Preseason Top 25 Rankings | Preseason All-Americans | College Content Preview Index
With the Division-I season set to kick off in a just a few short weeks, the Perfect Game scouting staff took part in our annual practice of picking our favorites in 8 separate categories from Impact Freshman to Omaha Sleeper and eventual College World Series champion. Who'll pick the most winners? Tune in and buckle up as we are nearly to Opening Day!
Impact Freshman
They may be young, but these prospects have continued to shine since arriving on campus and look to make an impact immediately this spring while providing an early look at some of the top talent in each of the next two draft cycles.
Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
The No. 1 prospect in the West Coast League, Bazzana hails from the other side of the world as the Australian has some serious hype heading into his freshman season. There’s thump in his left-handed bat as he’ll be expected to contribute right away to what could be a sneaky good Oregon State team. -Vinnie Cervino
Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
A highly sought-after prospect out of high school in North Carolina, the 6-foot-4 left-hander should get plenty of opportunities to toe the slab for the Demon Deacons. The 2021 Gatorade N.C. Player of the Year looks to contribute right away for a pitching staff that finished 12th in the ACC a year ago. -Jason Phillips
Cody Schrier, SS, UCLA
There are big shoes to fill at shortstop for UCLA as former Bruin Matt McLain left for the professional ranks, but if anyone can fill them, it’s Schrier. The freshman showed the ability to hit high-level pitching throughout his prep career and it would not be a surprise if he continues that trend and makes an immediate impact in the Bruins lineup this year. -Tyler Henninger
Thatcher Hurd, RHP, UCLA
Hurd was a top prospect coming out of high school and spurned the pro draft in favor of staying home and playing for the local Bruins. He has all the potential to make a big splash in his freshman year with his firm fastball, ability to really spin the pill, and his ultra-competitive nature. -Jered Goodwin
Peyton Stovall, 2B, Arkansas
Stovall was as hot of a prospect name as you'd find around the country last spring, hitting home runs left and right, seemingly increase his draft stock with every swing of the bat. The Razorbacks are pretty loaded from an offensive standpoint, but this left-handed hitting freshman will factor his way into the lineup for Head Coach Dave Van Horn and has the chance to be an immediate impact-type bat. -Jheremy Brown
Eddie Saldivar, MIF, Long Beach State
Making the jump from high school to college ball isn’t easy, there are growing pains, but I feel Saldivar has the skill set to hit the ground running at the top of the Dirtbag lineup to be an impact table-setter right from the jump. -Steve Fiorindo
Jonathan Santucci, LHP/OF, Duke
The 2021 Perfect Game HS First Team All-American may be the most talented two-way freshman in the nation. The ultra-athletic 6-foot-2, 195-pound lefty creates tremendous leverage at the plate with the ability to drive pitches through the oppo-gap and launch balls to the pull side. However, his natural ability as a left-handed pitcher is downright scary with his silky-smooth delivery that creates easy arm speed. We saw him this fall work his fastball up to 94 with high spin profiles and he tunneled an abrupt, vertical breaking ball with it that is a true swing-and-miss pitch. Santucci will be an impact at the plate and on the bump and should put up All-American-type numbers come June. -Craig Cozart
Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
Smith put up video game numbers during his senior year campaign, a season that included seven no-hitters and 168 strikeouts in just 73 innings pitched. He should have an immediate impact for the Razorbacks, while possessing all the ingredients to become Arkansas’ next great pitcher. -John McAdams
Alex Mooney, SS, Duke
Mooney needs no introduction as one of the premier ’21 recruits to make it to campus, and he’ll start at shortstop and hit near the top of the order right away for the Blue Devils. A probable first rounder in 2023, Mooney has five at least average tools and his heady, competitive play style makes him a perfect fit both for Duke and to handle the rigors of ACC baseball right away. -Brian Sakowski
Impact Transfer
Given that players were granted an extra year of eligibility, several prospects were on the move, whether it be from JUCO to four-year schools or graduate transfers who look to make an instant impact on their new campus.
