2025 College Baseball Preview: Omaha Predictions, Top Players & More

With the 2025 Division I college baseball season and the Road to Omaha just days away, Baseball America’s annual comprehensive season preview is here. You can find all of our preseason rankings, predictions, previews and more to help set the foundation for the upcoming season.

Of course, the ultimate question — who is going to win it all?

We’ll tackle that question and so much more below. And make sure to check back each day as we continue to add more coverage in advance of the season.

COLLEGE PREVIEW ISSUE

Crystal Ball Predictions

Before the first pitch of the season is thrown, college baseball experts Jacob Rudner and Peter Flaherty look into the crystal ball to make key predictions for the 2025 season.

National Champion

Jacob Rudner: Texas A&M

The Aggies returned three of the nation’s top players at their respective positions and added one of the country’s best transfer classes, giving first-year coach Michael Earley a premium roster poised for a run at the College World Series title.

Peter Flaherty: Texas A&M

After coming within one win of their first-ever national title in 2024, the Aggies return the vast majority of their lineup firepower and two-thirds of their weekend rotation. An impressive transfer class ensures that Texas A&M has the ingredients for a title run.

Omaha Sleeper

Jacob Rudner: Oregon

Ranked No. 19 to open the season, the Ducks have become one of the more formidable teams in the West. Oregon has an abundance of returning offensive talent and promising stuff on the mound for head coach Mark Wasikowski in his sixth season.

Peter Flaherty: UC Santa Barbara

The Gauchos are armed with one of the best rotations on the West coast, headlined by potential top 10 overall pick Tyler Bremner. In what has been the case in recent years, the Gauchos’ ceiling will be determined by how much they hit.

Player of the Year

Jacob Rudner: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

LaViolette earned first-team All-America status as a sophomore last year. He enters 2025 as the POY favorite and a strong contender to be drafted first overall.

Peter Flaherty: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M

LaViolette returns to College Station after a career year in which he walloped 29 home runs. He will again be the cornerstone of the Aggies’ lineup.

Pitcher of the Year

Jacob Rudner: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State

Arnold dominated as a sophomore with a 2.98 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 105.2 innings. He returns this season with an improved changeup.

Peter Flaherty: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara

Bremner was outstanding last season and worked to a 2.54 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 88.2 innings. He is armed with a thunderous three-pitch mix.

Freshman of the Year

Jacob Rudner: Rintaro Sasaki, 1B, Stanford

Sasaki hit a prep record 140 home runs in Japan. He has the juice to challenge the NCAA single-season freshman record of 27, set by Tommy White in 2022.

Peter Flaherty: Brodie Johnston, 3B, Vanderbilt

On the heels of a big summer in the Appalachian League, Johnston shined in fall ball. He has the hit-power combination to make an immediate impact.