2023 Atlantic Coast Conference College Baseball Preview
![](https://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/bba-media/kxjpjy5w/christian-knapczyk-brian-westerholt_four-seam-images.jpg)
![](https://www.baseballamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/bba-media/kxjpjy5w/christian-knapczyk-brian-westerholt_four-seam-images.jpg)
Image credit: Christian Knapczyk (Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images)
The ACC has long been considered one of the most talented conferences in college baseball. In 2022, it sent nine teams to the NCAA tournament, with four of the nine making it to a super regional, and Notre Dame made it to Omaha. Entering 2023, it has 10 teams ranked in the preseason Top 25, with a handful of others vying for regional bids.?
There are three teams with new coaches: Link Jarrett makes the jump from Notre Dame to Tallahassee, where he will take over as the Seminoles’ new head coach; Shawn Stiffler is now at Notre Dame after a successful tenure at Virginia Commonwealth; Erik Bakich was hired at Clemson after a successful run of his own at Michigan.
The conference is again chalk full of talent across the board. Each of the 14 teams has at least one marquee player, with a plethora of top-five round talent in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 MLB drafts. There is immense talent anywhere you look in the conference and it makes each weekend incredibly exciting to watch.
The 2023 season should once again be a great year for the ACC as it could once again send 10 or more teams to a regional and has a chance to see its first national championship since Virginia took home the crown in 2015.?
Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
Morales was an all-ACC selection in 2022 after hitting an impressive .329 with 17 doubles, 18 home runs and 59 RBIs in 60 games, earning himself an invitation to USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team training camp. He has power to all fields and is a sure defender at third, with his long levers enabling him to cover a lot of ground in either direction. Morales put on productive weight this fall, adding physicality to his frame that should translate to even more thump in his bat.
Pitcher of the Year: Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
Lowder, the 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year, will once again headline the Demon Deacons rotation after a stellar 2022 season in which he posted a 3.08 ERA with 105 strikeouts to just 26 walks in 99.1 innings pitched. He runs his fastball up to 97 and supplements the pitch with a plus changeup and an above-average slider. Lowder comes into this season as one of the best pitchers in the country and has a chance to be a top-10 overall selection in July’s draft. ?
Freshman of the Year: Cameron Smith, 3B, Florida State
A physical monster at 6-foot-3, 221 pounds, Smith has made his presence felt on Link Jarrett’s squad since the first day of fall practice. He has a well above-average arm at third and has shown the ability to drive the ball to all fields with authority. What might be most impressive is his mature approach at the plate; he is able to shorten up with two strikes and has demonstrated above-average pitch recognition. Smith will be the Seminoles’ everyday third baseman and projects to have a major impact with both his bat and his glove.
Predicted Order of Finish (2022 record)
1. Louisville (42-21-1, 18-11-1)
The 2022 year was a successful season for the Cardinals as they returned to a super regional for the first time since 2019. They saw hitters like Jack Payton (.350) and Isaac Humphrey (.328) burst onto the scene and Christian Knapczyk (.346) continue to establish himself as a premier shortstop in college baseball. The Cardinals will have to reload a little bit on offense as Dalton Rushing and his 23 home runs have departed, as well as veterans Ben Metzinger (.312 with 19 home runs) and Cameron Masterman (.305 with 18 home runs). Redshirt freshman Eddie King Jr. is a prime candidate to slide into one outfield spot and he is coming off a successful summer that saw him win Prospect League MVP. King hit .310 and swatted 15 home runs, stole 31 bases and drove in 49 runs in 49 games played over the summer. He is a dynamic player and will play a key role for the Cardinals this season.?
On the mound, Riley Phillips (5-1, 4.34) and Tate Kuehner (7-3, 3.57) will lead the way for the rotation. Ryan Hawks is an exciting sophomore arm who had a 4.96 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched. Will Koger had a strong summer on the Cape after limited innings at school; he had a 4.21 ERA with 25 strikeouts in as many innings pitched. A handful of freshmen in Tucker Biven, Gavin Kilen and Patrick Forbes are expected to contribute right away and give the Cardinals a core to build around for the future. Forbes impressed both on the mound and on the dirt this fall, and his rocket arm will allow him to compete for immediate playing time at third base. The Cardinals should compete for an ACC championship and be squarely in the College World Series picture.?
