As we have hit the 18 day mark before the start of the 2025 season, it is time to take a look at the SEC conference outlook.
2024 SEC Overall and Conference Records
*Conference record from Big 12
My Preseason All-Conference Team:
C – Ike Irish (Auburn)
1B – Ethan Petry (South Carolina)
2B – Gavin Kilen (Tennessee)
SS – Jalin Flores (Texas)
3B – Gavin Grahovac (Texas A&M)
OF – Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M)
OF – Max Belyeu (Texas)
OF – RJ Austin (Vanderbilt)
DH – Jared Jones (LSU)
SP – Ryan Prager (Texas A&M)
SP – Anthony Eyanson (LSU)
SP – Zach Root (Arkansas)
SP – Kyson Witherspoon (Oklahoma)
SP – Gabe Gaeckle (Arkansas)
Player of the Year: Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M)
Pitcher of the Year: Ryan Prager (Texas A&M)
Freshman of the Year: Derek Curiel (LSU)
Most Anticipated Conference Weekend Series:
Conference Week #1: #10 Florida at #4 Tennessee
Conference Week #2: #3 LSU at #19 Texas
Conference Week #3: #5 Arkansas at #16 Vanderbilt
Conference Week #4: #1 Texas A&M at #4 Tennessee
Conference Week #5: #5 Arkansas at #8 Georgia
Conference Week #6: #1 Texas A&M at #5 Arkansas
Conference Week #7: #1 Texas A&M at #19 Texas
Conference Week #8: #3 LSU at #1 Texas A&M
Conference Week #9: #5 Arkansas at #3 LSU
Conference Week #10: #4 Tennessee at #5 Arkansas
As it typically is, the SEC is loaded with talent and as a result, top ranked teams. Of the 16 teams competing in the SEC, 9 of them are ranked in the D1Baseball Top 25, including 4 of the top 5. In my opinion, the SEC does not have the same star power as it did last year, having lost names like Jac Caglianone, Hagen Smith, Christian Moore, Brayden Montgomery, and Charlie Condon to the MLB Draft, but it is still very deep. In addition, the SEC welcomes two new teams to the mix this season as Texas and Oklahoma join the fray, making the conference, which saw 11 teams selected to the NCAA Baseball Tournament last year, that much more challenging. Another new factor this year is that the SEC has done away with the East and West and replaced it with straight murder ball. All that out of the way, lets jump into the breakdown of each team.
#1 Texas A&M Aggies - Despite losing their head coach and most of their coaching staff overall, the Texas A&M Aggies enter the 2025 season ranked #1 and with big expectations. The lofty expectations are based on the amount of talent that the Aggies return from last year when they finished as runners-up to national champion Tennessee. The lineup is extremely deep with guys who can hit and the pitching staff is anchored by one of the best lefties (Ryan Prager) in the nation. The Aggies are going to hit…a lot! In fact, the lineup has three All-Americans and should end up with at least 6 guys that are hitting over .300. Hitting coach Caleb Longley, formerly the Texas hitting coach, was also able to bring in Gavin Kash, formerly of Texas and Texas Tech. With a roster stacked with talent, can first time head coach Michael Earley pick up where the prior staff left off and lead the Aggies to a title? Earley certainly has the roster talent to contend but having that #1 on your back also brings a lot of expectations.
#3 LSU Tigers - After flirting with disaster last season, Jay Johnson and the Tigers played their way into the NCAA Tournament and had the opportunity to knock off national seed North Carolina in a very entertaining Chapel Hill Regional. In 2025, there are quite a few new names to learn for the Box faithful, but certainly all eyes of fans and scouts will be on 1B Jared Jones. Jones is back after a sensational year in which he hit 28 home runs and has the chance to put together a special season for the Tigers. Jay Johnson, known as the king of the transfer portal brought in some solid replacements and paired it with the #1 overall recruiting class to give the Tigers an infusion of talent. Catcher Luis Hernandez and 2B Daniel Dickinson are the two transfer names to know as they will be at the heart of the Tigers offense. Two freshman hitters to watch are Derek Curiel and Texas native Cade Arrambide. Both are extremely talented and have very bright futures. On the pitching front, RHP Chase Shores finally gets the opportunity to be “the guy”. Armed with a 98mph fastball and a hard biting slider, Shores has 1st Round MLB Draft potential. In addition, LSU has RHP Anthony Eyanson (San Diego), who was one of the top transfer portal talents last year. One freshman arm to watch out for is RHP William Schmidt, who many considered a 1st Round talent coming out of high school. If the Tigers can gel early on, they have breakout potential in 2025.