Max Romero Jr., C, Miami
Romero was a famous prep thanks to his left-handed bat and heads to the hometown Hurricanes following a two-year stint at Vanderbilt. He’s got a thunderous bat with easy double-digit home run potential and will anchor both a young lineup and impressive Miami pitching staff behind the plate. -VC
Hunter Cope, RHP, Oregon State
A 7-foot, 267-pound transfer from the University of Arizona will add another quality arm to the Beavers staff after redshirting in 2021. The big right-hander should be ready to pitch a bulk of innings after nearly two years and only one appearance in 2020. -JP
Jack Moss, OF, Texas A&M
Moss was one of the more reliable bats during his freshman year at Arizona State. There is no reason why he shouldn’t continue that as an Aggie. He is transitioning to the new school but there is still some consistency with the coaches around him as former ASU hitting coach Michael Earley makes the move to College Station as well. The profile has a solid hit tool with bat-to-ball skills as well as some power that should impact some games. -TH
Jacob Berry, 3B/1B, LSU
Berry’s ability to adjust to a new school and the SEC will be challenging, but he is just too talented in the batter's box to not make a quick adjustment. He does have the luxury of having a familiar face as his skipper to go with his elite run-producing capability. -JG
LuJames Groover III, 1B, NC State
Groover III joins fellow Charlotte transfer Dominic Pilolli in the NC State lineup following a productive 2021 season with the 49ers. Another prospect who jumped up boards his senior year as a prep, Groover III hit .351 this past spring while showing some budding power potential, which the staff hopes he'll continue to develop heading into 2022. -JB
Ian Churchill, LHP, USD & Ben Fitzgerald, UTL, UC Irvine
Churchill is a plug-and-play lefty that should have a big role in the Torrero rotation, possibly earning the Friday role. A lean 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, Churchill adds a little funk and deception with a little crossfire in the delivery to help keep hitters off balance.
Fitzgerald comes to Irvine after sporting a .293 average in 2021 with 12 home runs, earning him All-Sun Belt First-Team honors at Louisiana Lafayette. He offers some defensive versatility which could see him moving all over the field to get the bat in the Eater lineup. -SF
Dominic Pilolli, OF, NC State
The Charlotte transfer is coming off an injury-shortened 2021, but he produced in a significant way in his true freshman and COVID freshman seasons. Fully healthy now, the densely muscled 6-foot, 190-pound left-hander has arguably the most raw power in all of college baseball. There is very little swing-and-miss; he can leave the yard foul line to foul line, so he should hit for power and average. He’s a solid runner, has good instincts in the outfield, and the arm has carry and accuracy. Pilolli is primed to have a terrific year and don’t be surprised if he approaches the 20 home run mark. -CC
Chris Lanzilli, OF, Arkansas
Lanzilli comes to Fayetteville after a stellar career at Wake Forest, as he looks to make one last splash in his collegiate career. He comes into 2022 with 42 career homers and should add to that total this year for a squad with Omaha expectations. Look for Lanzilli to provide plenty of added thump to the Razorback lineup this year. -JM
Andrew Morris, RHP, Texas Tech
Morris is an intriguing story, technically in his fourth year of college baseball following three years at Colorado Mesa, but still quite young in terms of age thanks to entering college early. He should move right to the front of the Tech rotation and has absolutely taken off in terms of velocity under the tutelage of pitching coach Matt Gardner. He should be dynamic for the Red Raiders, and has a chance to pitch himself well up the draft boards. -BS
Impact Senior
The senior tag for this category was expanded a bit to all four-plus year players as they were awarded an extra year of eligibility after last year's shortened season. The names below will play pivotal roles for their respective teams in 2022, both from a talent standpoint as well as providing invaluable experience.
