THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SCOUTING ORGANIZATION
| 2,483 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
2,483 MLB PLAYERS | 15,806 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Sign in Create Account
Sign in Create Account
College  | Rankings | 1/24/2019

2019 Division II College Preview

Nick Herfordt
Photo: Luke Jackson (UNC Pembroke Athletics)




2019 College Baseball Preview Index | PG College Facebook Page
@PGCollegeBall | @_eephuspitch (Nick Herfordt) | @B_Sakowski_PG

Listed below are the Preseason Top 25 teams at the NCAA Division II level followed by detailed capsules of each program and the top D-II prospects in regards to the MLB Draft. The rankings and the first three capsules (teams ranked 1-3) are available for free, the rest is available with a College Baseball Ticket (CBT) subscription. To learn more about the College Baseball Ticket and to sign up today please visit this link.


Final 2018 NCAA Divisions II and III and NAIA Rankings

Last season in the American League two of the top eight leaders in batting average previously played for NCAA Division II teams. JD Martinez, a former Nova Southeastern Shark, and Joey Wendle, who previously suited up for the West Chester Rams, found their names listed among baseball’s elite.

Additionally, schools such as the University of Tampa annually send handfuls of their alumni to professional baseball. Every year since 2002 at least one Spartan player has had their name called, with 11 players getting selected the last two seasons alone.

D-II diamonds across the country showcase top talent and this year is no different. Limiting the preseason rankings to only 25 teams was an arduous task as they were many more deserving clubs chock full of talent which were deserving of recognition. The same can be said about the division’s top prospects. Each year there are dozens of players selected in the MLB amateur draft and many of the names called in May won’t even be in this list.

Nevertheless, here are the top D-II players and teams headed into the 2019 season.


2019 Perfect Game NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 Teams
Rk. School ST Record
1 North Greenville Crusaders SC 46-10
2 Tampa Spartans FL 42-11
3 UNC Pembroke Braves NC 39-15
4 Colorado Mesa Mavericks CO 43-16
5 Georgia College Bobcats GA 44-12
6 Mercyhurst Lakers PA 36-13
7 Mississippi College Choctaws MS 36-17
8 Columbus St. Cougars GA 43-13
9 Florida Southern Moccasins FL 42-9-1
10 Central Missouri Mules MO 39-17
11 Augustana Vikings SD 48-9
12 Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas TX 41-15
13 Quincy Hawks IL 41-18
14 North Georgia Nighthawks GA 31-22
15 Lubbock Christian Chaparrals TX 34-20
16 Minnesota State Mavericks MN 31-16
17 UC San Diego Tritons CA 42-15
18 Nova Southeastern Sharks FL 35-16
19 West Florida Argos FL 31-19
20 Southern New Hampshire Penmen NH 39-15
21 West Texas A&M Buffs TX 40-14
22 Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars IL 47-9
23 USC Aiken Pacers SC 35-19
24 St. Leo Lions FL 38-11
25 Bloomsburg Huskies PA 31-20


1. North Greenville Crusaders
The Crusaders finished last season ranked in the top 25 in batting average, scoring and stolen bases – however five impact players from that lineup moved on after the final out. With such sizable holes left in Tigerville it would be rational to think that that formerly explosive offense would be left relatively inert. However, three solid regular hitters do return, along with an arsenal of incoming players who are predicted to have an immediate impact and refuel the roster.

Among the players headed back to campus are Jeffery Chandler and Utah Jones. Chandler hit .351 and was able to amass 16 doubles and eight home runs despite missing a month due to injury. Jones, a slick-fielding shortstop who played previously at North Carolina, hit .358 in his first year switch-hitting. His brother Ryder plays for the San Francisco Giants.

NGU’s most prominent transfer comes with a bit of baggage. Former Georgia first baseman, Adam Sasser, was dismissed from the Bulldog team after a nationally reported incident in which he was alleged to have made racially derogatory comments toward UGA quarterback Justin Fields. Sasser had been a second-team All-SEC selection the previous spring, batting .317 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI. He should be the most talented player in the conference and has the potential to be drafted in the first 10 rounds.

Another lauded incomer from a D-I powerhouse is third baseman Michael Neustifter. He too was a second team all-conference selection, earning the honors at Oklahoma State where he was second on the team in hitting at .299. Also joining the team is Jeremy Whitehead who has tremendous speed and will be the team’s leadoff hitter after failing to find his groove at East Carolina.

What really gets head coach Landon Powell excited about this year’s edition of his team is the pitching staff. The Crusaders return almost all of their key arms from last season. That includes Tucker Burgess, who was a First Team All-American and Hero Sports National Pitcher of Year after earning 14 wins and a 2.98 ERA while throwing 96 2/3 innings. He also had an astonishing 89-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’ll once again be backed by Ethan Garner who was 7-1 with 66 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings with only 13 walks. Garner was the Conference Carolinas freshman of year two years ago and an all conference selection last season. Also back in the bullpen will be Kipp Rollings, a potential draft pick closer with mid-90s heat and a legit cutter and slider.