#4 Tennessee Volunteers - The reigning national champions lost a lot of talent to the MLB Draft. After losing that much talent, you would expect a team to take a step back, but based on what Tony Vitello has built, I wouldn’t count on it. The middle of the infield is in great shape thanks to rising Sophomore Dean Curley and two transfers, Gavin Kilen (Louisville) and Andrew Fischer (Ole Miss). One of the heroes of the College World Series for Tennessee, Hunter Ensley will once again be patrolling CF as well. One freshman to watch is Jay Abernathy, as he looks poised to win the starting role in LF. One other player to watch is returning catcher Cannon Peebles. Can he put up better stats at the plate for the Vols this season? On the other hand, the pitching staff will be entirely different as Drew Beam, Zander Sechrist, and A.J. Causey have all departed. Tennessee will turn to Nate Snead, Laim Doyle (Ole Miss), and Brandon Arvidson (San Jac CC) to fill out the rotation. Keep an eye on freshman Tegan Kuhns though as he has some legit stuff and will look to push his way into the rotation. The biggest question for the Vols in 2025 is the bullpen, as pitching coach Frank Anderson will need to lock in roles and find out who he can rely on early. Overall, the Vols are a very dangerous team with serious upside, but can they repeat?
#5 Arkansas Razorbacks - Entering his 25th season, Coach Dave Van Horn is still seeking his first national championship at Arkansas. On paper, the Hogs look similar to years past, an outstanding pitching core and an offense that will need to prove itself, if the Hogs want to return to Omaha for the first time since 2022. The pitching rotation is downright filthy. RHP Gabe Gaeckle, LHP Zach Root (ECU), RHP Gage Wood, and LHP Landon Beidelschies (Ohio State) present a formidable force. Add in relievers Christian Foutch and freshman Carson Wiggins and the Hogs should be able to beat anyone with their pitching. On offense, Arkansas have talent. SS Wehiwa Aloy is a superb middle infielder and hit .270 last year with 14 home runs. Kendall Diggs is finally healthy and will look to have a breakout year, while Vanderbilt transfer Cam Kozeal should provide an offensive boost. A pair of JUCO transfers (Brent Iredale and Justin Thomas) will both looks to contribute immediately while TCU transfer Logan Maxwell lends his experience to the mix. Overall, Arkansas is a talent team and as mentioned, has the pitching staff to keep it in any game, but do the Hogs have enough offense to get them back to the promised land?
#8 Georgia Bulldogs - After a successful first season with Wes Johnson at the helm, he is back with another bevy of transfers. If Jay Johnson is the king of the portal, Wes Johnson certainly took a cue from his prior boss on how to exploit the portal for talent. The Dawgs have to replace two big stars in Golden Spikes winner Charlie Condon and All-American Corey Collins but may actually have a deeper lineup than they did last season. The other reason to believe that the Dawgs could break out in a big way is the experience on the team. It is absolutely loaded with seniors. Former Baylor star Kolby Branch, Tre Phelps, and Slate Alford form a solid nucleus of offensive power to build around, while transfer Robbie Burnett (UNC Asheville) and Christian Adams (Florida Atlantic) both will provide their own offensive firepower. On the pitching side, RHP Kolten Smith and RHP Leighton Finley are a formidable 1-2 punch, while VCU transfer Brian Curley will look to slam the door on opposing teams coming out of the bullpen. Georgia has a deep roster and looks poised to make a run at Omaha in Johnson’s second year, as long as all the newcomers can gel together.
#10 Florida Gators - Gone is super star Jac Caglianone. The good news for the Gators is that their entire lineup is filled with guys who can hit one out of the yard. Former Alabama shortstop Colby Shelton, Cade Kurland, and Luke Heyman are all back and will drive the offense, while Miami transfer Blake Cyr and Stetson transfer Kyle Jones will both look to make instant impacts to lessen the blow of losing Jac Cags. As a team, Florida needs to find consistency and strike out less, as they struck out a ton in 2024. On the mound, Florida has talent. The talent is raw, but they have quite a bit of upside, especially Sophomore RHP Liam Peterson. He will certainly be the ace of the staff and give the Gators a chance every Friday night if he has his stuff. The rest of the staff are relatively inexperienced but do have upside and talent. If the Gators offense cuts down on their whiff rate and the pitching rotation comes together, Florida is certainly a team that can make a deep run in the summer.
#16 Vanderbilt Commodores - The Dores strength in 2025 is once again the pitching staff. Ethan McElvain has some electric stuff and when he is feeling it on the mound is must watch tv. JD Thompson is back for the Dores after an impressive 2024 season and looks to help lead the rotation, while Georgetown transfer Cody Bowker has solid stats. The bullpen also has multiple options to ensure Vandy can compete late in games. The biggest question for Vandy is the offense. Outside of superstar RJ Austin, there aren’t a lot of guys in the lineup that will make you stand up and take notice. That is not to say there isn’t talent, but similar to last season, Vandy looks to have another lower ranked offense. Freshman Brodie Johnston will look to make an instant impact on offense, while James Madison transfer Mike Macini adds some serious pop and speed on the bases to an offense that is dying for more production. Overall, Vandy has the talent to make a deep run, but could very well be a team that flames out early on if the offense cannot produce.
#18 Mississippi State Bulldogs - The Dawgs lost three of their best hitters and their two leading pitchers from last season. Where does that leave them for 2025? It largely depends on what they can get out of their pitching rotation. The backend is solid with Chase Hungate playing the role of stopper, but the starters penciled in (LHP Pico Kohn, RHP Karson Ligon, and RHP Jacob Pruitt) lack a lot of starting experience. The good news for Miss State is that they are older players who have been there. Offensively, the biggest news for Miss State was getting back Hunter Hines. He has been a mainstay in the offense and can help provide power. Bryce Chance is another guy that brings experience to the lineup that will help set the table. The Dawgs did bring in a couple of transfers, most notable Ace Reese (Houston) and Noah Sullivan (USC Upstate). I have been a big fan of Reese since I saw him play in high school and then as a freshman last year at Houston. He brings a really good hit tool to the plate and is solid defensively. Sullivan is a mature hitter at the plate that also brings some juice with his home run hitting ability. Overall, Mississippi State is a team with a good blend of youth and experience, and if Coach Lemonis can get the most out of them, they will be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tourney.
