SEC Baseball Recruiting: Top Players To Know For Every 2025 Class

Alabama

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 9th

Alabama last year made a regional for the third-straight season—a feat not accomplished since 2008-2010—and coach Rob Vaughn again has a roster that’s capable of a deep tournament run.

Righthander Myles Upchurch is the most talented of the bunch thanks to an intriguing blend of athleticism and arm strength. His heater has been up to 95 mph, and he also features a sharp mid-80s slider, a curveball that will sometimes blend with his slider and a changeup that has a chance to be a fine fourth offering. Upchurch got touched up a bit this spring, but he has a chance to blossom under Alabama’s coaching staff and player development.

Mammoth third baseman Caleb Barnett has huge raw power, but there are hit tool questions due to his long levers and operation getting long and out-of-sync at times. Barnett’s above-average arm plays nicely at third, though he’s not the most fleet of foot and could end up in the outfield when all is said and done.

Speaking of thunderous power, Eric Hines has comfortably plus power to the pull side and was able to tap into said power on a regular basis last spring.

The freshman hitter who’s turned the most heads this fall is Will Rhine. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, the switch-hitting infielder certainly looks the part. He has a hitterish look in the box—particularly from the left side—where he has a rhythmic swing. Rhine has consistently generated quality contact this fall, and he has power upside remaining. Between his offensive ability and defensive versatility, Rhine is on track to earning a meaningful role in 2026.

While he wasn’t the most prominently-ranked recruit in Alabama’s class, lefthander Luke Smyers has a chance to make an immediate impact on the bump. A 6-foot-3 southpaw, Smyers’ pitchability is advanced, and he has a strong track record of commanding the baseball. He has an easy, repeatable operation and is consistently in the strike zone with his low-90s fastball and slurvy breaking ball. Smyers ties his arsenal together with an upper-70s-to-low-80s changeup that’s a solid weapon against righthanded hitters.

Arkansas

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 5th

Arkansas has been to the College World Series twice in the last four years. While last season ended in gut-wrenching fashion, the Razorbacks reloaded both via the portal and by bringing in another high-quality recruiting class.

Infielder and righthanded pitcher Carson Brumbaugh is one of the class’ headliners, and he’s already off to a fast start this fall. He has no-doubt plus bat speed and plus raw power, while on the dirt he has a plus arm. Brumbaugh has fared well at shortstop to this point, though his actions might translate better over at third base. On the bump, Brumbaugh has been up to 96 mph to go along with a solid low-80s slider and a firmer upper-80s changeup. Brumbaugh projects as a position player long term, though I’d expect him to log a handful of innings throughout his time at Arkansas.

Fellow infielder Landon Schaefer has a lean, athletic frame and certainly looks the part. His hit tool will need a couple coats of polish, and his load is on the noisier side, but he has plenty of bat speed and exciting power potential—especially to the pull side. Schaefer has enough arm strength to handle shortstop, but, like Brumbaugh, he could move off the position at some point.

Six-foot-five righthander Jordan Martin is the top pitching recruit for coach Dave Van Horn and his staff, and he deploys a lively fastball that’s been up to 96 mph as well as a slurvy slider. Its shape plays, but it lacks teeth. He rounds out his three-pitch mix with a low-80s changeup, though it’s a distant third offering. Martin is on the raw side, but his arm strength, athleticism and upside are all appealing.

Auburn

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 10th

Following a down year in 2024 in which it failed to make the tournament for the first time since 2019, Auburn returned to form last season and returned to a super regional for the first time since 2022. Rather than being a flash in the pan, the Tigers are well-positioned for a period of sustained success.

The center pieces of Auburn’s 2025 class are righthanders Justice De Jong and Ethin Bingaman. De Jong has an athletic delivery and is an advanced strike-thrower who features a low-90s fastball that was up to 95 mph, a high-spin curveball and a not-as-sharp high-70s-to-low-80s slider. De Jong’s pitchability gives him a chance to start, though both of his secondaries will need to take a step forward.

A two-way player in high school, Bingaman profiles best as an arm long term. His fastball sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph. It plays well in the top half of the zone—where it generates the majority of its whiffs—thanks to its riding life. Bingaman’s upper-70s-to-low-80s curveball is a high-spin pitch that takes on a 12-to-6 shape, and he completes his arsenal with an upper-80s changeup. In the box, Bingaman has a strong swing from the right side.