Ivan Melendez, 1B, Texas
Melendez was an absolute force for the Horns in 2021 as they came just short of the CWS Finals. The corner infielder hit .319 with 13 bombs and some of the best batted ball data in the country as he could be gearing up for a Niko Kavadas-esque encore in hopes of leading Texas to a CWS title in his final season. -VC
Troy Melton, RHP, San Diego State
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound right-hander was on the 2021 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List and will use the experience on the bump to compete in 2022. A converted catcher out of high school, Melton has only logged 98 1/3 innings, with 73 1/3 of those coming in 2021. Look for Melton to shoot up draft boards as he leads the Aztecs through the tough Mountain West Conference. -JP
Dominic Keegan, 1B, Vanderbilt
Keegan put together a monster year last season, hitting .345 with 15 home runs and a 1.065 OPS. Despite being drafted in the 18th round, he returned to campus and should be a bat the Commodores rely on regularly. He is also returning to his original position as a catcher and will be a key leader for Vanderbilt as they make another run at a national championship. -TH
Jud Fabian, OF, Florida
Fabian comes back to Gainesville after being a high draft pick in 2021. His center field defense and power at the plate are both well-above average tools. There are few players that can go on tears of production like Fabian and this could be the year he puts it all together. -JG
Jalen Battles, SS, Arkansas
Battles is one of those aforementioned prospects in front of Stovall in Fayetteville, and coincidentally enough, he was my impact transfer pick in this activity last spring. His defensive prowess ranks amongst the best in the SEC up the middle and it's not just a one-dimensional profile either, as he connected for 6 home runs and 12 doubles last spring while driving in 43 runs. -JB
Michael Frias, RHP, UC Irvine
All-Big West in 2021 and in contention for Big West Pitcher of the year, Frias will be the anchor of the staff in 2022. It’s not an overpowering mix of stuff, rather advanced pitchability and command of his arsenal that helps his stuff play up. The fastball will creep north of 90 mph at times, but plays up with command and the ability to execute the slider and change in any count. -SF
Tim Elko, 1B, Ole Miss
His postseason heroics were well-documented and rightfully so as he came up clutch time and time again at the plate. He did miss the entire fall recovering from surgery, but has picked up right where he left off in preseason scrimmages. Reports are that he is batting over .400 and has already hit 3 home runs as they work toward Opening Weekend. He batted .325 with 16 homers and 55 RBI last spring and there is every reason to anticipate he will eclipse those numbers in 2022. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, he seems larger than life, and he is the heart and soul of the Rebels, a leader in every aspect of the word. -CC
Nick Maldonado, RHP, Vanderbilt
Maldonado has been the go-to guy out the ‘pen for the top team in our Preseason Top 25, as he finished with a 2.31 ERA that was best amongst the relief corps. The draft eligible right-hander has the ability to maneuver through a team’s lineup multiple times and could be deployed in a variety of roles in 2022. He is about as consistent as they come and will undoubtedly have an immense impact as the Commodores look for another national title. -JM
Phillip Glasser, SS, Indiana
Glasser also fits under the “impact transfer” heading, as he’s a fourth-year player who will start at shortstop for Indiana following a transfer from Youngstown State. A left-handed bat, Glasser should hit near the top of the Hoosier lineup, bring a steadiness to the everyday lineup, and provide a talented glove up the middle. Indiana did well with transfers this past offseason, and Glasser could be the most impactful of them all. -BS
Sleeping Giant, MLB Draft
To qualify for this category, all prospects below rank outside of PG's most recent Top 50 draft list, though that doesn't mean we won't be hearing some of these names called early, especially with big spring seasons.
Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga
Hughes checks a lot of traditional boxes in that he’s big with a power fastball and has a track record of performance in years past and on the summer circuit. With a strong spring Hughes, a former two-way player, could vault himself into first round discussion with his mid-90s fastball and power slider on Friday nights for the Zags. -VC
Dylan Ross, RHP, Georgia
The 6-foot-5, 251-pound junior will move into the Bulldog rotation and feature one of the top fastballs in the country. The big right-hander will feature a four-pitch mix with a hard curveball around 80 mph, a cutter and splitter with tumbling action. Ross has the repertoire and work ethic to move up draft boards in a hurry in 2022. -JP
Josh Kasevich, SS, Oregon
Kasevich has all the traits of a professional shortstop. The frame has strength and athleticism present while remaining projectable. He possesses a solid glove at a premium position, while the bat has proven it can do damage while making contact at a high rate. Another quality season could shoot Kasevich up boards this spring. -TH
Alex Freeland, SS, UCF
The University of Central Florida shortstop is a draft eligible sophomore who simply hits. A switch-hitter, Freeland is healthy now and ready to build on a very good freshman campaign that only built upon a strong resume since his high school days. -JG