#19 Texas Longhorns - The Horns enter their first season in the SEC play and have a new coach staff. So, what does that mean for Texas? Well, we know that the team will play a solid brand of offense and be able to hit. That is evidenced by two pre-season All-Americans in Max Belyeu and Jalin Flores. In addition, the Horns return Kimble Schuessler, Will Gasparino, and Rylan Galvan. To bolster the offense, Texas went out and brought in Ethan Mendoza and Easton Winfield from the portal, giving Texas a solid lineup from 1-9. Two freshmen to watch are Adrian Rodriguez and Cole Chamberlain. Both have really impressed with their hit tool in the Fall. In addition, I expect the Horns to be much more aggressive on the base paths under Schlossnagle. The questions about the club reside with the pitching staff. There is no Ty Madden, Bryce Elder, Pete Hansen, or even Lucas Gordon on staff to anchor the rotation. The Horns do return Ace Whitehead and Max Grubbs, but neither is anticipated to be weekend rotation guy at the onset of the season. That is not to say the rotation is devoid of talent. Far from it. The biggest issue that Coach Max Wiener has is figuring out roles for his pitchers because most of them have historically been bullpen guys. If Coach Max can work his magic, like he did last year at A&M, Texas has the defense and offense to make a run in the NCAA Tourney. If not, the tough early schedule and the arduous SEC schedule could make year one tough.
Alabama Crimson Tide - The Tide had a solid 2024 season, even though they went 0-1 in the SEC Tourney and then 2 and Q in the Tallahassee Regional. Rob Vaughn has shown that he can put together a competitive team that can play with nearly anyone and will now look to take the next step. Offensively, the Tide lost 7 of the 9 leading hitters from last years squad. The good news is that they return the sensational Justin Lebron to lead the charge and added several players from the transfer portal, including Brady Neal (LSU) and Jason Torres (Miami). Both of those guys will go a long way towards shoring up the holes left by departures like Gage Miller and TJ McCants. In addition, two sneaky good portal pickups to bring power to the plate are Garrett Staton (Samford) and Brennen Norton (Jacksonville State). On the pitching side, Ben Hess and Greg Farone are both gone, but Zane Adams is back and will look to anchor the rotation. How the Tide fill out the rest of the rotation remains to be seen, but they do have a few options to choose from.
Auburn Tigers - After finishing one game above .500 last season, the Tigers are looking for a big bounce back year. Catcher Ike Irish is on many people’s pre-season All-American lists will lead the way offensively after a breakout year in 2024. In addition, the Tigers return Cooper McMurray and Cade Belyeu, giving them a strong nucleus of offensive performers to lean on. Auburn also landed a big-time talent from the transfer portal in Bristol Carter (East Carolina). Looking at the portal additions and returning players, the one thing that the Tigers can lean upon is depth. The biggest question that Auburn faces is the pitching staff, an area that they struggled with last season as well. The good news for Auburn fans is that the Tigers landed three solid transfers from the portal in Cade Fisher (Florida), Sam Dutton (LSU), and Mason Koch (Creighton). Fisher is an especially intriguing prospect after being a freshman All-American for Florida during their 2023 run to the CWS. In 2024, Fisher took a step back and was not as consistent, but the talent is certainly there to make a big impact. Sam Dutton (LSU) is another transfer that can make an immediate impact on the mound. Dutton made just over a dozen starts for the Tigers the past few years and now sets his sights on being a weekend rotation guy.
Kentucky Wildcats - The 2024 season was one for the history books for Kentucky, bringing home a share of the SEC regular season championship and then following that up by making it to Omaha for the first time in school history. Unfortunately, the Wildcats saw mass departures from last year’s team due to graduation and MLB Draft. Needing to replace the entire weekend rotation, Kentucky understandably dipped into the transfer portal. Kentucky did not land any big school big name arms in the portal, but did bring in a trio of guys from smaller schools who have been successful. In addition, they bolstered the bullpen by bringing in Indiana State transfer Simon Gregerson. One area that Kentucky should feel good about is its bullpen which returns a number of key contributors. On offense, the Wildcats lost 7 of 9 players from the starting lineup, again forcing the Cats to hit the transfer portal. Both Dylan Koontz (Campbell), Luke Lawrence (Illinois State), and Will Marcy (Memphis) are all guys that the Wildcats expect to contribute immediately and help replace some of the lost offensive production. Devin Burkes is back behind the plate and will resume his role as leader of the team and offensive catalyst. Lastly, the player that Wildcat fans will be the most excited to see is Tyler Bell, who spurned the chance to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays after being drafted 66th overall. He is a guy that will make an immediate impact for Kentucky and should be an exciting prospect to follow.