Shortstop Ty Thompson presents an athletic look on both sides of the baseball. He’s an aggressive hitter with above-average contact skills who fares particularly well against heaters. On the dirt, Thompson’s a plus runner with enough arm strength to potentially stick at shortstop long term. With Ryne Farber and Chris Rembert making up the middle of Auburn’s infield in 2026, it will be interesting to see where Thompson factors in. Regardless, he could be in line for a prominent role as soon as 2027.

Florida

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 12th

Like its Sunshine State counterpart Miami, Florida’s outlook in early April also looked bleak and it looked as if it would miss the tournament for the first time since 2007. However, the Gators’ sweep of Missouri served as a “get right” series and it proceeded to win each of their last six SEC series. With coach Kevin O’Sullivan announcing a leave of absence from the team, Florida will want more than ever for 2026 to be less stressful than this past spring, and they have the personnel to accomplish that and then some.

Minjae Seo is the Gators’ highest-ranked recruit. The slightly-undersized righthander features a low-90s fastball, though its shape and movement profile allow the pitch to play up. Seo’s high-70s slider has a slurvy look, and it flashes above-average with more sweep than depth at times. He throws his low-80s changeup sparingly, and he’ll need to improve his command and control to stick in the rotation long term.

The centerpiece of the Gators’ position player group is shortstop Nicolas Partridge. A lean, wiry infielder, Partridge has a direct swing and hitterish look in the box with an advanced approach. An undoubtedly hit-over-power profile right now, he’s also flashed some sneaky thump to the pull side. However, Partridge will need to put on a considerable amount of strength to be an average power threat. He will get a chance to stick at shortstop, but his actions and arm strength could profile better at second base.

Georgia

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 21st

While Georgia has not made the College World Series since 2008, this year’s portal class certainly gives the Bulldogs Omaha upside in 2026. The Bulldogs boast the No. 1 Newcomer Class in the country due in large part to their transfer portal haul, though there are also a few high-profile freshmen that figure to leave their mark on the program.

Starting on the mound, the 6-foot-5 Joe Nottingham is a projection righthander whose fastball has been up to 95 mph with life through the zone. He pairs his heater primarily with an upper-70s-to-low-80s slider that will occasionally flash above-average, though it’s more slurvy in shape when it’s on the lower end of the aforementioned velocity range. Nottingham’s changeup also sits in the upper 70s/low 80s and could be a viable third offering. While Nottingham’s pitchability will need to take a step forward and there are some pieces to clean up in his delivery, he has an intriguing foundation in place.

Righthander Dylan Wood also has his fair share of delivery deception to go along with a loud pitch mix. While there are plenty of moving parts in his operation, Wood still manages to do a nice job commanding his low-90s fastball. It’s not overwhelming from a velocity standpoint, but Wood’s release traits and ability to command the pitch help it play up a bit. Wood’s mid-to-upper-70s curveball is inconsistent in shape, and he ties together his arsenal with a low-70s changeup that flashes plenty of tumble.

On the other side of the baseball, Ty Peeples is a lean, athletic outfielder with room to add physicality. He has a smooth lefthanded stroke with above-average bat speed and above-average or better raw power. Peeples has shown he can ambush mistakes in the zone and hammer them to his pull side, but his lack of bat-to-ball skills give reason for pause. Defensively, he projects best in a corner outfield spot.

Fellow outfielder William Johnson has a hit-over-power profile and a clean swing from the left side. He has a rather lengthy track record and stands out for his bat-to-ball skills and sound approach. Johnson roved center field in high school, but he’ll likely move off the position in college. Furthermore, his arm strength and overall defensive package could profile best in right field.

Kentucky

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: NR

The Wildcats in 2025 couldn’t quite replicate the success of back-to-back super regional appearances, but they did make the tournament for the third-straight year for the first time in program history. Coach Nick Mingione has turned the Wildcats into a perennial contender and, after breaking down the door to Omaha for the first time in program history in 2024, the “Bat Cats” are hungry for more.

While Kentucky has a knack for faring well in the transfer portal, it also recruits at a high level. Lefthanded hitting outfielder Braxton Van Cleave has an exciting toolset. He fits into the “tools over performance” bucket right now, but he has big-time bat speed to go along with present strength and projection remaining. He also consistently turns in above-average run times. A torn UCL and subsequent Tommy John surgery robbed Van Cleave of his senior high school season, but he still has a chance to earn meaningful at-bats this spring.