Alex McFarlane, RHP, Miami
McFarlane, a native of the Virgin Islands, has been on the prospect scene for some time as he spent his prep days in Georgia both for summer ball and high school. Always lauded for his fast, whip-like arm action, McFarlane has continued to refine his craft while at Miami, and now flirts with triple digits on the heater and will open the year in a talented weekend rotation for the Canes. -JB
Brycen Mautz, LHP, USD
A 6-foot-3, 190-pound lefty with a four-pitch mix with a frame that will still develop? I’ll take that all day. He worked in the low- to mid-90s with the fastball in a fall look with reports of 96s and 97s. This is what I’m looking for in a helium guy. -SF
Jack Brannigan, 3B/RHP, Notre Dame
One of the most well-rounded two-way athletes in the nation, Brannigan is essentially a shortstop who will spend most of his time at a corner infield spot to accommodate the demands of pitching. An explosive athlete at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he is coming into his own with the stick as he slashed .295 with 6 home runs, 29 RBI and 8 bags in 2021. However, there isn’t a better arm in all of college baseball as reports have had his fastball sitting in the upper-90s and peaking at 102 mph already this spring. He is filling up the zone at a high rate and his upper-80s slider is a plus pitch if needed. It will be fascinating to see how far he climbs the draft boards when he becomes a fixture on the mound. -CC
Marcus Johnson, RHP, Duke
There is a ton to dream on when it comes to Johnson, as the 6-foot-6 right-hander works in the low- to mid-90s with his fastball and pairs it well with a dastardly changeup that he replicates well. Mix in a solid feel for spin with his slider that he can land for strikes and you have a potential fast riser that checks a ton of boxes. He has been used primarily out of the ‘pen in his first two years as a Blue Devil, but given the ability to use his three-pitch mix effectively, he has been stretched out at times. Johnson very well could find himself in the rotation for a team that will look to make another deep run in the postseason.
-JM
Clark Elliott, OF, Michigan
Elliott checked in at No. 80 overall on our most recent Draft Board, following a tremendous summer on Cape Cod and consistent performance at Michigan to date. He can hit, run, and defend in the outfield already, but with some added power to his game (which Michigan has proven they can unlock developmentally), he could really continue to rise up draft boards towards the first round.
-BS
Golden Spikes Award Winner
Whoever takes home the 2022 Golden Spikes will be more than worthy of the award, especially when considering the sheer depth of talent in collegiate baseball this spring.
Jacob Gonzalez, SS, Ole Miss
Gonzalez is part of a Big 3 of SEC sophomores, along with Dylan Crews and Enrique Bradfield, but there’s a chance that Gonzalez might be the best of the bunch. Gonzalez OPS’d over 1.000 as a true freshman all while playing outstanding defense at short; he’s as close to an all-around MVP as you’re going to find and is in store for a monster year. -VC
Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
The switch-hitting shortstop and potential first overall pick in this year’s draft will be one to watch all year as he leads the Mustangs in the Big West Conference. Lee will not have an easy road to Player of the Year honors as he will have to do so against a loaded conference schedule and top tier arms on the West Coast. -JP
Daniel Susac, C, Arizona
Susac has the ability to change a game on both sides of the ball. His powerful bat has the capability of leaving the yard at any moment, while his cannon for an arm can throw out quality runners often. It’s an exciting tool set that makes Susac one of the better players in the country and a top name in the draft this year. -TH
Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
The Texas Tech masher combines patience, hit, and power while playing for a program that just puts runs on the board every single season. He is primed for a magnificent year in which few in all of college baseball even have the potential to match. -JG
Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison
DeLauter opens the season as our No. 1 ranked prospect, as he's done nothing but perform anywhere he goes, including this past summer on the Cape where he showed a complete collection of next-level tools. He's both physical and athletic and there's no doubting the power he possesses from the left side of the plate. The question however, is how often are opposing teams going to pitch to the highly-regarded prospect? -JB
Brooks Lee, SS, Cal Poly
One of the few selections I’ll have that’s probably anywhere close to ‘chalk,’ as I’m going with all Left Coast selections. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound shortstop is primed to have a huge year for the Mustangs. The Consensus Pre-Season All-American is coming off a .342/.384/.626 campaign and I’m expecting another loud offensive season in 2022. -SF
Logan Tanner, C, Mississippi State
A participant in the Perfect Game All-American and Under-Class All-American Game in high school, Tanner has continued to perform at an elite level in Starkville. Extremely sturdy at 6-foot and 215 pounds, he has the classic catcher's build and physicality. His glove work is advanced as he subtly grows the strike zone for his pitchers, and he is an excellent blocker. Tanner has a cannon for an arm and is known to throw runners out from his knees. With the stick, he uses a compact stroke to impact the ball with violence, he has plenty of juice, and has proven himself to be a high-level run producer. -CC