2. Miami (40-19, 20-10)
The Hurricanes entered the 2022 season ranked atop the Top 25 by some outlets and got off to an 8-1 start before dropping the last two games of their early season series against rival Florida. They sputtered a bit in ACC play later in the season, dropping series to Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Florida State, but still wound up hosting a regional in Coral Gables where they would eventually be eliminated by Arizona. However, Gino DiMare’s group is in prime position to again be extremely competitive. Projected first-round draft pick Yohandy Morales will be the center piece of the offense after hitting .329 with 17 doubles and 18 home runs in 2022.? First baseman/outfielder C.J. Kayfus is coming off an outstanding 2022 season in which he hit .366 with 21 extra-base hits, 16 stolen bases and more walks (38) than strikeouts (36). Dominic Pitelli is one of the best defensive shortstops in the country and increased production with his bat would be a huge benefit for the Hurricanes. Transfer Ian Farrow will be a key cog after slugging 21 home runs for Florida Gulf Coast in 2022.?
Andrew Walters (0-1, 1.65) and his electric fastball are back to anchor the back end of the bullpen, while a rotation of Gage Ziehl (2-2, 4.04), Karson Ligon (6-6, 4.90) and Alejandro Rosario (2-3, 7.05) will be one of the more formidable group of starters in the conference.
3. Wake Forest (41-19-1, 15-14-1)
After winning just 20 games in 2021, Wake Forest exploded to win 41 games last season and made its first regional since 2017. The 2023 season brings the highest expectations for a Tom Walter-led Wake Forest team and for good reason. The 2022 ACC Pitcher of the Year and potential top 15 draft pick Rhett Lowder will once again lead the rotation, along with righthander Teddy McGraw (5-2, 4.08) and heralded southpaw Josh Hartle (7-6, 5.30). Cam Minacci (2-4, 2.18) will be the Deacons stalwart at the back end of the bullpen, while Northwestern transfer and pitching staff X-factor, lefthander Sean Sullivan, will be used in a myriad of roles.?
While the pitching staff boasts loads of depth and experience, the starting nine is just as dynamic. A 1-2 punch of third baseman Brock Wilken (.272 with 23 home runs) and first baseman Nick Kurtz (.338 with 15 home runs) is one of the best duos in the country and will be surrounded by sophomore dynamo Tommy Hawke (.380, .502 OBP), utilityman Pierce Bennett, who hit .367 with 21 extra-base hits in 2022, former freshman All-American and Tulane transfer Bennett Lee and veteran outfielder Adam Cecere, who hit .318 with 14 home runs in 2022. This is a lineup that will have no easy outs. Hawke, Bennett and Kurtz all had more walks than strikeouts, while Jake Reinisch (.318) had 55 walks to 60 strikeouts. As one of the more impressive teams in all of college baseball, the Demon Deacons have Omaha aspirations and look to make their first College World Series since 1955.?
4. Virginia Tech (45-14, 19-9)
The Hokies are fresh off one of their most successful seasons in program history, as they won their first ever regional, en route to a three-game super regional series against eventual College World Series finalist Oklahoma. While the Hokies eventually lost in that decisive third game, they were 27 outs from Omaha and established themselves as one of the premier teams in the ACC. Center fielder Jack Hurley had a sparkling 2022 season in which he hit .375 with 23 doubles and 14 home runs, earning himself an invitation to Team USA’s Collegiate National Team. He is one of the best pure hitters in the ACC and projects to have another huge year. Third baseman Carson Demartini burst onto the scene as a true freshman, hitting .342 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs. Hurley and DeMartini headline the Hokies’ lineup, but Carson Jones could be a candidate for a breakout season. He hit .327 in limited playing time but had eight home runs in just 55 at-bats. That trio makes for a formidable middle of the lineup.?
