2025 Big East Baseball Season Preview

Projected Standings (2024 Record):

1. UConn (35-26, 17-4)
2. St. John’s (38-18-1, 14-7)
3. Xavier (30-27, 12-9)
4. Creighton (35-17, 7-13)
5. Seton Hall (24-30, 7-14)
6. Georgetown (36-20, 13-7)
7. Villanova (17-34, 8-13)
8. Butler (20-35, 5-16)

Top 5 Draft Prospects For 2025:

1. Isaac Wachsmann, OF, Xavier
2. Ryan Reich, RHP, Seton Hall
3. Nolan Sailors, OF, Creighton
4. Nick Boyle, RHP, Xavier
5. Evan Chaffee, LHP, St. John’s

Team To Beat: UConn

Over the course of the last several seasons, UConn has not only established itself as the class of the Big East but also as one of the premier programs in the Northeast. The Huskies have made a regional in each of the last six seasons and have captured four-straight Big East regular season titles. Their success doesn’t stop once the calendar flips to June, though, as last year they advanced to a super regional for the second time in three seasons. Head coach Jim Penders and his staff have established a winning culture in Storrs, which is a trend they’ll look to continue this spring. It starts on the mound for UConn, who return a formidable one-two punch in the form of lefthander Gabe Van Emon (4-5, 5.88 ERA) and Ian Cooke (5-2, 4.81 ERA). Both have a wealth of experience under their belts, and Cooke is fresh off the best season of his college career. In the back end of the bullpen, look for righthander Brady Afthim to again serve as the team’s “fireman.” Afthim last year pitched his way to a team-leading 2.84 ERA with eight saves and 27 strikeouts across 25.1 innings.

While UConn lost its three leading hitters—Korey Morton, Paul Tammaro and Luke Broadhurst—from last season, it does return a strong offensive nucleus. First baseman Maddix Dalena (.242/.358/.511) swatted 13 home runs last season and has some of the most impressive raw power in the conference, while third baseman Tyler Minick (.266/.304/.525) has “breakout season” written all over him after an impressive showing this summer in the New England Collegiate League in which he hit .304/.380/.609 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs. Depth up the middle is important and UConn has no shortage of it. Catcher Matt Garbowski (.285/.387/.399), shortstop Bryan Padilla (.278/.376/.444) and centerfielder Caleb Shpur (.265/.372/.383) all return from last year’s roster. Garbowski is a steady presence behind the plate who knows how to handle a pitching staff, while Shpur fits the mold of a typical spark plug leadoff hitter. He’s a high-energy player who’s a plus runner and plays the game at one speed: hard. Between its returning core and lengthy track record of success, the Big East figures to again run through Storrs.

Player Of The Year: Isaac Wachsmann, OF, Xavier

After not playing in 2023, Wachsmann enjoyed a strong sophomore season in which he hit .330/.434/.692 with 13 extra-base hits—10 of which were home runs—and 20 RBIs across 28 games. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Wachsmann has a pro body with present strength. He has a strong righthanded swing with quickness in his hands and last spring flashed the ability to generate quality contact on a regular basis. Wachsmann posted a 90th percentile exit velocity and maximum exit velocity of 109.9 MPH and 111.5 MPH, respectively, while also showing above-average power to the pull side. Wachsmann’s 10 home runs came across just 28 games last spring, so it will be intriguing to see what he can accomplish across a full season

Pitcher Of The Year: Gabe Van Emon, LHP, UConn

The back of Van Emon’s baseball card last season was fairly modest, as he worked a 5.88 ERA with 64 strikeouts across 59.2 innings. However, he saved his best performance for last, as he fired 7.1 shutout innings in the Huskies’ regional-clinching victory over Oklahoma. Van Emon rode that momentum into his summer on the Cape, where he pitched his way to a 2.65 ERA with 22 strikeouts to six walks in 17 innings en route to being named an all-star. His fastball sits in the high-80s-to-low 90s, but it plays well in the top half of the zone thanks to its riding life. Van Emon also has an advanced feel for a high-70s-to-low-80s slider. Van Emon does a nice job of manipulating its shape, and it’s effective against both left and righthanded hitters. 

Freshman Of The Year: Stephen Curry, RHP, Seton Hall

Curry profiles as an arm who will make an immediate impact for the Pirates. He showed well during the fall and flashed a low-90s fastball along with a high-70s breaking ball. Curry has a quick, whippy arm stroke and is a name to follow in the conference both this spring and beyond.

Notable Storyline

●  UConn is on a mighty impressive run of four-straight regular season conference titles and two conference tournament titles in the last four seasons. It has made a tournament in each of the last six seasons and is poised to do so again, but there are at least a few teams who figure to be nipping at the Huskies’ heels this spring. St. John’s amassed the best regular-season record (38-18-1) of any team in the conference last spring, while Creighton was one of four teams who finished with at least 35 wins. If you’re looking for a dark horse to finish atop the standings, look no further than Seton Hall. The Pirates return a wealth of pitching depth, but also have some intriguing pieces offensively—especially transfer outfielder AJ Soldra (.345/.406/.483).