Hawai’i right-handed pitcher Hekili Robello was named to the National Collegiate Pitcher of the Year watch list, according to a March 11 announcement by the College Baseball Hall Of Fame.
Robello’s inclusion on the watch list highlights his strong performance during the first month of the season. He currently leads the Big West Conference with a 1.14 earned run average (ERA), recording 27 strikeouts and only three walks over 23.2 innings pitched. In four starts, Robello has achieved a perfect 3-0 record and a 1.01 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP), while limiting opposing hitters to a .228 batting average.
His pitching precision is notable both in conference and nationally. Robello ranks second in the Big West and thirty-sixth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 9.00, and he is also second in his league for both walks allowed per nine innings (1.14) and total wins.
Robello has delivered three quality starts this season, each time pitching at least six innings with seven or more strikeouts to secure victories in three out of four appearances. His debut for Hawai’i against Gonzaga on February 14 included seven strikeouts without any walks over six innings. He then struck out nine batters across six innings versus Wichita State, followed by seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts against Ball State on February 27.
Robello is one of six pitchers from the Big West Conference featured on this year’s watch list, alongside Ryder Brooks and Trevor Hansen from UC Irvine, Jackson Flora from UC Santa Barbara, Griffin Naess from Cal Poly, and Mikiah Negrete from Cal State Fullerton.
The recognition places Robello among top collegiate pitchers nationwide as he continues his season.