Sophomore Drue Hackenberg is coming off a stellar freshman season of his own, pitching his way to a 3.30 ERA with 87 strikeouts across 92.2 innings pitched. He is known for his advanced command and barrel-missing sinker. Griffin Green (7-3, 4.83) will follow him in the rotation, while Miami transfer Anthony Arguelles should also play a key role on the mound. Although the Hokies lost a lot from last year’s roster, they should find themselves in the mix for a conference championship and another deep tournament run.
5. North Carolina (42-22, 15-15)
The Scott Forbes era is off to a roaring start in Chapel Hill as the Tar Heels have made a regional in each of the last two seasons, including winning the ACC championship and hosting a super regional last season. After getting swept by Miami and losing consecutive series to Virginia Tech, Louisville, Georgia Tech and Virginia the Tar Heels seemed dead in the water. However, after closing out the season with series wins against North Carolina State, Wake Forest and a loud sweep of Florida State, they were playing their best baseball at the perfect time. The Tar Heels rolled through the ACC Tournament, going 4-0 and punctuating one of the most impressive turnarounds of the 2022 college season.?
The best might be yet to come for Forbes and company as superstar sophomore and potential No. 1 overall pick in 2024, Vance Honeycutt, will again rove center field. He hit .296 as a true freshman along with 25 home runs and 29 stolen bases. He is one of the more exciting players in the country and is an early candidate to take home the conference’s player of the year award. Mac Horvath hit .268 in 2022 but had an unbelievable finish to the season; he ended up with 15 doubles, 18 home runs and 19 stolen bases. If the junior can put together a consistent full season, he has a chance to be a day one draft selection. Alberto Osuna will provide some big-time thump in the middle of the order as he elected to return to Chapel Hill after hitting 20 home runs last season. Max Carlson (4-3, 3.71) will lead the rotation after striking out over 10 hitters per nine innings, along with lefthander Dalton Pence, who did not pitch in 2022, but dazzled in the Coastal Plain League this summer, pitching his way to a 0.88 ERA with 35 strikeouts to nine walks in 41 innings pitched. Scott Forbes’ bunch is a force to be reckoned with in 2023 with talent on both sides of the baseball.
6. Virginia (39-19, 17-13)
Although Virginia failed to make it out of the 2022 Greenville Regional, thus ending its bid at a second straight trip to the College World Series, the Cavaliers still enjoyed a rather successful 2022. They won 39 games and many of their key contributors return to Charlottesville in 2023. Jake Gelof had a monster 2022 as he hit .377 with 15 doubles, 21 home runs and a whopping 81 RBIs in 58 games. Kyle Teel is one of the best catchers in the country and had a strong 2022 as well, hitting .276 with 12 doubles and six home runs. What sets Teel apart, however, is his strong arm and athleticism behind the plate as well as exceptional swing decisions in the box. Casey Saucke (.360) had a freshman All-American season in 2022 and will be a key piece in the outfield. The dynamic Griff O’Ferrall has a chance to establish himself as a household name in the ACC. The sophomore hit .308 last spring with 17 stolen bases but exploded in the Northwoods League this summer, hitting .343 with 19 walks to just eight strikeouts. He’s got a mature approach at the plate and can really run and defend.?
On the mound, Coach O’Connor will rely on the towering 6-foot-10 lefthander Jake Berry (5-3, 4.79) and Army transfer lefthander Connelly Early (7-4, 3.26) to anchor the rotation. The dynamic Jay Woolfolk and his electric arm will hold down the closer role, while a pair of freshmen in Jack O’Connor and Bradley Hodges also project to log meaningful innings. Always a well-coached team, Virginia will again be in a spot to be playing baseball well into June.?
7. North Carolina State (36-21, 14-15)
After a very solid 2022 season, the Wolfpack were considered a safe bet to be included in the final Field of 64 on Selection Monday. However, NC State’s name was never called, and its season came to a screeching halt. The surprises didn’t stop there as star freshman Tommy White announced his intention to transfer, eventually ending up at LSU. Replacing White’s production is a daunting task, but Elliott Avent had a massive pickup of his own in the transfer portal, snagging Team USA alum and freshman All-American outfielder Carter Trice. Through two college seasons Trice has hit .324 with 30 doubles, 31 home runs, 26 stolen bases and 103 RBIs in 111 games. He has an above-average arm in the outfield, has turned in plus run times, and his calling card is mammoth raw power that plays in games. He turned in a loud fall that saw his approach take massive strides, and with NC State’s track record in developing hitters it is easy to dream on the season he may turn in. Third baseman LuJames Groover III is one of the best pure hitters in the country with big-time bat speed, and he hit .364 last spring with 16 doubles and 10 home runs. Groover made the shift from first base to third base this past summer and his defense has taken enormous strides. He projects to have another big season and has a chance to hit 15 or more home runs.?