While we’re on the subject of tools, catcher Owen Jenkins shows the ability to impact the game in a number of different ways. He has thunderous bat speed and above-average raw power, though his hit tool needs a coat or two of polish. Behind the plate, he has a plus arm, and his throws consistently carry through the base. As a cherry on top, Jenkins has also turned in above-average run times.

LSU

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 3rd

LSU is one of very few programs—perhaps the only program—that is flat-out dominant across every facet of the game. Coach Jay Johnson and his staff routinely put together premier portal and recruiting classes and do an outstanding job of developing the talent they bring in. The result? Two national championships in the last three seasons. Johnson has cultivated an environment in which there is an unbelievable amount of success at both the team and individual level, and that figures to continue so long as he’s at the helm.

This year’s group of incoming freshmen is par for the course, and the Tigers again boast a top-three recruiting class. LSU’s draft wins started when prized catcher Omar Serna withdrew his name in the weeks leading up to draft day. At 6-foot-2 and 225-pounds, Serna is plenty physical, and both his arm strength and raw power grade out as plus. In fact, his arm is closer to double-plus than it is plus. Serna has tons of bat speed and is more than capable of driving the baseball with authority to all fields. His hit tool could use a coat of polish, and he’ll need to continue to work on his actions behind the plate, but Serna will have top two-round upside coming out of LSU.

Outfielder William Patrick fits the description of a “tool shed” to a tee. A multi-sport athlete in high school, Patrick also played football and ran track. There’s no shortage of present strength in his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, and he has big-time hand speed in the box. While his hit tool lacks polish, he has a chance to develop into plus power. Patrick’s loudest, most explosive tool is his speed. He’s a double-plus runner whose speed and athleticism allows him to cover ample ground on the grass, and he has the makings of an above-average center fielder. If Patrick’s toolset wasn’t dynamic enough, he also boasts a plus arm. He has the ability to impact the game in myriad ways, and he figures to do exactly that during his time at LSU.

Righthander Marcos Paz is a bit of a wild card. Paz had Tommy John surgery in 2024 which kept him on the shelf until this past June, but he showed well at the draft combine. Paz’s fastball was up to 95 mph, and he has an easy, repeatable delivery. His mid-80s slider has plus potential and is his best pitch, routinely spinning in the 2,800-2,900 rpm range. Paz rounds out his arsenal with a mid-to-high-80s changeup that looks the part of a solid third offering.

Fellow righthander Reagan Ricken is also a name to circle. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Ricken has a prototypical pitcher’s frame and is an advanced athlete. He’s cleaned up his operation over the last calendar year, and he features a fastball that has been into the mid 90s with armside life to go along with a mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball. Both of Ricken’s offspeed offerings have the chance to be effective, and he rounds out his arsenal with a high-80s changeup that could be a fine fourth pitch. Ricken is a moldable ball of clay, and it will be exciting to watch his development under the guidance of pitching coach Nate Yeskie.

Mississippi State

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 6th

It was announced soon after Mississippi State’s season concluded that coach Brian O’Connor would be the new head man for the Bulldogs. It was an outstanding hire, and O’Connor and his staff got right to work.

The headlining name here is a biggie, as 6-foot-4 lefthander Jack Bauer is not only Mississippi State’s top recruit, but also one of the top incoming freshmen in the country. Bauer made waves last spring after becoming the hardest-throwing prep lefthander of all-time after touching 102, but he’s not a one-trick pony. 

On top of his thunderous heater, Bauer routinely spins his sharp breaking ball in the 3,000 rpm range. He is a bit of a spray gun and his lack of control has prevented him from pitching deep into games, but initial reports out of Starkville this fall have been glowing. If Bauer can compete in and around the zone on a consistent basis while flashing his premium stuff, he very well could be a first-round pick when he’s next eligible. Bauer’s pure arm talent and upside are beyond tantalizing, and he profiles as one of the most exciting freshmen in college baseball this spring.

The brother of 2025 eighth-overall pick JoJo Parker, Jacob Parker is a physical lefthanded hitter with a pro body. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds and shows plus raw power. Parker gets to his impact without much effort, though there are some questions about the caliber of pure hitter he’s going to be. An above-average runner with an above-average arm, Parker’s entire body of work profiles best in right field.