Two transfers put the stamp on the Crusader’s excellence. Michael Giacone was recruited by such esteemed college pitching factories such as Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Oregon. However, he didn’t get D-I grades. Thus, the California JUCO Pitcher of the Year will be bringing his 1.84 ERA and 95 strikeouts to NGU. Ryan Kirk, started 12 games as a freshman at Campbell. After missing last season due to injury, he too will complete for a spot in the rotation.


2. Tampa Spartans
The perennial powerhouse Tampa offense won’t have its leading hitter or slugger back in uniform, but a hybrid of holdovers and transfers give the Spartans a once-again imposing starting nine. Four everyday hitters return, most noticeably marked by Nick Detringo, an All-American caliber outfielder who hit .348 with 17 doubles and has the speed and moxie which allowed him to pilfer five bases in one game last season.  Another welcome return is Drew Ehrhard, a hard working, respected second baseman who was named the team’s first sophomore captain since (current assistant coach and recruited coordinator) Jose Jimenez. Ehrhard hit .350 with 18 extra-base hits last spring.

The list of roster reinforcements is both long and impressive. Some of the highlights include the addition of Yorvis Torrealba, who hit .324 with 13 home run and 17 stolen bases at the College of Central Florida. He may have the highest ceiling of the incoming recruits. Danny Blair, who played in 41 games at South Carolina and was the Greenville Regional MVP, is penciled in to start in UT’s outfield. Nick Derr, who started 70 games at Florida State the past two seasons, should be the Spartans’ third baseman.

Keven Pimentel, last year’s No. 2 starter and a PG All-American in 2013, assumes the primary role this year. Last spring he was the Sunshine State Pitcher of the Week twice in a season in which the he had a 2.42 ERA and threw 78 innings. Two other former D-I pitchers (Pimentel had pitched at Miami previously) will likely join him in the rotation. Righthander Mason Duke performed admirably at Alabama where he appeared in 15 games and drew a 3.41 ERA in 31 2/3 innings with a 33-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Tanner Forster looked very good as a starter at Northern Illinois last year. While compiling 69 2/3 innings, he accumulated a 2.33 ERA and struck out 76 batters.

Yet another former D-I player who could compete for a spot in the rotation is Bo Weiss. Weiss, the son of the former American League Rookie of the Year and Colorado Rockies manger Walt Weiss, has transferred to Tampa after struggling to earn innings at North Carolina despite having a sub 3.00 ERA for the Heels when he did take to the mound.


3. UNC Pembroke Braves
Last season the Braves finished in the top three nationally in both batting average and run scored. From that team five players return who started at least 49 games and accumulated a minimum of 189 at-bats. That group batted a combined .348 with 40 home runs and 57 stolen bases. The biggest boppers of the bunch include Luke Jackson, a consensus All-American who hit .397 with 12 home runs and 26 multi-hit games, Ethan Baucom, who batted .391 and hit 10 home runs, and Seth Hartings, who hit .365. Jarratt Mobley didn’t put up the same stunning offensive numbers as the aforementioned group but he is just as valuable to the team’s success as he played masterful defense at shortstop.

The question of how good the Braves can be will depend on their pitching staff, which was bolstered heavily during the offseason. They added a top starting pitcher in Nile Ball who was a bullpen specialist at Missouri last season. In 21 appearances for the Tigers he had 3.52 ERA and held opposition to a .219 batting average. Other reinforcements include Tanner Routh, who originally signed with Campbell and redshirted last season, and Brandon Winstead, who is penciled in to be the team’s closer after playing the last seasons at Pitt Community College.

The staff does return a wealth of experience, nearly 300 innings and 39 games started, however, pitching wasn’t exactly the Braves’ bread and butter last season. The team ERA was 5.36, which even in the offensive friendly Peach Belt Conference is a bit stout. One returner who could factor big is Landen Smith. He had earned a thick 8.23 ERA in the middle of the year but was able to turn it around and shave more than two and a half runs off that mark by the end of the season. River Ryan, a redshirt utility player who was the team’s shortstop in 2017, could also step up and provide invaluable innings.

