what makes college baseball so compelling—the drive, the heart, and the unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
In years to come, Alabama fans will look back on this season and remember the moments Carson Ozmer delivered. They’ll remember the strikeouts that ended rallies, the fastballs that blew by hitters, and the way he walked off the mound with the calm assurance of someone who had just done his job. They’ll remember how he made the final outs feel like a formality, how he took the tension out of tight games, and how he wore the closer’s role with pride and precision. And whether or not he ultimately takes home the Stopper of the Year trophy, he’s already earned something just as meaningful—the trust of his teammates, the respect of his opponents, and a permanent place in Alabama baseball history.