Righthander Parker Rhodes was a helium name this spring. He deploys a pair of fastball shapes—both of which have been into the mid 90s—as well as a high-spin, low-80s breaking ball and a mid-80s changeup with which he does a nice job of killing spin.

Missouri

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: NR

It’s been tough sledding throughout the first two seasons of the coach Kerrick Jackson’s tenure, as Missouri combined to win just 12 conference games between 2024 and 2025. Last year was a particularly difficult season for the Tigers, who won only three SEC games (thanks to a sweep of a reeling Texas A&M club).

However, the last two seasons are now in the rearview mirror, and Missouri heads into 2026 with a renewed sense of optimism. Hiring former Virginia pitching coach Drew Dickinson—who’s also a high-level recruiter—for the same role was a key offseason move, and Missouri has a couple of intriguing freshmen on which to keep a close eye.

Initially committed to Virginia, Sam Rosand is a physical righthander who has turned heads this fall. He has an appealing blend of strikes and stuff, and he looks the part of an arm who will make an immediate contribution to the pitching staff. Fellow righthander JD Dohrmann’s fastball has been up to 92 mph, and his combination of arm speed and remaining projection make for a solid foundation. Last but certainly not least, Richie Swain has high-octane stuff but will need to add polish in the pitchability department. 

Oklahoma

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 18th

Coach Skip Johnson and the Sooners are fresh off another successful season that culminated in their fourth-straight tournament appearance. While it’s advanced to a super regional just once since 2013, it feels like Oklahoma is on the cusp of a return trip to the College World Series.

From a pure athlete standpoint, Alec Blair was one of the best in the 2025 class. On top of his ability on the diamond, he was also a four-star basketball recruit and is slated to play both sports at Oklahoma. While his swing can get out of sync and isn’t the most fluid looking, Blair’s power upside is monstrous. If he fills out physically, there’s a chance he grows into true plus power before too long. For someone of his size, Blair moves quite well and has turned in plus run times. His length, athleticism and speed allow him to cover plenty of ground in center field, though if he were to move off the position, it will likely be to left field given his fringy arm.

The centerpiece on the mound is Vaughn Neckar. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Neckar filled out physically with no shortage of strength in his lower half. His pure stuff is loud, but his delivery requires some effort, and his command can be scattered. Neckar’s cut-ride heater has been into the mid 90s, while his two distinct breaking balls—a low-80s slider and an upper-70s curveball—have both shown the ability to generate empty swings. 

Ole Miss

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 19th

Ole Miss failed to make a regional in both 2023 and 2024, so it goes without saying how big its 2025 return to form was for the program. Coach Mike Bianco and his players did an outstanding job of blocking out the noise and winning 43 games en route to hosting a regional. While they were eliminated by Murray State, the 2025 season was far more indicative of Ole Miss’ identity than 2023 or 2024 were.

In what’s become the norm under Bianco, Ole Miss again has a quality recruiting class. 6-foot-4 righthander Blake Ilitch presents a physical look on the mound with a four-pitch mix. His heater sits in the low 90s, and his best offering is a high-spin, upper-70s curveball that flashes sharp, downward bite. Ilitch’s low-80s slider is shorter in shape and not as sharp as his curveball. He completes his arsenal with a low-80s split-change that looks the part of an effective offering against lefthanded hitters.

Fellow righty Noah Allen stands at an even more imposing 6-foot-7, though he has more room to fill out than Ilitch does. Allen relies heavily on his two-pitch mix that consists of a low-90s fastball and a 12-to-6 curveball that flashes solid depth. Allen’s stuff and velocity should tick up across the board as he matures physically, though his extension already helps his heater to play up. In what is the case for any pitcher of his size, the key for Allen will be keeping everything synced up and connected throughout his operation. 

South Carolina

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: NR

2025 was a year to forget in Columbia. In his first year at the helm, coach Paul Mainieri guided the Gamecocks to a measly six SEC wins en route to missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. It was always going to be a year of adjustments, however, and between a strong portal class and a recruiting class that fits in the “quality over quantity” bucket, South Carolina appears to be headed in the right direction as the calendar flips to 2026.