Noah Soles (.321) is another key bat for the Wolfpack as well as sophomore shortstop, Payton Green (.256). Green had an up-and-down freshman year, but he enjoyed a solid fall and should be a stalwart on the left side of the infield. Jacob Cozart is one of the more reliable backstops in the conference and figures to take a step forward with the bat. On the mound, Matt Willadsen (5-4, 4.19) and Sam Highfill (1-1, 5.53) lead the charge for Avent. Should they be able to pitch and stay healthy, NC State has all the ingredients necessary for a potential deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
8. Florida State (34-25, 15-15)
There will be a new face in the Seminoles dugout this spring as former Notre Dame head coach Link Jarrett takes over for Mike Martin Jr. after an underwhelming three-year stint in Tallahassee. The calling card for the 2023 Seminoles will be their impressive pitching staff. A weekend rotation of Carson Montgomery (4-1, 5.00), Wyatt Crowell (6-1, 2.12) and Jackson Baumeister (1-2, 5.60) will give Florida State a chance in every weekend series. Freshman lefthander Jamie Arnold also figures to play a role either as a midweek starter, long reliever or even fill in on some weekends. Conner Whittaker (2-2, 2.48) and Wake Forest transfer Brennen Oxford will be the names to know out of the Seminoles bullpen. Oxford had a down year statistically in 2022, but he had a lights-out summer in the Cape Cod League, pitching his way to a 0.44 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched.?
The lineup will be anchored by two sophomores in outfielder Jaime Ferrer and first baseman James Tibbs. Ferrer hit .320 as a true freshman with 19 doubles and nine home runs, and he picked up right where he left off with a loud fall. Tibbs possesses huge raw power, as he hit .300 with 10 home runs last spring. The most exciting player in the lineup might be freshman third baseman Cameron Smith. Smith will be an everyday player for Jarrett and has big-time power and an advanced approach at the plate, along with a big-time arm over at third base. The Seminoles should once again return to a regional and have aspirations to play beyond the first week in June.
9. Georgia Tech (36-24, 15-15)
The Yellow Jackets made their third consecutive regional last year on the back of a loaded lineup that featured 11th overall draft pick Kevin Parada (.361, 26 home runs), 70th overall draft pick and holder of the No. 1 batting average in college baseball, Chandler Simpson (.434), ninth-round pick Andrew Jenkins (.381 with 17 home runs) and 16th-round pick Tim Borden, who exploded onto the scene, hitting .335 with 20 home runs. However, that talent is now gone and with its departure leaves a gaping hole in the Georgia Tech lineup. Georgia Tech welcomes back three strong juniors in outfielder Stephen Reid (.333 with 16 home runs), third baseman Drew Compton (.275 with 14 home runs) and athletic outfielder Jake DeLeo (.286) and will turn to them and their experience to lead the lineup. Sophomore shortstop Kristian Campbell has a chance to turn some heads this spring after a loud summer in the Northwoods League where he hit .356 with 45 RBIs and 31 stolen bases over 58 games. Blue chip freshman Riley Stanford will also factor into the lineup.?
The ace of this year’s pitching staff will be John A. Logan (Ill.) JC transfer Terry Busse. In 2022, the 6-foot-4 righthander had a 3.29 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched. He features a fastball that will get into the upper 90s and a slider that’s above-average. Logan McGuire is another good arm, and although his 2022 numbers might not jump off the page, he has loud stuff and above-average command. The big-bodied southpaw Camron Hill is in the same boat; he had a 6.57 ERA last spring, but over the summer he had an all-star season in the NECBL pitching for Martha’s Vineyard, with an impeccable 0.75 ERA and 41 strikeouts to just four walks in 24 innings pitched. Sophomore righthander Aeden Finateri will also play a key role on the mound. While the Yellow Jackets lost a ton of production from their 2022 team, there still is some thump on the offensive side of the baseball, and unlike some Georgia Tech teams in the past, its pitching staff might be the strength of this year’s club.?
