Western Kentucky relief pitcher Mason Burns earned First Team All-Midwest Region honors, the American Baseball Coaches Association announced on Tuesday.

Burns is the second Hilltopper and first pitcher in program history selected to an All-Midwest Region team and is the first player to be awarded first-team honors.

The senior closer finished off a historic 2024 campaign as the go-to guy out of the Hilltopper bullpen following an outstanding junior season in 2023. The right-hander’s 15 saves marked the most in a single season in program history, breaking the record previously held by Ian Thompkins, who had 14 in the 2014 season. His 19 career saves are the second-most by a Hilltopper pitcher in program history. Overall, the Bloomington, Illinois native held a 3-3 record with 52 strikeouts in 32 innings and a 4.00 ERA.

Following the 2024 season, Burns was seen as one of the elite relief pitchers in college baseball as he was selected to the NCBWA All-American Third Team while also being recognized as a finalist for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, an award given annually to the top relief pitcher in Division I baseball.