This is PG 'DiamondKast' Level content.
You must be either an DiamondKast, Crosschecker Rankings & Scouting Reports, or Scout subscriber to read the rest.
Sign in Subscribe Now
Give us your feedback
College | Rankings | 6/25/2026

College Top 25: Final Update
Vincent Cervino
Article Image
With a postseason run for the ages, the Oklahoma Sooners (43-23) took home the National Championship and naturally finish the 2026 season as our No. 1 team in the land.  It is the third national title for the Sooners, playing in their 12th CWS and making their fourth championship series appearance.  They add to previous national titles won in 1951 and 1994 and did it by taking the most difficult path of any team in this year’s tournament.  In the NCAA Tournament, Oklahoma took down national seeds, No. 2 Georgia Tech twice, No. 3 Georgia twice, No. 5 UNC twice, No. 7 Alabama and No. 15 Kansas twice.  This was the second time that head coach Skip Johnson has led the Sooners to the CWS Championship Series since 2022 and the first time he has taken home the crown.  The North Carolina Tarheels (54-14) was one win away from their first national title and finish...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/27/2026

Top Teams Set to Battle for Championship

Emily Hicks
Article Image
The stage is set for an exciting weekend of baseball as teams from across the region head to the 2026 PG 14U West World Series, looking to make a statement and compete for a championship title. Leading the field is Nomadic 14U Premier, which enters the tournament with a 28-7-3 record. Known for its strong pitching staff and consistent offense, Nomadic 14U Premier will look to carry its momentum into bracket play. Another team to watch is GBG Vegas 14u Red (Honorable Mention), currently holding a 27-15-2 record. With a balanced lineup and solid defensive play, they have proven capable of competing with some of the top teams in their age division. Rawlings Tigers Primo enters the weekend after a strong showing in recent events, coming in 4-0. The team's ability to generate runs and execute in key situations could make them a serious contender for the championship. Several other teams will...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/26/2026

Fast and Furia at 14u WWBA

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Every successful team has talent, but the teams that make great summer ball runs often have something more. For Furia Prospects 2030, that difference has been a consistent commitment to playing for one another. The Texas-based team earned a 4-0 victory over East Cobb Astros 14U to secure their spot in the semifinals, combining dominant pitching with timely offense and another complete team performance. Christian Choe set the tone on the mound, allowing just two hits while striking out three over 4.2 innings before Blaine Jackson closed out the final four outs to preserve the shutout. At the plate, Brody Peterson paced the offense with a 2-for-3 performance and two RBI, while Mark De Leon and Jancarlos Nunez each drove in a run. Through these tournament games, Peterson has emerged as one of the team's most consistent hitters, batting .750 while continuing to deliver in key moments. Yet...
Read More
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 6/26/2026

MLB Draft Reports: 1-99

Michael Albee
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft Reports: 100-299 | 200-299 | 300-399 | 400-500 1. Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA R-R, 6-2/202, Chandler, AZ Previously Drafted: Never Drafted   Roch Cholowsky has consistently ranked at the top of the class throughout the cycle due to the safety and upside of the profile. Defensively, he is a plus defender at shortstop with soft hands, consistent actions, and quality range. Not only should he stick at the position long term, he should excel there at the next level. Offensively, there is a strong mix of hit and power potential from the right side of the plate. The swing is a bit unorthodox with a shorter finish, but Cholowsky consistently finds the barrel and drives the ball with authority to all fields. He has strong bat to ball skills with impact. He has walked more than stuck out during his collegiate career, giving him a high on-base ability. The run tool is the...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/26/2026

15U BCS Championship Returns to Fort Myers

Alyssa Golden
Article Image
The 21st annual 15U BCS National Championship will bring together nearly 100 teams from across the country to compete for a national title in Fort Myers, Florida this weekend. From nationally ranked prospects to rising programs looking to make a statement, the five-day tournament will showcase the next wave of talent on the national stage. Running June 27-July 1, the event features a strong collection of nationally ranked prospects from coast to coast. As the summer schedule reaches its midpoint, the tournament offers players an opportunity to compete against elite competition while continuing to establish themselves among the nation’s top underclass talent. The field includes multiple top 100 nationally ranked players, headlined by No. 19-ranked RHP William Miller of Plantation, Florida. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound pitcher is among the highest-upside players in the field with his...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/26/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 3

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 An extended look at ‘27 RHP Cole Cheatham… 5 IP, 9 K, 0 BB, 3 ER. #WWBA @PG_OhioValley #WVU commit https://t.co/6tfthTsRsW pic.twitter.com/RHfFa3rWps — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 26, 2026 West Virginia commit Cole Cheatham (2027, Liberty, Ind.) came out firing bullets early in the outing and would finish up going five strong innings, allowing three runs and striking out nine. The fastball comes out of the hand easy and got up to 97 mph, working in the mid-90s throughout. He pairs it with a firm changeup at 89-90 with some fading depth to the arm side and also has good feel for a mid-80s slider with quality shape and missed bats with it deep in counts. It’s a power arm here with immense upside and pounded the zone at a 64% clip. A lot of boxes Cheatham checks off as a high school arm and should be a name we hear a...
Read More
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 6/26/2026