Missouri Tigers - The Tigers had a 2024 to forget after finishing 9 games under .500, though they did finish one game better than last place Auburn in SEC play. The Tigers offense was anemic, especially when it came to hitting home runs and the team did not feature a ton of experience. Offensively, Missouri will lean upon Jackson Lovich and Brock Daniels will lead the way, while guys like Jeric Curtis and Danny Corona will need to show continued development at the plate. Overall, the Tigers are not the most fearsome group of hitters in the SEC but do have some guys that are dangerous and who will use team speed to put pressure on opposing pitchers. On the pitching side, after losing the two pitchers that threw the most innings, the Tigers will look for a trio of guys to take the next steps. Javyn Pimental, Brock Lucas, and Daniel Wissler will be counted on to lead the rotation for Missouri and help keep them in games. All three guys have experience but need to be more consistent and improve upon their numbers. A couple other names to know are Ian Lohse and Bryce Mayer, who have shown glimpses in past seasons. Overall, the goal for Missouri will be to stack enough quality SEC wins to get them into the post season.
Oklahoma Sooners - After running away with the Big 12 conference title and hosting a Regional in 2024, the Sooners prospects are not quite as bright on paper in 2025. For one thing, the Sooners lost 65% of their offensive product, including multiple big names. In addition, Oklahoma returns just one hitter who hit double digit home runs last season. The good news is that Reggie Willits offense does not rely solely on home runs, as he likes to put his guys in motion and use hit and run. The Sooners do have a trio of guys they can rely upon in Jaxon Willits, Easton Carmichael, and Scott Mudler, each of whom has a good deal of experience and a solid hit tool. Kyle Branch, younger brother of Georgia’s Kolby Branch figures to make an immediate impact upon the lineup as well. If there is one area that the Sooners should be able to count on, it is the pitching staff. Coach Skip has always been a great teacher and he has some outstanding clay to work with. The brothers Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon look to figure prominently, while LSU transfer Cam Johnson has started coming into his own under Skip’s tutelage. Add in JUCO transfers Cade Crossland and Dylan Tate and the Sooners have a bevy of power arms that they should be able to count on in 2025. The biggest question for Oklahoma though is will they have enough offense and how will they handle the rigors of the SEC.
Ole Miss Rebels - After winning a national title in 2022, the Rebels were on top of the world, only to see it come crashing down on their heads in back-to-back seasons as they missed the NCAA Tournament entirely. In 2025, long time head coach Mike Bianco is back and looking for redemption, or likely face some harsh realities. The strength of the team should be pitching as they bring back several guys from last years squad, all of whom have talent and experience, including one of the heroes of their magical 2022 run, Hunter Elliott. Joining Hunter in the starting rotation should be Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols, which would give the Rebels three seniors toeing the rubber. Experience always matters. On the hitting side, things are a bit fuzzier. Luke Hill is back after hitting .291 last year, as is Texas native Brayden Randle and Campbell Smithwick. Bianco hit the transfer portal hard to bring in additional talent though after the Rebels struggled mightly last year. In comes New Orleans transfer Mitch Sanford, Illinois transfer Ryan Moermann, and Louisville transfer Isaac Humphrey. All three hit double digit home runs last year and will look to help get the Rebels offense going in 2025. Biggest question for Ole Miss is whether an NCAA Regional appearance is enough to keep Mike Bianco at the helm. One would think yes, but Ole Miss fans have tasted success and want more.
South Carolina - There is a new head honcho in town, its former LSU head coach Paul Mainieri. After some time away from coaching, he is back and looking to get the Gamecocks back to being national title contenders. One of the first big wins Paul had this summer was retaining assistant coach Monte Lee, seen as one of the best hitting coaches in the nation. In addition, Junior Ethan Petry is back with South Carolina and looking to pick up where he left off a year ago and lead the Gamecocks. Another key cog in the offense will be Kennedy Jones, who also had a solid year last year and will look to improve upon it. While not a home run hitter, Blake Jackson is someone who can get on base and make things happen. Two impact transfers are Henry Kaczmar (Ohio State) and Dalton Mashore (Saint Mary’s). Both are solid defensively and have good hit tools. On the mound, South Carolina does not have the star player like Petry to lean on, but the Gamecocks do have an abundance of talent. Eli Jerzemback missed all of last season due to injury but Fall reports had him looking very strong with outstanding upside. Dylan Eskew is a very experienced player, entering his sixth year, but represents a very important piece of the pitching puzzle in 2025. Roman Kimball brings starting experience to the mound as well to help round out the rotation for South Carolina, unless Typer Pitzer can usurp him after a strong freshman season. Overall, Mainieri has to feel good about his pitching, despite not having a star name leading the way. How will Paul’s second stint in the SEC go? Only time will tell, but despite not being a Top 25 to enter 2025, South Carolina remains a dangerous squad to face.