Dylan Crews, OF, LSU
Crews can do it all, as the reigning National Freshman of the Year looks to continue his onslaught on college baseball. He hit .362 in 2021 with 16 doubles, 18 home runs and 42 RBI. Throw in 12 stolen bases, a strong arm and the ability to play defense at a high level to complete his potential five-tool skill set. Crews will hit cleanup this year behind transfer Jacob Berry and should have a ton of opportunities to hit with runners on base. Look for him to shine again this year for a squad that has national title dreams right in front of them. -JM
Robert Moore, 2B, Arkansas
Moore does so many things well on the baseball diamond that his value, even as high as it is, sometimes seems undervalued. He’s a dynamic defender at second base, offers big power and on-base ability from both sides of the plate, runs well, and is the clear leader of a very talented Arkansas team. He’s a near-lock to be a first rounder this summer, and he’s my pick to be college baseball’s very best player. -BS
Omaha Potential Outside of Top 25
Every team opens the year with renewed hope, but this is a group of teams entering the season outside of the Top 25 but with legitimate reasons to believe they could be playing for it all at the end of the season.
Southern Miss
For my money, Conference USA is going to be one of the most fun conferences to watch this year and no one has been more consistent than Southern Miss. They’ve won at least 40 games in each of the last 5 seasons, not counting COVID 2020, and made Regionals in all of them. They return a ton of offensive firepower and once again will be right in the Regional mix. -VC
Oregon State
The Beavers will hit, and hit a lot. If the pitching staff stays healthy, led by Preseason All-American left-handed pitcher Cooper Hjerpe and 6-foot-7 right-hander Jacob Pfennigs, the Beavers should be armed to surprise some people. Freshman infielder Travis Bazzana from Sydney, Australia, and junior infielder Jacob Melton are primed to lead an offense that is capable of putting up big run totals. -JP
Oregon State
The rotation alone makes Oregon State a scary team to play. Cooper Hjerpe and Jacob Pfennigs are a scary one-two combo at the top of the rotation that can shut any team down. Add in quality bats like Jacob Melton and freshman Travis Bazzana, the Beavers are a team that could make a run at the CWS. -TH
Nebraska
This looks like the best team in the Big 10 entering the 2022 season and was a single win away from advancing in the postseason a year ago, against the best team in the country at the time. The Cornhuskers return a deep and experienced roster that is tough and gritty. -JG
Duke
The Blue Devils have a fascinating combination of veteran, experienced pieces throughout the lineup from outfielder RJ Schreck to first baseman Chris Crabtree and staff ace Marcus Johnson to blue chip freshmen who'll start day one in shortstop Alex Mooney and high school teammates in catcher Andrew Yu and outfielder Devin Obee. Johnson's big arm will lead a staff that features plenty of arm talent with the likes of Luke Fox and two-way Jonathan Santucci and the previously-mentioned combination of experience and youth could take the Blue Devils pretty far if all things click. -JB
Gonzaga 
The 2021 season saw Head Coach Mark Machtolf lead his club to a West Coast Conference championship and their highest-ever seeding as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament in Eugene, Ore. They return many of the key components from last year’s club and look ready to take the next step in a run to Omaha. Their pitching staff returns the league's best one-two punch with Gabriel Hughes and William Kempner,
as well as closer Brody Jessee. Senior catcher Tyler Rando and junior shortstop Savier Pinales will keep the Bulldogs solid up the middle. With the talent and toughness this team showed last year, they should continue to make noise at a national level. -CC
Old Dominion
The Monarchs will look to build upon their 2021 season, which saw them win the Conference USA tournament and receive a No. 1 seed in the Columbia, S.C. Regional. They return a bevy of experienced performers on offense and have some of the better relief arms in the conference. Carter Trice returns after a sensational freshman campaign to lead the offense that will have help from the likes of Andy Garriola and Kenneth Levari. Flame thrower Noah Dean and Jason Hartline will be expected to preserve tons of victories on the mound. The combination of offense and lockdown relievers may very well be the key to success, as the Monarchs could find their way to Omaha. -JM
Central Michigan
This is objectively a homer pick. CMU checked in at No. 26 in our preseason polls and returns one of college baseball’s most dominant 1-2 punches in the rotation in Andrew Taylor and Jordan Patty. Starting pitching can take you a long way in this game, as we see time and again, and combined with a veteran offense and key development of the rest of the staff, it’s within reason to see the Chippewas shock the world and become the first MAC team to make the CWS since Kent State in 2012. -BS
Super Regional Cinderella
All of the teams listed here were not among PG's Preseason Top 40 teams, most having just missed, but our team of experts has reason to believe they could rise to the occasion and quickly break into the PG rankings.
