No. 25 Indiana Baseball 2025 College Top 25 Preview

Image credit: Devin Taylor (Photo courtesy of Indiana Baseball)

Last season: 33-26-1 (15-9 Big Ten); eliminated in Knoxville Regional
Final 2024 ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Jeff Mercer (175-125-1, 7th season)

You can find our complete 2025 preseason Top 25 ranking here.

The Good News

After a two-year down period in 2021 and 2022, Indiana found its footing and posted back-to-back strong seasons in 2023 and 2024, which culminated in tournament appearances. Head coach Jeff Mercer expressed confidence that he and his staff successfully captured the momentum generated by those campaigns as they look to reach the super regional round for the first time since 2013 and second time in program history. The Hoosiers this year will lean on what again appears to be one of their conference’s best offenses, which includes Preseason Big Ten player of the year Devin Taylor and Preseason Big Ten freshman of the year Hogan Denny. They also returned second baseman Jasen Oliver and shortstop Tyler Cerny, who earned all-conference honors last year, as well as catcher Jake Stadler and third baseman Josh Pyne, who both received over 150 at-bats in 2024. Freshman first baseman Jake Hanley and Louisville transfer outfielder Korbyn Dickerson are also expected to earn starts. The Hoosiers led the Big Ten in scoring last year and are arguably the favorites to do it in 2025. Mercer also expressed confidence that his team improved defensively after it posted the second-worst fielding percentage in the Big Ten last season.

The Bad News

Indiana’s 6.53 team ERA in 2024 ranked among the bottom half of Big Ten teams and pushed Mercer to manage the depth of his staff, which he said was just as pressing as his squad’s defensive shortcomings. The Hoosiers brought back a number of upperclassmen to give their staff experience, including seniors Cole Gilley, Ryan Kraft, Ben Grable and Drew Buhr, all of whom are expected to serve in either starting or key reliever roles, though it should be noted that only Buhr finished the season with a sub-6.60 ERA. Indiana brought in Indiana State transfer Gavin Seebold, who appears poised to take over the Friday night role, but he too finished 2024 with an unsightly 8.27 ERA with a 1.78 WHIP and 23 walks in 37 innings.

Player To Know

Taylor thrust himself deep into the 2025 first round conversation last year when he hit .357/.449/.660 with a conference-leading 20 home runs and 67 runs while also adding 11 doubles, one triple, 54 RBIs and 38 strikeouts to 37 walks. After predominantly playing left field for the Hoosiers in 2024, Taylor will receive more opportunities in center as a junior, completing an upperclassmen trio up the middle with Stadler behind the plate and Cerny at short.

Path To Omaha

Indiana this season appears to have a great chance to reach the NCAA tournament for the third-straight season for just the third time in its history. It has the Big Ten Player and Freshman of the Year in its arsenal and returns several key contributors from 2024, giving it important continuity. The Hoosiers should produce voluminously on offense. Improvement on the mound would key their postseason success.

Projected 2025 Lineup

Pos	Player	Year	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	HR	RBI	Note
C	Jake Stadler	R-Sr.	.278	.416	.358	151	1	27
1B	Jake Hanley	Fr.							Mason HS – Mason, Ohio.
2B	Jasen Oliver	So.	.285	.362	.529	172	10	37
3B	Josh Pyne	Sr.	.291	.353	.414	251	3	39
SS	Tyler Cerny	Jr.	.315	.378	.525	257	10	60
OF	Hogan Denny	Fr.							Mooresville HS – Mooresville, Ind.
OF	Devin Taylor	Jr.	.357	.449	.660	241	20	54
OF	Korbyn Dickerson*	Jr.	.235	.364	.294	17	0	3	Louisville
DH	Andrew Wiggins	So.	.309	.466	.545	55	3	15
Pos	Player	Year	GS	IP	ERA	WHIP	SO	BB	Note
SP	Gavin Seebold*	Sr.	10	71	3.93	1.24	58	18	Southern Indiana
SP	Cole Gilley	R-Sr.	3	32.2	6.61	1.84	36	21
SP	Ryan Kraft	Sr.	2	26	7.27	2.04	30	18
RP	Ben Grable	Sr.							Injured
RP	Drew Buhr	Sr.	0	49	3.31	1.20	48	17