Six-foot-four lefthander Patrick Dudley was a first-team all-state selection following a lights-out senior season, and he features a fastball that has been up to 93 mph to go along with a feel for a high-70s breaking ball. Righthander Seth Manning was barely 18-years-old on draft day, and his fastball has been up to 94 with plenty of carry through the zone. Manning pairs his heater with a curveball and a changeup, and he has plenty of room left to fill out.

Infielder Will Craddock has a lean, high-waisted frame with physical projection remaining. Last spring, he blasted double-digit home runs. Craddock has some quickness in his hands, and he could grow into more power as he continues to mature physically.  

Tennessee

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 2nd

While we don’t yet know how Tony Vitello leaving to manage the Giants will affect Tennessee’s future recruiting classes—you can read more about the potential fallout here and potential coaching replacements here—there’s no denying the quality of the Volunteers’ 2025 class. Assistant coach Josh Elander is one of the best recruiters in the country, and it shows year in and year out.

The crown jewel of the 2025 class is undoubtedly Cameron Appenzeller. A projection lefthander, Appenzeller stands at 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds. He had legitimate top-two round draft interest, though he opted to honor his commitment to the Vols. Appenzeller is a solid athlete with a repeatable delivery and plenty of projection remaining. His fastball has been up to 94 mph with life through the zone to go along with two distinct secondary offerings. His high-70s-to-low-80s slider features two-plane bite and has plus upside, while his mid-80s changeup flashes plenty of fade and is a real weapon against righthanded hitters. Throughout his time in Knoxville, expect both Appenzeller’s velocity and pure stuff to continue to tick up.

Catcher Trent Grindlinger was one of the best prep catchers in the 2025 class and getting him to campus was a major win for Tennessee. Behind the dish, Grindlinger has a plus arm and moves well for his size. His contact skills are pleasantly surprising, and he has a sound feel for the strike zone to go with above-average raw power. Grindlinger has yet to tap into his power in-game on a regular basis, though that could change in the hitter-friendly confines of Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

Switch-hitting shortstop Ethan Moore has a lengthy track record with the stick, and he has a direct, line-drive oriented swing from both sides of the plate. He has solid contact skills and is certainly physical, though his operation is not geared towards getting the ball up in the air. Moore’s hitting ability is his carrying tool, and he could move off of shortstop for second or third base. He certainly has a chance to be a high-level performer at Tennessee and a future prominent draft pick.

If you’re looking for a “secret weapon” that could make an immediate impact, keep a close eye on Jackson Estes. A 6-foot-3 lefthander, Estes has been excellent this fall and appears to be on his way to pitching himself into a meaningful role. His fastball has been up to 98 mph to go along with a mid-to-upper-70s breaking ball that’s flashed.

Texas A&M

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 11th

The 2025 was quite the interesting season in College Station—but for all the wrong reasons. Texas A&M entered the year as the No. 1 team in the country and national champion favorite, but the wheels fell off in rather short order, and the Aggies failed to make the tournament for just the second time since 2006. There’s no doubt that 2026 is a big year for Texas A&M, and coach Michael Earley spent the offseason reloading as such.

The center piece of Texas A&M’s recruiting class is undoubtedly shortstop/righthanded pitcher Nico Partida. Partida was one of the better two-way players in the 2025 class and he has a chance to be an impact player on both sides of the baseball. Starting with his ability on the bump, Partida’s fastball has been clocked as high as 98 mph, and he does a good enough job using it to up the zone. Partida’s mid-70s curveball is an average secondary that varies in shape. He completes his three-pitch mix with a low-80s changeup that flashes fade to the armside, though he has the tendency to slow his arm down when delivering it.

As a hitter, Partida has a solid hit-power blend at the plate, though neither tool is all that loud. He has above-average contact skills, and while on the dirt, his actions and arm strength are adequate at shortstop. However, his lack of twitchiness could make him a better fit over at third base. Partida’s ability at the plate is a bonus, as he looks the part of a pitcher professionally.

Speaking of third basemen, the physical Boston Kellner has above-average power—especially to his pull side—though he has more of a hit-over-power look in games. Though he is susceptible to swing-and-miss against spin, he has the offensive tools to hit for both average and power at the next level. Kellner has a plus arm over at the hot corner—where he’s likely to stick—but it also profiles well in a corner outfield spot.