10. Duke (22-32, 10-20)
Going into 2022, the Blue Devils were coming off three straight regional appearances, including back-to-back super regional appearances in 2018 and 2019. Last year was an uncharacteristic down year in the Chris Pollard era as the Blue Devils failed to make the NCAA tournament. They are looking to bounce back in 2023 and in what has become the norm with a Pollard coached team, the Blue Devils are littered with talent up and down their roster. Offensively, it starts with star shortstop Alex Mooney. A superb athlete, Mooney had a great freshman season as he was the second leading hitter on the team with a .292 batting average. He also chipped in 10 doubles, three home runs and 12 stolen bases. Mooney was an all-star this summer on the Cape and showed more impact with the bat, hitting five home runs. Luke Storm had the most extra-base hits in ACC play last year with 20 (13 doubles and seven home runs), and he will be an impact bat in the middle of the lineup.?
Jonathan Santucci is one of the best two-way players in college baseball, and when he’s not starting on the mound, he will be in the outfield. He only had 13 at-bats last spring, but this fall he’s established himself as the team’s best power hitter and has gotten glowing reviews from the coaching staff. On the mound is where Santucci really shines, as he’s an athletic mover with a repeatable delivery, along with having two plus pitches in his slider and changeup. The physically imposing Adam Boucher will also be in the Blue Devils rotation. He took a nice step forward last year, finishing up the season with a 4.29 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched. Boucher has always had big velocity, with his fastball touching 96 on the radar gun, but this summer and fall saw his secondary stuff take a big step forward. Losing junior lefthander Luke Fox to Tommy John surgery this fall is a tough blow, but expect a trio of freshmen in James Tallon, Aidan Weaver and Andrew Healy to step up in his absence. Each received heavy draft interest out of high school and have really impressed this fall. There are some question marks surrounding the Blue Devils, but if the right personnel step up, they could once again be a dark horse in the ACC.?
11. Clemson (35-23, 13-16)
Clemson had one of the best head coaching hires of the 2022 offseason when it landed former Michigan head coach Erik Bakich. Bakich enjoyed a lot of success at Michigan, most notably leading it to the College World Series final in 2019. Under Bakich, the Tigers are seeking their first regional appearance since 2019. They fell short of that mark last spring, but return a lot of talent, especially on offense. Cooper Ingle (.351), Blake Wright (.349) and Ben Blackwell (.327) all return and will be the focal points of the Tigers’ lineup. Coach Bakich also dipped into the transfer portal and added Riley Bertram (.298) to round out his infield. Caden Grice’s production fell off a bit in 2022 after an impressive freshman season, but the two-way product has some of the most impressive raw power in the country and figures to bounce back this spring. Grice will also figure into the rotation for the first time in his college career. Ingle is one of the top catchers in this year’s draft class with an advanced hit tool, sound defense and great swing decisions. Blake Wright boasts a miniscule in-zone miss rate of under 5% and outstanding defensive instincts that play anywhere on the dirt. Clemson also has one of the more intriguing players in all of college baseball in Will Taylor. Taylor is a wide receiver on the Clemson football team and will play center field for Bakich this spring. He is a superb athlete who should impact the game with his speed and unique tool set.
Junior lefthander Ryan Ammons will lead the way for the rotation after putting together a strong 2022 season out of the bullpen with a 4.61 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched. Sophomore Billy Barlow had a respectable 2022 season, turning in a 4.84 ERA with 57 strikeouts in as many innings pitched, and he will slot in the rotation behind Ammons. Rounding out the rotation is junior Ty Olenchuk. Olenchuk doesn’t have big velocity, but he has strong command and pounds the strike zone. With Bakich at the helm, there is new life and excitement pumped into the Clemson program. He is an excellent recruiter and with an already-talented roster, expect the Tigers to be competitive throughout the season.?