VCU
The Rams won 38 games and captured the Atlantic 10 before making a memorable run in the Starkville Regional. They return a solid amount of firepower and should once again be the class of the conference as they return Conference Player of the Year favorite Tyler Locklear to lead the way. -VC
USF
The South Florida Bulls are coming off their first Super Regional appearance in 2021 and return nearly their entire roster from a team that was two wins away from reaching the College World Series. Head Coach Billy Mohl will once again have the Bulls ready to compete and are primed for another run in 2022. -JP
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon took home the WAC title last season and they have the roster to do it again. Solid returning pieces like Elijah Buries and Jacob Wilson should lead them to the postseason yet again and it would not be a surprise if they made some noise once they were in. -TH
South Carolina
The Gamecocks have strike throwers with upside on the weekend and a defense that should make opponents earn every run. The lineup is interesting with some proven vets to help lead a couple very talented youngsters. If it clicks early, watch out. -JG
UConn
The Huskies were dealt some tough news this past fall when they learned star two-way Reggie Crawford, whose left-handed juice is as revered as his fastball from the left side that'll approach triple digits, will be lost for the spring due to needed Tommy John. That said, the Huskies jumped right back into the Big East last spring with no hesitation to take home the conference title and feature plenty of returning talent, led by outfielder Erik Stock and staff ace Austin Peterson, while a few transfers should make an instant impact as well for UConn. -JB
Cal Baptist
Don’t think I’m being biased here, even though I played college ball with their head coach (he was a good pitcher, I caught a LOT of bullpens), but Coach Adcock and his staff have done an incredible job developing not only a consistently good team, but a team that can be a force in the WAC. The Lancers have a nice blend of returning veterans along with one of their better recruiting classes that could have an immediate impact, especially on the mound. -SF
Auburn 
Let’s not forget the Tigers made it to Omaha in 2019. While 2021 was definitely a season to forget, Head Coach Butch Thompson is one of the best in the business and he has an amazing staff by his side. Assistant coaches Gabe Gross and Tim Hudson have a combined 24 years of Big League experience and have had a couple years to implement their systems. Success will revolve around the talented pitching staff and experienced arms like Carson Skipper and Mason Barnett. A couple transfers in left-handed pitcher Tommy Sheehan and power-hitting Sonny DiChiara could infuse the Tigers with the new blood needed to get them back in the national spotlight. The roster is talented and deep, so it should be a fun year at Plainsman Park. -CC
Northeastern
Two frontline starters in Cam Schlittler and Sebastian Keane could pose nightmare matchups for anyone in the country, as the Huskies look to break through and reach a Super Regional. Max Viera will lead the offense, while the freshman duo of Michael Sirota and Dennis Colleran are expected to make an immediate impact. Coach Glavine’s squad have been consistent throughout the years, but this seems like the right time for them to show the rest of the country what they are about. -JM
Indiana
Indiana wasn’t ranked in our preseason Top 40, and are picked to finish somewhere around 3-5 in the Big Ten, so roughly a fringe postseason club in that respect. I’m bullish on their transfer haul this past offseason, where they brought in key pieces on the mound and up the middle, and certain freshmen are coming on in a big way potentially earlier than expected. They’ll have to figure some things out on the fly as they find what roles work best for certain players, but this team could very easily gel and run roughshod through the conference. -BS
College World Series Champion
Who's going to win it all!? With college baseball rosters as deep and talented as they've ever been thanks to the current transfer rules and players retaining eligibility after the shortened '20 season, this spring will be nothing short of fascinating as the action continues to unfold all the way to Omaha.
