Mississippi State Pitcher Tomas Valincius Named Semifinalist for National Pitcher of the Year

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State University sophomore pitcher Tomas Valincius has been named a semifinalist for the National Pitcher of the Year Award, the College Baseball Foundation and the College Baseball Hall of Fame announced Wednesday.

Valincius, a left-hander from Lockport, Illinois, has made 10 starts this season, posting a 7-1 record. He has a 1.81 earned run average with 83 strikeouts and 13 walks in 59 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters are batting .195 against him, according to the school.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound pitcher ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in ERA among qualified pitchers and is tied for second in strikeouts in the conference, the university said. He is one of 43 semifinalists for the award. Past MSU winners include Ethan Small, who was named the national pitcher of the year in 2019, and Chris Stratton, who was a semifinalist in 2012.

The College Baseball Foundation’s list includes players from various schools and conferences. Valincius’s selection highlights his standout performance this season as Mississippi State competes nationally.

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