2025 Big Ten Baseball Season Preview: Predictions, Top Prospects

Image credit: Devin Taylor (Photo Courtesy of Indiana Athletics)

The ACC isn’t the only conference adding some West Coast flare this season, as the Big Ten welcomes Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington into the mix. Adding the aforementioned quartet of teams will help the conference in the long run, as at-large tournament bids figure to be more attainable given the increase in depth and talent.

As it stands, there are a whopping 17 teams in the conference, and there is an argument to be made that this is the most competitive it’s ever been. A number of teams—all of whom have tournament aspirations—will be jockeying for position at or near the top of the standings, and 2025 has the potential to be one of the more action-packed seasons for the conference.

Check out our complete Big Ten season preview below.

Projected Standings (2024 Record)

Oregon (40-20, 19-11 Pac-12)
Indiana (33-26-1, 15-9)
Nebraska (40-22, 16-8)
Illinois (35-21, 18-6)
Iowa (29-23, 14-10)
Southern California (31-28, 17-12 Pac-12)
Purdue (32-24, 13-11)
Maryland (34-22, 10-14)
Michigan (32-28, 14-10)
UCLA (19-33, 9-21 Pac-12)
Penn State (29-24, 12-12)
Ohio State (29-26, 12-12)
Rutgers (28-25, 6-18)
Michigan State (24-27, 11-13)
Washington (19-31-1, 10-20 Pac-12)
Minnesota (24-23, 11-13)
Northwestern (18-34, 4-20)

Top 10 MLB Draft Prospects For 2025

Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana
Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State
Jason Reitz, RHP, Oregon
Cade Obermueller, LHP, Iowa
Grayson Grinsell, LHP, Oregon
Blaine Wynk, RHP, Ohio State
Dylan Vigue, RHP, Michigan
Jasen Oliver, 2B, Indiana
Ryan Weingartner, SS, Penn State
Tyler Cerny, SS, Indiana

Team To Beat: Oregon

Oregon was one of four teams to join the Big Ten over the summer and is the favorite to win the conference in its first season. The Ducks return all five of their top hitters from 2024 in Chase Meggers, Maddox Molony, Drew Smith, Jeffery Heard and Carter Garate. The Ducks’ returning depth doesn’t stop there. Southpaw Grayson Grinsell will once again anchor the rotation after a career year in 2024. The X-factor on the mound is 6-foot-9 righthander Jason Reitz, a key transfer from St. Mary’s. Reitz struck out 65 in 48 innings last spring and then had a productive summer on the Cape. His stuff took another step forward this fall, and his fastball has been up to 98 mph with an average slider. After reaching a super regional in each of the last two seasons, the Ducks have the talent to reach the College World Series for the first time since 1954.

Player Of The Year: Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana

Taylor burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2023, but he took his game to another level in 2024 when he hit .357/.449/.660 with 20 home runs before a productive summer in the Cape Cod League. Taylor has an enticing hit-power combination, with each tool grading out as above-average. He is on track to be the highest-drafted player out of Indiana since Kyle Schwarber was selected fourth overall in 2014.

Pitcher Of The Year: Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State

Dzierwa made an immediate impact in 2023 and collected 60 strikeouts across 74.1 innings. He was the headliner of Michigan State’s rotation last season and pitched his way to a 4.07 ERA with 91 strikeouts to 27 walks in 84 innings. Dzierwa rode that momentum into the summer, and he didn’t allow an earned run across 11 innings on the Cape. A 6-foot-8 lefthander, Dzierwa possesses a low-90s fastball with plenty of armside run, an above-average changeup and a potentially-average slider. He is likely to be drafted in the top five rounds this summer and will again get the ball on Friday nights for the Spartans.

Freshman Of The Year: Hogan Denny, OF/C, Indiana

Following an impressive fall, Denny is in line to potentially be a member of the Hoosiers’ starting nine on Opening Day. He took home the state of Indiana’s Gatorade baseball player of the year honors last spring after hitting .473 with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs. Denny has a bat-first profile, and is strong and physical with quick hands and a present feel for the barrel. Indiana has had a freshman emerge as a key contributor in its lineup each year since 2022, and Denny could be next in line.

Notable Storylines

● The dissolution of the Pacific-12 Conference as we once knew it after the 2024 season meant a plethora of new teams had to find new conference homes. Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington have all joined the Big Ten and provide the conference with plenty of depth. It’s always been a struggle for the Big Ten to net at-large NCAA Tournament berths, though the aforementioned quartet should help in that regard. Oregon has College World Series upside, USC has been on a steady upward trajectory since head coach Andy Stankiewicz took over, UCLA is on track to bounce back after a down 2024 and Washington enters year one with incoming head coach Eddie Smith.

● The Big Ten has not sent a team to Omaha since 2019, when Michigan lost to Vanderbilt in a winner-take-all Game 3. That drought has a chance to be broken this year, as the conference has the most top-to-bottom talent in recent memory. Oregon has made a super regional in back-to-back seasons and is poised for a big 2025, but keep an eye on Indiana as a potential Omaha dark horse. The Hoosiers return three of their top four hitters—including potential first-round outfielder Devin Taylor and double-play combo Tyler Cerny and Jasen Oliver—have some intriguing talent on the mound and have made back-to-back regionals appearances.

● It’s the start of a new era for Minnesota, Ohio State and Washington. All three programs are under the guide of a new head coach. After former head coach John Anderson announced his retirement, Minnesota promoted former pitching coach Ty McDevitt to head coach at the conclusion of the 2024 season. The Buckeyes made waves this offseason when they hired former Campbell head coach Justin Haire. During his time in Buies Creek, Haire amassed 317 wins, was a four-time Big South Conference coach of the year award recipient and led the Camels to five NCAA Tournament appearances. Coach Eddie Smith takes over at Washington after a three-season stint with Utah Valley during which he spearheaded a remarkable turnaround for the Wolverines. After going 10-47 in 2021, they went 34-24 in 2023 and collected a program-record 18 conference wins in 2024.