Mississippi State
The Bulldogs broke through in 2021 for their first natty in school history, but don’t think that Chris Lemonis and company will stop there. I fully expect Landon Sims to continue to dominate on Friday nights, while the veteran transfers should help buoy a strong freshman class that will all be led by backstop Logan Tanner. -VC
Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets were close a year ago in advancing to the College World Series and are armed to take the next step in 2022. The pitching staff will stack up against any team in the country with a plethora of power arms and the offensive firepower to match. All-American catcher Kevin Parada will lead the staff behind the plate and provide production to an offense that scored the second-most runs in the ACC a year ago. UAB transfer Chandler Simpson should provide plenty of opportunities to score runs from the top of the order as a C-USA All-Freshman Team selection in 2021. -JP
Vanderbilt
The Commodores lost a lot of production off last year’s squad, but they will still be right there in the national championship conversation once again. Returning players like Enrique Bradfield Jr., Carter Young, and Dominic Keegan should help lead a deep lineup. The rotation has holes to fill with Leiter and Rocker leaving, but solid returning arms and a quality freshman class should help resolve that. It would not be a surprise if Vandy brought home another World Series title. -TH
Texas
The most experienced team in the country on all sides of the ball should help during the dog days and postseason. It isn’t just savvy vets, there is also real star power that can help carry the load at times if needed. -JG
LSU
Jay Johnson takes over in Baton Rouge following Paul Mainieri's retirement, and not only did he bring a new staff into town with him, but one of the purest hitters in all of college baseball followed in Jacob Berry, who absolutely went off in his freshman season. Outfielder Dylan Crews proved himself to be one of the best players in college baseball despite being a true freshman, while first baseman Tre' Morgan make as much of an impact in the dirt as he does with the stick. There are some questions with the pitching in terms of experience, not talent, but should everything click, it's a potent offense capable of putting up runs in bunches while the pitching staff offers plenty of depth. -JB
Stanford
Checking in at No. 3 in our Preseason college rankings, the Cardinal lost the anchor of the 2021 staff in Brendan Beck, but they are armed for 2022 with pitchers that made 40 of their 56 starts in 2021. Preseason All-American Brock Jones returns as key cog in the lineup after a 2021 campaign that saw him club 18 home runs. Senior catcher Vincent Martinez returns as the anchor behind the dish, and former PG All-American Drew Bowser seems primed for a big sophomore season. -SF
Vanderbilt
Having made five College World Series appearances since 2011, it’s not hard to bet on the Commodores. Most programs would have difficulty absorbing the losses of the likes of Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker. However, the Vandy Boys that we saw in the fall are more than capable of winning it all again in 2022. Enrique Bradfield Jr. will once again set the table, and Dominic Keegan is poised for another huge year in the middle of this potent offense. Christian Little was electric this fall on the mound, Nick Maldonado was clipping the upper-90s with his fastball, and freshman lefty Carter Holton should jump right into the rotation. This roster is physical and boasts elite talent at all the skill positions and it will all revolve around a once again deep, elite stock of arms. Vanderbilt’s third national championship looks imminent. -CC
Texas
The Longhorns come into 2022 with a ton of talent on both sides of the ball and more than enough experience in all the right places to hoist the trophy in Omaha. The pitching staff will compete with anyone in the country as they return conference ERA leader Pete Hansen, the Big 12 leader in wins with Tristan Stevens, and the dynamic right arm of Tanner Witt. Witt will make the transition to the rotation in 2022 and brings to the table one of the more explosive fastballs in the country. Ivan Melendez will lead the charge offensively after homering 13 times in ’21 and will be aided by the likes of Trey Faltine. Texas checks a ton of boxes when it comes to national title contenders and it will be an exciting year to watch as they look to return to Omaha again. The CWS crown will be a perfect ending to a successful career for many of the talented players the roster bolsters. -JM
Notre Dame
I’m sticking with the Midwest theme amongst my picks this year, and picking Notre Dame to win it all. This is a very veteran, experienced club who should roll out experienced guys at basically every spot in the lineup as well as in key spots on the mound. They should hit, and hit a lot, while pressuring defenses and playing solid defense themselves. Jack Brannigan coming on in a big way on the mound could take them over the top, and it certainly wouldn’t surprise me to see them hoisting the trophy to end 2022. -BS