12. Notre Dame (41-17, 16-11)?
The 2022 season was an historic one for the Fighting Irish: they reached the College World Series for just the third time in program history and for the first time since 2002. Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Statesboro Regional, they went 3-0, beating Texas Tech twice and host Georgia Southern to set up a showdown with top-ranked Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional. Notre Dame shocked the college baseball world, beating Tennessee on its own field. After opening the CWS with a win against Texas, its Cinderella run came to an end after two straight losses at the hands of Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
Between a veteran 2022 group and a coaching change, there is ample turnover from last year’s squad. They lose their leading hitter in David LaManna (.346), stud two-way player Jack Brannigan, and other contributors such as Jared Miller and Spencer Myers from their lineup, but the Fighting Irish do return perhaps their best position player in Carter Putz, who hit .339 last spring with 13 doubles, eight home runs and led the team with 48 RBIs. The team’s leading home run hitter from last spring, outfielder Jack Zyska (13 HR), also opted to return to South Bend. Outfielder Brooks Coetzee and his dependable bat also returned for a fifth year. In 2022, he was second on the Irish in home runs (12) and third in RBIs (43). Much like last season, the Irish will rely on experience to lead the way offensively.?
On the mound is where the Irish really lost a lot. Between the draft, transfer portal and graduation they lost a total of six major contributors and eight total arms. There is a lot of replacing and figuring out to do, but sophomore lefthander Jack Findlay is a star in the making. He split time last season between the bullpen and the rotation and finished up with a 2.17 ERA, which was the best on the pitching staff, and 54 strikeouts to just 16 walks in 49.2 innings. He has incredibly advanced pitchability and has a curveball that boasted a 45% miss rate. He can locate his fastball to both sides of the plate and consistently misses barrels with it. Findlay will get the ball on Friday nights. Even with their losses on offense and on the pitching staff, don’t count out the Irish to make some noise during ACC play and be in the hunt for another regional appearance.
13. Pittsburgh (29-27, 13-16)
Although the Panthers struggled at times last season, they tied their highest win total since 2013 with 29. Highlighted by series wins against Louisville, Virginia and Duke, as well as two wins in the ACC tournament, there are a lot of positives to build off of for Coach Mike Bell’s Panthers. Offensively, they will be led by veteran outfielder Kyle Hess. Hess hit .330 last year with 16 extra-base hits in just 100 at-bats. If he puts together a season in which he remains healthy, expect his offensive output to be even better. Another key returner is outfielder C.J. Funk. Funk was the Panthers’ third leading hitter last spring with a .298 batting average, while chipping in nine doubles, five home runs and 24 RBIs. His OBP was highest on the team by a fairly wide margin at .476, and an offense built around Funk and Hess has the chance to catch people by surprise. Tommy Tavarez enjoyed a solid true freshman season, hitting .256 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 30 games. The glove is the calling card with Tavarez, and he is one of the better defensive shortstops in the conference.?
Brady Devereux and Jonathan Bautista will be the two key pieces for the Panthers on the mound. Devereux was dependable in 2022 with a 4.58 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 39.1 innings pitched. Bautista’s numbers won’t jump out at anyone, but the true freshman showed promise last spring and looks to take a strong step forward this spring. The X-factor for the Panthers on the mound is sophomore reliever Kyle Demi. The righthander was spotty in a limited role last spring but had an outstanding summer in the Valley League. He had a dazzling 0.82 ERA and showed strong command with 27 strikeouts to five walks in 22 innings pitched. Look for the Panthers to build off a solid 2022 season and remain competitive in an extremely talented year for the ACC.?