MLB Draft Reports: 100-199

Tyler Henninger
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft Reports: 200-299 | 300-399 | 400-500 100. Lucas Nawrocki, LHP/1B, Aledo HS L-L, 5-11/197, Aledo, TX College Commitment: LSU Lucas Nawrocki put together a monster year on both sides of the ball, although the profile may be suited better for the mound in pro ball. Nawrocki features a stocky frame that works down the mound into a low-slot release. The fastball sits in the mid-90’s with carry to the top of the zone. It can reach spin rates near 2700 rpm. The left-hander can spin a slider exceptionally well. The pitch sits in the mid-80’s with big sweeping action and spin rates over 3000 rpm. A firm upper-80's changeup rounds out the pitch mix. At the plate, Nawrocki can provide some thump from the left side of the plate.  For more on Nawrocki, read his high school notebook here.   101. Jon Mora, OF, Somerset Academy L-R, 5-10/170, Tamarac, FL...
Read More
Draft | Prospect Scouting Reports | 6/25/2026

MLB Draft Reports: 200-299

Michael Albee
Article Image
2026 MLB Draft Reports: 300-399 | 400-500 200. Hudson Devaughan, RHP, Mooresville HS R-R, 6-4/195, Mooresville, IN College Commitment: Alabama Hudson Devaughan features a projectable frame at 6-foot-4, 195-pounds. The fastball works up to 96 mph with more to come. It is thrown on a downhill plane. A sharp curveball pairs well off of it and can miss bats. A cutter and changeup round out the pitch mix, but still need to be refined.  201. Cole Stokes, RHP, Florida State R-R, 6-6/230, Redondo Beach, CA Previously Drafted: Never Drafted Cole Stokes is an imposing 6-foot-6 arm with loud stuff too. The fastball works in the upper-90’s with sink. It is paired with a sweeper that can miss bats at a solid clip. Significant command issues will need to be addressed in order for the potential plus stuff to play more consistently.  For more on Stokes, read his college report...
Read More
Softball | Softball Tournament | 6/25/2026

PG Stars Over Florida Showcase 18U Division

Erica Beach
Article Image
PG Stars Over Florida Showcase 18U Division Clearwater, FL June 13-14, 2026   CLEARWATER, FLORIDA- Perfect Game Softball made its official debut in the state of Florida this past weekend at Eddie C. Moore sports complex. The weather was perfect, and the atmosphere was right for some great softball. We had many college coaches of all levels attend and our National Scouting Director was on hand to evaluate and highlight the athletes. We are excited for future events and the ability to promote and highlight the great athletes in the southeast! Below we highlight the 18U division where multiple athletes stood out.     18UDivision   Oakley Riley (2027, SS/UTL, Dade City, FL) of the Lady Bombers- Bowling was a standout player all weekend. She is an athletic and versatile athlete who is a great combination of speed and power. Offensively, this right-handed hitter has an...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/25/2026

17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 2

Perfect Game Staff
Article Image
17u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1 An extended look at '27 LHP Connor Salerno (NC)... #WWBA @PG_Coastal https://t.co/A7OLjivIFW pic.twitter.com/rEA9pMizg8 — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 25, 2026 Connor Salerno (2027, Indian Trail, N.C.) looked his usual self, dominant, in his one inning of work on Wednesday afternoon. The big-bodied southpaw got the ball in a short relief outing and continues to show why he’s ranked as the #1 pitcher in the class. The fastball has explosive life out of the hand and comes out easy, working in the 93-95 range, up to 96 mph once. He rounds out the mix with a firm slider in the mid-80s along with a changeup in the same velo range with arm-side fading action. The Mississippi State commit is a proven strike thrower with premium stuff and is one of the highest follows of the summer for professional scouts. Grant Sperandio (2027, Houston, Tx.) was...
Read More
Tournaments | Story | 6/25/2026

The Winning Edge

Kinley Kitchens
Article Image
Gulf Coast Edge has continued to build momentum in championship play this week, advancing behind a combination of timely offense, strong pitching, and contributions throughout the lineup. After grinding out a 4-3 victory over Canes American 14U to open bracket play, Gulf Coast Edge followed with a dominant 13-1 playoff win against Knights Baseball 14U National to secure their spot in the tournament bracket. The team features nationally ranked talent throughout the roster, but its recent success has been fueled by players embracing their roles and finding ways to contribute in key moments. Two players who embody that balance are outfielder Brayden Nims and fellow outfielder Nolan Richardson. Nims has helped lead the charge offensively as Gulf Coast Edge has advanced through the bracket. One of the most highly regarded players in the country, ranked No. 9 overall nationally and the No. 4...
Read More
Loading more articles...
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2026 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.