2024 SEC Overall and Conference Records
| Team | Overall | Conference |
| Alabama | 33-24 | 13-17 |
| Arkansas | 44-16 | 20-10 |
| Auburn | 27-26 | 8-22 |
| Florida | 36-30 | 13-17 |
| Georgia | 43-17 | 17-13 |
| Kentucky | 46-16 | 22-8 |
| LSU | 43-23 | 13-17 |
| Ole Miss | 27-29 | 11-19 |
| Mississippi St | 40-23 | 17-13 |
| Missouri | 23-32 | 9-21 |
| Oklahoma | 40-21 | 23-7* |
| South Carolina | 37-25 | 13-17 |
| Tennessee | 60-13 | 22-8 |
| Texas | 36-24 | 20-10* |
| Texas A&M | 53-15 | 19-11 |
| Vanderbilt | 38-23 | 13-17 |
My Preseason All-Conference Team:
C – Ike Irish (Auburn)
1B – Ethan Petry (South Carolina)
2B – Gavin Kilen (Tennessee)
SS – Jalin Flores (Texas)
3B – Gavin Grahovac (Texas A&M)
OF – Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M)
OF – Max Belyeu (Texas)
OF – RJ Austin (Vanderbilt)
DH – Jared Jones (LSU)
SP – Ryan Prager (Texas A&M)
SP – Anthony Eyanson (LSU)
SP – Zach Root (Arkansas)
SP – Kyson Witherspoon (Oklahoma)
SP – Gabe Gaeckle (Arkansas)
Player of the Year: Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M)
Pitcher of the Year: Ryan Prager (Texas A&M)
Freshman of the Year: Derek Curiel (LSU)
Most Anticipated Conference Weekend Series:
Conference Week #1: #10 Florida at #4 Tennessee
Conference Week #2: #3 LSU at #19 Texas
Conference Week #3: #5 Arkansas at #16 Vanderbilt
Conference Week #4: #1 Texas A&M at #4 Tennessee
Conference Week #5: #5 Arkansas at #8 Georgia
Conference Week #6: #1 Texas A&M at #5 Arkansas
Conference Week #7: #1 Texas A&M at #19 Texas
Conference Week #8: #3 LSU at #1 Texas A&M
Conference Week #9: #5 Arkansas at #3 LSU
Conference Week #10: #4 Tennessee at #5 Arkansas
As it typically is, the SEC is loaded with talent and as a result, top ranked teams. Of the 16 teams competing in the SEC, 9 of them are ranked in the D1Baseball Top 25, including 4 of the top 5. In my opinion, the SEC does not have the same star power as it did last year, having lost names like Jac Caglianone, Hagen Smith, Christian Moore, Brayden Montgomery, and Charlie Condon to the MLB Draft, but it is still very deep. In addition, the SEC welcomes two new teams to the mix this season as Texas and Oklahoma join the fray, making the conference, which saw 11 teams selected to the NCAA Baseball Tournament last year, that much more challenging. Another new factor this year is that the SEC has done away with the East and West and replaced it with straight murder ball. All that out of the way, lets jump into the breakdown of each team.
#1 Texas A&M Aggies - Despite losing their head coach and most of their coaching staff overall, the Texas A&M Aggies enter the 2025 season ranked #1 and with big expectations. The lofty expectations are based on the amount of talent that the Aggies return from last year when they finished as runners-up to national champion Tennessee. The lineup is extremely deep with guys who can hit and the pitching staff is anchored by one of the best lefties (Ryan Prager) in the nation. The Aggies are going to hit…a lot! In fact, the lineup has three All-Americans and should end up with at least 6 guys that are hitting over .300. Hitting coach Caleb Longley, formerly the Texas hitting coach, was also able to bring in Gavin Kash, formerly of Texas and Texas Tech. With a roster stacked with talent, can first time head coach Michael Earley pick up where the prior staff left off and lead the Aggies to a title? Earley certainly has the roster talent to contend but having that #1 on your back also brings a lot of expectations.
#3 LSU Tigers - After flirting with disaster last season, Jay Johnson and the Tigers played their way into the NCAA Tournament and had the opportunity to knock off national seed North Carolina in a very entertaining Chapel Hill Regional. In 2025, there are quite a few new names to learn for the Box faithful, but certainly all eyes of fans and scouts will be on 1B Jared Jones. Jones is back after a sensational year in which he hit 28 home runs and has the chance to put together a special season for the Tigers. Jay Johnson, known as the king of the transfer portal brought in some solid replacements and paired it with the #1 overall recruiting class to give the Tigers an infusion of talent. Catcher Luis Hernandez and 2B Daniel Dickinson are the two transfer names to know as they will be at the heart of the Tigers offense. Two freshman hitters to watch are Derek Curiel and Texas native Cade Arrambide. Both are extremely talented and have very bright futures. On the pitching front, RHP Chase Shores finally gets the opportunity to be “the guy”. Armed with a 98mph fastball and a hard biting slider, Shores has 1st Round MLB Draft potential. In addition, LSU has RHP Anthony Eyanson (San Diego), who was one of the top transfer portal talents last year. One freshman arm to watch out for is RHP William Schmidt, who many considered a 1st Round talent coming out of high school. If the Tigers can gel early on, they have breakout potential in 2025.