14. Boston College (19-34, 5-25)
In three of the last four full seasons, Boston College has finished in dead last in the ACC. Despite having multiple day one draft selections and strong individual talent, the Eagles haven’t been able to put it all together yet. There were very few bright spots for Boston College in 2022, as it won just five games in ACC play, but it was also a young and inexperienced group. Much of last year’s roster is back, headlined by projected day one draft pick Travis Honeyman. After an historic 2021 summer in the NECBL, Honeyman led Boston College with a .329 batting average last spring, while also contributing nine doubles and six home runs. A wiry athlete, Honeyman plays a solid center field and has thunder in his bat. Hulking first baseman Joe Vetrano has light-tower power, and after hitting .309 last year with 13 home runs and 50 RBIs, the junior is looking to turn in another strong campaign. Outfielder Cameron Leary will have a big impact with his bat again after hitting a team-leading 16 home runs in 2022. To shore up the left side of the infield, Boston College added 2022 Patriot League Freshman of the Year Nick Wang. Wang hit .369 with 18 doubles for Holy Cross last spring and will hit in the middle of the Boston College lineup. Prized recruit Adonys Guzman has the best arm of any 2022 prep catcher, and he should compete for playing time right away.?
On the mound, the Eagles will be led by senior righthander Henry Leake. He had 54 strikeouts in 51 innings last spring and has an above-average changeup that he will throw to both righthanded and lefthanded hitters. Fellow righthanders Joey Ryan and Sean Hard each have big arms and look to improve on their 2022 seasons. Ryan was an all-star in the Cape Cod League, while Hard worked out on his own looking to refine his mechanics and add muscle. Hard has a big arm and he will run his fastball up to 97 mph. Lefties Charlie Coon and Matt Nunan should also log major innings for Coach Mike Gambino. They throw strikes and attack the zone, but the key will be improving on the quality of their strikes. The only way to go is up for the Eagles, and with a strong returning core on offense and last year’s freshman class getting loads of experience, look for Boston College to compete for a spot in the ACC tournament and be a thorn in teams’ sides this spring.?
Top 20 2023 Draft Prospects
- Rhett Lowder, RHP, Wake Forest
- Yohandy Morales, 3B, Miami
- Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
- Kyle Teel, C, Virginia
- Travis Honeyman, OF, Boston College
- Jake Gelof, 3B, Virginia
- Jack Hurley, OF, Virginia Tech
- Teddy McGraw, RHP, Wake Forest
- Carson Montgomery, RHP, Florida State
- Wyatt Crowell, LHP, Florida State
- Alex Mooney, SS, Duke
- Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Florida State
- LuJames Groover, 3B, North Carolina State
- Carter Trice, OF, North Carolina State
- Christian Knapczyk, SS, Louisville
- C.J. Kayfus, 1B, Miami
- Jack Payton, C, Louisville
- Andrew Walters, RHP, Miami
- Terry Busse, RHP, Georgia Tech
- Blake Wright, SS, Clemson
Top 10 2024 Draft Prospects
- Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
- Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
- Jaime Ferrer, OF, Florida State
- Carson DeMartini, 3B, Virginia Tech
- Jonathan Santucci, LHP/OF, Duke
- Jack Findlay, LHP, Notre Dame
- Casey Saucke, OF, Virginia
- Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
- Griff O’Ferrall, SS, Virginia
- Tommy Hawke, OF, Wake Forest
Top 10 Newcomers
- Carter Trice, OF, North Carolina State
- Cameron Smith, 3B, Florida State
- Sean Sullivan, LHP, Wake Forest
- Gavin Kilen, IF, Louisville
- Connelly Early, LHP, Virginia
- Ethan O’Donnell, OF, Virginia
- Bennett Lee, C, Wake Forest
- Jack O’Connor, RHP, Virginia
- Ian Farrow, OF, Miami
- ?James Tallon, LHP, Duke
Best Tools
Best Pure Hitter: Jack Hurley, Virginia Tech
Best Raw Power: Brock Wilken, Wake Forest
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Christian Knapczyk, Louisville
Best Athlete: Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
Fastest Runner: Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
Best Baserunner: Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
Best Defensive Catcher: Kyle Teel, Virginia
Best Defensive Infielder: Dominic Pitelli, Miami
Best Infield Arm: Dominic Pitelli, Miami
Best Defensive Outfielder: Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina
Best Outfield Arm: Jack Hurley, Virginia Tech
Best Fastball: Andrew Walters, Miami
Best Breaking Ball: Gage Ziehl, Miami
Best Changeup: Rhett Lowder, Wake Forest
Best Control: Logan McGuire, Georgia Tech
Comments are closed.