Texas

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 1st

The Jim Schlossnagle era is off to a roaring start. In its first year as a member of the SEC, Texas last season captured the conference regular season title and won its fourth-most conference games in program history.

While the Longhorns’ season came to an abrupt end in June, Schlossnagle and his staff reloaded over the offseason and head into 2026 with national championship upside. On top of its returning core and big-time transfer portal additions, Texas welcomes a star-studded recruiting class to campus that figures to leave a sizable mark on the program sooner rather than later.

The strength of Texas’ recruiting class is undoubtedly its stable of arms. The headliner of the group is Brody Walls. A 6-foot righthander, Walls has a controlled operation and is an advanced strike-thrower. His fastball was up to 95 mph last spring, and he supplements the heater with a high-spin, slurvy breaking ball and a low-80s changeup. Walls’ breaking ball is his most viable swing-and-miss offering, though he’s comfortable using his “cambio” against lefthanded hitters.

Southpaw Jack McKernan has a quick arm and is armed with a fastball that’s also been up to 95 to go along with a mid-80s power slider that flashes sharp bite. While he relies heavily on his fastball and slider, McKernan will also deploy a changeup against righthanded hitters.

In addition to Walls and McKernan, keep a close eye on 6-foot-5 righthander Michael Winter. Winter was initially committed to Dartmouth, but he eventually flipped to Texas. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Winter certainly looks the part and has a clean delivery with a loose arm stroke. His fastball sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph. It’s a pitch he supplements with a high-spin slider that regularly flashes sharp two-plane tilt and lateral life. He rounds out his arsenal with a mid-to-high-80s cutter and a mid-80s changeup. Winter boasts an exciting blend of “now” stuff and upside, and, while it may not be in 2026, he figures to pitch his way into the Longhorns’ weekend rotation.

Speaking of 6-foot-5 righthanders, Brett Crossland is plenty physical and possesses high-end stuff. His heater has been up to 97 mph to go along with two distinct breaking balls in a mid-80s slider and a high-70s curveball. The former is tighter in shape, while his bender—which is the better of the two—flashes plus with plenty of depth and downward bite. Crossland completes his arsenal with a low-80s changeup that at times flashes serious fade to the arm side.

On the position player side, wiry outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. is the headliner. He has impressive bat and hand speed and does a nice job of staying inside the baseball. Pack Jr. has a line-drive oriented stroke and advanced contact skills—two traits that figure to serve him well both at Texas and beyond. A plus runner and high-level athlete with solid baseball sense, Pack Jr. has a chance to stick in center field long term.

 Vanderbilt

• Top 25 Recruiting Class Rank: 7th

Under coach Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt has a lengthy track record of retaining the vast majority of its highly-touted recruits. The 2025 class is no different, and it’s led by southpaw Aiden Stillman.

A 6-foot-3 lefthander, Stillman has an appealing blend of strikes and stuff. He has a clean operation that includes a bit of deception and features a three-pitch mix. Stillman’s fastball has been up to 95 mph with life, though, between his present arm speed and remaining projection, its velocity figures to tick up. Stillman relies heavily on his heater, but he also has a solid feel to spin his high-70s-to-low-80s slurvy breaking ball. Its shape varies, and sometimes it will take on more of a slider look with more lateral break than depth and vice versa.

Tyler Baird is a projectable, 6-foot-4 righthander whose fastball has been into the upper 90s to go with a slurvy breaking ball in the upper 70s and a solid, low-80s changeup. Baird has a history of being in and around the strike zone, and his stuff will only improve as he continues to physically mature.

At 255 pounds, fellow 6-foot-4 righty Wyatt Nadeau is almost the polar opposite physically with powerful stuff, to boot. His fastball crept into the upper 90s, and he mixes his heater with a pair of low-to-mid-80s breaking balls and a firmer changeup. Nadeau isn’t the strike-thrower that Baird is and could profile best as a reliever long term, but both project as impactful arms for the ‘Dores.

Vanderbilt’s not-so-secret weapon is assistant coach Ty Blankmeyer. The son of legendary St. John’s head coach Ed Blankmeyer, Ty has cemented himself as an ace recruiter and outstanding infield coach. Blankmeyer was also the Brewers’ Northeast area scout and Sal Frelick’s signing scout. From this chair, it’s a matter of when—not if—Blankmeyer becomes a Power Four head coach.