#4 Tennessee Volunteers - The reigning national champions lost a lot of talent to the MLB Draft. After losing that much talent, you would expect a team to take a step back, but based on what Tony Vitello has built, I wouldn’t count on it. The middle of the infield is in great shape thanks to rising Sophomore Dean Curley and two transfers, Gavin Kilen (Louisville) and Andrew Fischer (Ole Miss). One of the heroes of the College World Series for Tennessee, Hunter Ensley will once again be patrolling CF as well. One freshman to watch is Jay Abernathy, as he looks poised to win the starting role in LF. One other player to watch is returning catcher Cannon Peebles. Can he put up better stats at the plate for the Vols this season? On the other hand, the pitching staff will be entirely different as Drew Beam, Zander Sechrist, and A.J. Causey have all departed. Tennessee will turn to Nate Snead, Laim Doyle (Ole Miss), and Brandon Arvidson (San Jac CC) to fill out the rotation. Keep an eye on freshman Tegan Kuhns though as he has some legit stuff and will look to push his way into the rotation. The biggest question for the Vols in 2025 is the bullpen, as pitching coach Frank Anderson will need to lock in roles and find out who he can rely on early. Overall, the Vols are a very dangerous team with serious upside, but can they repeat?
#5 Arkansas Razorbacks - Entering his 25th season, Coach Dave Van Horn is still seeking his first national championship at Arkansas. On paper, the Hogs look similar to years past, an outstanding pitching core and an offense that will need to prove itself, if the Hogs want to return to Omaha for the first time since 2022. The pitching rotation is downright filthy. RHP Gabe Gaeckle, LHP Zach Root (ECU), RHP Gage Wood, and LHP Landon Beidelschies (Ohio State) present a formidable force. Add in relievers Christian Foutch and freshman Carson Wiggins and the Hogs should be able to beat anyone with their pitching. On offense, Arkansas have talent. SS Wehiwa Aloy is a superb middle infielder and hit .270 last year with 14 home runs. Kendall Diggs is finally healthy and will look to have a breakout year, while Vanderbilt transfer Cam Kozeal should provide an offensive boost. A pair of JUCO transfers (Brent Iredale and Justin Thomas) will both looks to contribute immediately while TCU transfer Logan Maxwell lends his experience to the mix. Overall, Arkansas is a talent team and as mentioned, has the pitching staff to keep it in any game, but do the Hogs have enough offense to get them back to the promised land?
#8 Georgia Bulldogs - After a successful first season with Wes Johnson at the helm, he is back with another bevy of transfers. If Jay Johnson is the king of the portal, Wes Johnson certainly took a cue from his prior boss on how to exploit the portal for talent. The Dawgs have to replace two big stars in Golden Spikes winner Charlie Condon and All-American Corey Collins but may actually have a deeper lineup than they did last season. The other reason to believe that the Dawgs could break out in a big way is the experience on the team. It is absolutely loaded with seniors. Former Baylor star Kolby Branch, Tre Phelps, and Slate Alford form a solid nucleus of offensive power to build around, while transfer Robbie Burnett (UNC Asheville) and Christian Adams (Florida Atlantic) both will provide their own offensive firepower. On the pitching side, RHP Kolten Smith and RHP Leighton Finley are a formidable 1-2 punch, while VCU transfer Brian Curley will look to slam the door on opposing teams coming out of the bullpen. Georgia has a deep roster and looks poised to make a run at Omaha in Johnson’s second year, as long as all the newcomers can gel together.
#10 Florida Gators - Gone is super star Jac Caglianone. The good news for the Gators is that their entire lineup is filled with guys who can hit one out of the yard. Former Alabama shortstop Colby Shelton, Cade Kurland, and Luke Heyman are all back and will drive the offense, while Miami transfer Blake Cyr and Stetson transfer Kyle Jones will both look to make instant impacts to lessen the blow of losing Jac Cags. As a team, Florida needs to find consistency and strike out less, as they struck out a ton in 2024. On the mound, Florida has talent. The talent is raw, but they have quite a bit of upside, especially Sophomore RHP Liam Peterson. He will certainly be the ace of the staff and give the Gators a chance every Friday night if he has his stuff. The rest of the staff are relatively inexperienced but do have upside and talent. If the Gators offense cuts down on their whiff rate and the pitching rotation comes together, Florida is certainly a team that can make a deep run in the summer.
#16 Vanderbilt Commodores - The Dores strength in 2025 is once again the pitching staff. Ethan McElvain has some electric stuff and when he is feeling it on the mound is must watch tv. JD Thompson is back for the Dores after an impressive 2024 season and looks to help lead the rotation, while Georgetown transfer Cody Bowker has solid stats. The bullpen also has multiple options to ensure Vandy can compete late in games. The biggest question for Vandy is the offense. Outside of superstar RJ Austin, there aren’t a lot of guys in the lineup that will make you stand up and take notice. That is not to say there isn’t talent, but similar to last season, Vandy looks to have another lower ranked offense. Freshman Brodie Johnston will look to make an instant impact on offense, while James Madison transfer Mike Macini adds some serious pop and speed on the bases to an offense that is dying for more production. Overall, Vandy has the talent to make a deep run, but could very well be a team that flames out early on if the offense cannot produce.
