After a shutdown start to the season on the mound in 2026, New Mexico RHP Ryan Castillo has been named to the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Watch List, the organization announced Wednesday.
The junior righty is one of just 142 pitchers to make the cut for the list, which represents 26 different conferences and reflect the top mound performers to this point of the 2026 season.
For more information on the National Pitcher of the Year Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
Castillo has taken a major step forward on the mound in 2026, going 3–1 with a 2.78 ERA over four starts while striking out 28 batters in 22.2 innings and holding opponents to a .171 batting average. He struck out a career-high 10 batters in six innings vs. Tarleton State, improving his average to 11.12 K/9 innings.
It’s been quite the breakout season for the junior and Los Lunas native, who posted a 11.95 ERA in 2024 and an 8.65 ERA in 2025 while allowing opponents to hit .402 and .354, respectively. In 2026, Castillo has nearly cut his career ERA in half this season while lowering his WHIP to 0.97 and recording 28 strikeouts after totaling 61 over his first two seasons combined.