2025 AAC Baseball Season Preview

Projected Standings (2024 Record):

1. East Carolina (46-17, 19-8)
2. Wichita State (32-29, 15-12)
3. UTSA (32-24, 17-10)
4. Tulane (36-26, 15-12)
5. Charlotte (24-34, 12-15)
6. South Florida (26-29, 11-16)
7. Florida Atlantic (28-29, 12-15)
8. UAB (26-29, 13-14)
9. Rice (23-36, 11-16)
10. Memphis (23-32, 10-17)

Top 5 Draft Prospects For 2025:

1. Dixon Williams, IF, East Carolina
2. Davion Hickson, RHP, Rice
3. Blake Gillespie, RHP, Charlotte
4. Jaden Gustafson, OF, Wichita State
5. James Smith IV, OF/RHP, Memphis

Team To Beat: East Carolina

The AAC has run through Greenville since 2019, as the Pirates have captured five-straight regular season conference titles. They’re armed with the talent to extend their streak to six, and it starts with infielder Dixon Williams (.308/.406/.490). Williams enjoyed a breakout sophomore season and proceeded to light the world on fire in the NECBL en route to taking home both the league’s MVP and Top Pro Prospect awards. Speedster Ryley Johnson (.339/.461/.476, 23 stolen bases) will again be a key piece offensively, while corner infielder Colby Wallace (.261/.363/.304) could be in line for a breakout season of his own after posting a .370/.464/.489 line in the Valley League this summer. Replacing Trey Yesavage and Zach Root at the front of the rotation is an impossible task, but highly touted freshman Sean Jenkins and sophomore lefthander Ethan Norby (4-0, 3.79 ERA) are a formidable one-two punch. Transfers Brett Antolick and Brad Pruett—who posted a 1.59 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 28.1 innings this summer—will also be key factors on the ECU pitching staff. Veteran righthander Jake Hunter (3-2, 4.05 ERA) logged 40 innings last spring and can be used in a number of roles.

Player Of The Year: Dixon Williams, IF East Carolina

After logging just 12 at-bats as a freshman, Williams last spring hit .308/.406/.490 with 11 doubles, nine home runs and 43 RBIs. His hot hitting continued into the summer with the Newport Gulls of the NECBL, where he hit .390/.500/.580 with seven doubles, four home runs, 33 RBIs and 17 stolen bases across 30 games. Williams made positive adjustments to his operation in the box—which is now geared more towards getting the ball up in the air and doing damage—and he will be the cornerstone of ECU’s lineup.

Pitcher Of The Year: Sean Jenkins, RHP, East Carolina

Very rarely does a true freshman assume the Friday starter role for his respective team, but Jenkins is in line to do just that. A strong and physical righthander, Jenkins re-classed from 2025 to 2024 and will be 17 for part of the season. He has a true four-pitch mix that includes a fastball that was up to 97 mph with riding life—it averaged over 18 inches of IVB this fall—two distinct breaking balls in a low-80s curveball and a mid-80s slider and a mid-80s splitter with which he does an excellent job killing spin. Jenkins generates whiffs with all four offerings and looks the part of a potential first-rounder come 2027.

Freshman Of The Year: Sean Jenkins, RHP, East Carolina

No, this is not a typo. Even if Jenkins does not start on Friday nights, he will most likely get the ball on Saturdays. He’s a strong, durable strike-thrower with stuff to boot and looks every bit the part of a future first-round pick. Jenkins profiles as not only the best freshman in the conference, but as one of the best freshman arms in college baseball.

Notable Storylines

●  Former Indiana State head coach Mitch Hannahs was named South Florida’s next head coach on June 8. He took home Missouri Valley Coach of the Year honors in both 2023 and 2024, and guided the Sycamores to five tournament appearances and one super regional appearance. Hannahs amassed 355 wins across his 11 seasons in Terre Haute and brings a lengthy track record of winning and development to USF.

●  In the 1980s and ‘90s, Wichita State was the class of college baseball. It made 18 tournament appearances, seven College World Series appearances and won the national championship in 1989. The Shockers have not enjoyed the same amount of success since the turn of the century, making the NCAA tournament just once—in 2013—since 2009. However, year one of the coach Brian Green era was a success. With an almost entirely new roster and minimal returning production from the previous season, Green guided the shockers to 32 wins and 15 conference victories. He saw year-over-year improvement in his two previous head coaching stops at New Mexico State and Washington State, and appears to have Wichita State headed in the right direction.