#18 Mississippi State Bulldogs - The Dawgs lost three of their best hitters and their two leading pitchers from last season. Where does that leave them for 2025? It largely depends on what they can get out of their pitching rotation. The backend is solid with Chase Hungate playing the role of stopper, but the starters penciled in (LHP Pico Kohn, RHP Karson Ligon, and RHP Jacob Pruitt) lack a lot of starting experience. The good news for Miss State is that they are older players who have been there. Offensively, the biggest news for Miss State was getting back Hunter Hines. He has been a mainstay in the offense and can help provide power. Bryce Chance is another guy that brings experience to the lineup that will help set the table. The Dawgs did bring in a couple of transfers, most notable Ace Reese (Houston) and Noah Sullivan (USC Upstate). I have been a big fan of Reese since I saw him play in high school and then as a freshman last year at Houston. He brings a really good hit tool to the plate and is solid defensively. Sullivan is a mature hitter at the plate that also brings some juice with his home run hitting ability. Overall, Mississippi State is a team with a good blend of youth and experience, and if Coach Lemonis can get the most out of them, they will be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tourney.
#19 Texas Longhorns - The Horns enter their first season in the SEC play and have a new coach staff. So, what does that mean for Texas? Well, we know that the team will play a solid brand of offense and be able to hit. That is evidenced by two pre-season All-Americans in Max Belyeu and Jalin Flores. In addition, the Horns return Kimble Schuessler, Will Gasparino, and Rylan Galvan. To bolster the offense, Texas went out and brought in Ethan Mendoza and Easton Winfield from the portal, giving Texas a solid lineup from 1-9. Two freshmen to watch are Adrian Rodriguez and Cole Chamberlain. Both have really impressed with their hit tool in the Fall. In addition, I expect the Horns to be much more aggressive on the base paths under Schlossnagle. The questions about the club reside with the pitching staff. There is no Ty Madden, Bryce Elder, Pete Hansen, or even Lucas Gordon on staff to anchor the rotation. The Horns do return Ace Whitehead and Max Grubbs, but neither is anticipated to be weekend rotation guy at the onset of the season. That is not to say the rotation is devoid of talent. Far from it. The biggest issue that Coach Max Wiener has is figuring out roles for his pitchers because most of them have historically been bullpen guys. If Coach Max can work his magic, like he did last year at A&M, Texas has the defense and offense to make a run in the NCAA Tourney. If not, the tough early schedule and the arduous SEC schedule could make year one tough.
Alabama Crimson Tide - The Tide had a solid 2024 season, even though they went 0-1 in the SEC Tourney and then 2 and Q in the Tallahassee Regional. Rob Vaughn has shown that he can put together a competitive team that can play with nearly anyone and will now look to take the next step. Offensively, the Tide lost 7 of the 9 leading hitters from last years squad. The good news is that they return the sensational Justin Lebron to lead the charge and added several players from the transfer portal, including Brady Neal (LSU) and Jason Torres (Miami). Both of those guys will go a long way towards shoring up the holes left by departures like Gage Miller and TJ McCants. In addition, two sneaky good portal pickups to bring power to the plate are Garrett Staton (Samford) and Brennen Norton (Jacksonville State). On the pitching side, Ben Hess and Greg Farone are both gone, but Zane Adams is back and will look to anchor the rotation. How the Tide fill out the rest of the rotation remains to be seen, but they do have a few options to choose from.
Auburn Tigers - After finishing one game above .500 last season, the Tigers are looking for a big bounce back year. Catcher Ike Irish is on many people’s pre-season All-American lists will lead the way offensively after a breakout year in 2024. In addition, the Tigers return Cooper McMurray and Cade Belyeu, giving them a strong nucleus of offensive performers to lean on. Auburn also landed a big-time talent from the transfer portal in Bristol Carter (East Carolina). Looking at the portal additions and returning players, the one thing that the Tigers can lean upon is depth. The biggest question that Auburn faces is the pitching staff, an area that they struggled with last season as well. The good news for Auburn fans is that the Tigers landed three solid transfers from the portal in Cade Fisher (Florida), Sam Dutton (LSU), and Mason Koch (Creighton). Fisher is an especially intriguing prospect after being a freshman All-American for Florida during their 2023 run to the CWS. In 2024, Fisher took a step back and was not as consistent, but the talent is certainly there to make a big impact. Sam Dutton (LSU) is another transfer that can make an immediate impact on the mound. Dutton made just over a dozen starts for the Tigers the past few years and now sets his sights on being a weekend rotation guy.
Kentucky Wildcats - The 2024 season was one for the history books for Kentucky, bringing home a share of the SEC regular season championship and then following that up by making it to Omaha for the first time in school history. Unfortunately, the Wildcats saw mass departures from last year’s team due to graduation and MLB Draft. Needing to replace the entire weekend rotation, Kentucky understandably dipped into the transfer portal. Kentucky did not land any big school big name arms in the portal, but did bring in a trio of guys from smaller schools who have been successful. In addition, they bolstered the bullpen by bringing in Indiana State transfer Simon Gregerson. One area that Kentucky should feel good about is its bullpen which returns a number of key contributors. On offense, the Wildcats lost 7 of 9 players from the starting lineup, again forcing the Cats to hit the transfer portal. Both Dylan Koontz (Campbell), Luke Lawrence (Illinois State), and Will Marcy (Memphis) are all guys that the Wildcats expect to contribute immediately and help replace some of the lost offensive production. Devin Burkes is back behind the plate and will resume his role as leader of the team and offensive catalyst. Lastly, the player that Wildcat fans will be the most excited to see is Tyler Bell, who spurned the chance to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays after being drafted 66th overall. He is a guy that will make an immediate impact for Kentucky and should be an exciting prospect to follow.
Missouri Tigers - The Tigers had a 2024 to forget after finishing 9 games under .500, though they did finish one game better than last place Auburn in SEC play. The Tigers offense was anemic, especially when it came to hitting home runs and the team did not feature a ton of experience. Offensively, Missouri will lean upon Jackson Lovich and Brock Daniels will lead the way, while guys like Jeric Curtis and Danny Corona will need to show continued development at the plate. Overall, the Tigers are not the most fearsome group of hitters in the SEC but do have some guys that are dangerous and who will use team speed to put pressure on opposing pitchers. On the pitching side, after losing the two pitchers that threw the most innings, the Tigers will look for a trio of guys to take the next steps. Javyn Pimental, Brock Lucas, and Daniel Wissler will be counted on to lead the rotation for Missouri and help keep them in games. All three guys have experience but need to be more consistent and improve upon their numbers. A couple other names to know are Ian Lohse and Bryce Mayer, who have shown glimpses in past seasons. Overall, the goal for Missouri will be to stack enough quality SEC wins to get them into the post season.
Oklahoma Sooners - After running away with the Big 12 conference title and hosting a Regional in 2024, the Sooners prospects are not quite as bright on paper in 2025. For one thing, the Sooners lost 65% of their offensive product, including multiple big names. In addition, Oklahoma returns just one hitter who hit double digit home runs last season. The good news is that Reggie Willits offense does not rely solely on home runs, as he likes to put his guys in motion and use hit and run. The Sooners do have a trio of guys they can rely upon in Jaxon Willits, Easton Carmichael, and Scott Mudler, each of whom has a good deal of experience and a solid hit tool. Kyle Branch, younger brother of Georgia’s Kolby Branch figures to make an immediate impact upon the lineup as well. If there is one area that the Sooners should be able to count on, it is the pitching staff. Coach Skip has always been a great teacher and he has some outstanding clay to work with. The brothers Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon look to figure prominently, while LSU transfer Cam Johnson has started coming into his own under Skip’s tutelage. Add in JUCO transfers Cade Crossland and Dylan Tate and the Sooners have a bevy of power arms that they should be able to count on in 2025. The biggest question for Oklahoma though is will they have enough offense and how will they handle the rigors of the SEC.
Ole Miss Rebels - After winning a national title in 2022, the Rebels were on top of the world, only to see it come crashing down on their heads in back-to-back seasons as they missed the NCAA Tournament entirely. In 2025, long time head coach Mike Bianco is back and looking for redemption, or likely face some harsh realities. The strength of the team should be pitching as they bring back several guys from last years squad, all of whom have talent and experience, including one of the heroes of their magical 2022 run, Hunter Elliott. Joining Hunter in the starting rotation should be Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols, which would give the Rebels three seniors toeing the rubber. Experience always matters. On the hitting side, things are a bit fuzzier. Luke Hill is back after hitting .291 last year, as is Texas native Brayden Randle and Campbell Smithwick. Bianco hit the transfer portal hard to bring in additional talent though after the Rebels struggled mightly last year. In comes New Orleans transfer Mitch Sanford, Illinois transfer Ryan Moermann, and Louisville transfer Isaac Humphrey. All three hit double digit home runs last year and will look to help get the Rebels offense going in 2025. Biggest question for Ole Miss is whether an NCAA Regional appearance is enough to keep Mike Bianco at the helm. One would think yes, but Ole Miss fans have tasted success and want more.
South Carolina - There is a new head honcho in town, its former LSU head coach Paul Mainieri. After some time away from coaching, he is back and looking to get the Gamecocks back to being national title contenders. One of the first big wins Paul had this summer was retaining assistant coach Monte Lee, seen as one of the best hitting coaches in the nation. In addition, Junior Ethan Petry is back with South Carolina and looking to pick up where he left off a year ago and lead the Gamecocks. Another key cog in the offense will be Kennedy Jones, who also had a solid year last year and will look to improve upon it. While not a home run hitter, Blake Jackson is someone who can get on base and make things happen. Two impact transfers are Henry Kaczmar (Ohio State) and Dalton Mashore (Saint Mary’s). Both are solid defensively and have good hit tools. On the mound, South Carolina does not have the star player like Petry to lean on, but the Gamecocks do have an abundance of talent. Eli Jerzemback missed all of last season due to injury but Fall reports had him looking very strong with outstanding upside. Dylan Eskew is a very experienced player, entering his sixth year, but represents a very important piece of the pitching puzzle in 2025. Roman Kimball brings starting experience to the mound as well to help round out the rotation for South Carolina, unless Typer Pitzer can usurp him after a strong freshman season. Overall, Mainieri has to feel good about his pitching, despite not having a star name leading the way. How will Paul’s second stint in the SEC go? Only time will tell, but despite not being a Top 25 to enter 2025, South Carolina remains a dangerous squad to face.
