The college baseball season is heating up, and this weekend’s action saw the ACC, SEC, and mid-majors deliver standout performances across the board. Louisville’s Parker Detmers and Miami’s Brian Walters dominated on the mound, while Duke’s Kyle Johnson showcased his elite two-way talent with a grand slam. In the SEC, Auburn’s Ike Irish continued to prove why he’s one of the top catchers in the country, and South Carolina’s Ethan Petry racked up extra-base hits in another strong showing. Meanwhile, mid-majors made noise with Dallas Baptist’s Grant Jay launching multiple home runs and Troy’s Brooks Bryan reminding everyone why he’s a top power bat. With explosive offense, dominant pitching, and rising draft prospects making statements, this weekend set the stage for an exciting stretch of the season!

Below are the top performers from Sunday!

Atlantic Coast Conference

Covered by Ethan Kagno

Kyle Johnson, OF/LHP, Duke – 2 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 6 RBI, HR (GS)

The highly-touted two-way sophomore may be the best dual-threat prospect in the 2026 draft class. Johnson pinch hit for the Blue Devils and capped off a nine-run fifth inning with a two-run opposite field single through the right side. In his second at-bat in the seventh, he hit a grand slam pull-side to left center (102 EV, 400 FT, 29.2 LA), for his third home run of the season– already tying his long ball output from his freshman campaign (3 HR in 75 AB).

While Johnson’s results haven’t been as appealing on the mound in two starts thus far, he has showcased some impressive slugging and in-game power and collected his first multi-hit effort in a 18-1 victory over Cornell. The mid-90s southpaw will continue to get Friday night starts on the bump, hoping for better results in his third outing which is lined up at home against Northwestern.

Parker Detmers, RHP, Louisville – 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 9 K, QS, W

The younger brother of Angels lefthander Reid Detmers, Parker, bounced back following a tough first outing (3.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R/ER, 2 BB, 3 K) and dominated Western Michigan, striking out nine and walking none en route to a quality start. He asserted his dominance early, striking out the side in the first inning and pitching a perfect frame in the second. He possesses a lively mid-90s FB (T96), mid-80s SL with good depth, low-80s splitter with solid tumbling action, and a high-70s CB.

All six hits Detmers surrendered were singles and he pitched well to limit damage. “Today felt really good,” said Detmers. “I had all four pitches working for me … and when everything’s on, it gives me all the confidence, especially with my defense behind me.” The hard-throwing righty will look to take a big step forward in the Cardinals rotation this season and gives head coach Dan McDonnell a solid 1-2 punch with Patrick Forbes, both of whom turned in solid summers with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Detmers lines up to face St. John’s at home in his next start.

Brian Walters, RHP, Miami – 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 9 K, QS, W

Walters shoved for his second straight start this season, going six hitless innings in a masterful performance against Princeton. He’s heavily reliant on the FB/SL combo and occasionally mixed in a changeup to LHH. The fastball is up to 97 and sits in the mid-90s with good sink and commands it well. The low-80s two-plane slider has sharp break and pairs well off the heater. 

He struck out the side in the first inning and retired 12 straight following a HBP early in the second. Walters has carved out a weekend role in the revamped Hurricanes rotation that also includes Nick Robert and Griffin Hugus. In Walters’ first two outings, he’s posted an impressive 11.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 19 K statline for the ‘Canes who are off to a hot start. Walters could follow in his older brother’s footsteps into becoming a high-leverage bullpen arm at the pro level.

Jake Ogden, SS/3B, Miami – 3 AB, 3 R, 3 H, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SB

Ogden is off to a blistering start, adding to his .357/.419/.500 slashline with a 3-for-3 day at the plate in the finale of Miami’s four-game sweep of Princeton. The ‘Canes put up 36 runs in the series and Ogden was a large part of that. His day started in the first inning, singling up the middle with the bases loaded to score Michael Torres, later scoring that inning off of a Bobby Marsh grand slam. In the seventh, Ogden singled home sophomore Daniel Cuvet and advanced to second on the throw, and later scored from second on a Dorian Gonzalez base knock.

Defensively, Ogden felt right at home at shortstop, converting four assists in a solid showing on the infield. The UNC Greensboro transfer played 54 games at the hot corner last season and made 30 starts there in the Cape Cod League this past summer. He’s moved around the infield so far for Miami, appearing at 3B, SS, and even 1B. With Cuvet likely manning third for the foreseeable future, Ogden’s athleticism and range should help him seamlessly stay on the left side of the diamond for a majority of games this season.

Kane Kepley, OF, North Carolina – 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 3B, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 SB

It’s likely you’ll see plenty of Kane Kepley on the daily sheet this season. The Liberty transfer has some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the 2025 draft class and profiles as a potential top two round selection come July.

In a 9-6 game with two outs and runners on first and third in the eighth inning, Kepley took a first pitch breaking ball pull side down the left field line for a two-run triple, scoring Jackson Van De Brake and Carter French for a pair of insurance runs. “I wasn’t really expecting a breaking ball,” Kepley said. “I was sitting fastball and reacted … but I saw [the pitcher’s] curveball pop and was able to put a good swing on it … it felt really good because I didn’t come through with bases loaded earlier in the game so I wanted to redeem myself in that at-bat.”

Kepley has some of the best plate discipline in the country and has amassed nearly a 2:1 walk to strikeout ratio at the plate in all college competition. He’s barely dipped below a .450 seasonal OBP in college, getting on base in any way necessary. Kepley will be a mainstay atop the Tar Heels lineup with the innate ability to set the table for guys like Luke Stevenson, Hunter Stokely, and Tyson Bass, to name a few.

Jake Marciano, LHP, Virginia Tech – 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 7 K, W

Freshman southpaw Jake Marciano starred in his first start (second appearance) of the season, allowing no hits through four scoreless innings and surrendering a lone single after five frames. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder earned his second win of the new season after he appeared in relief on Opening Day against Bucknell, tossing three innings and fanning six. The highlight of his afternoon came in the second inning– Marciano was nearly immaculate– throwing 10 pitches (nine strikes) and amassing his fifth consecutive strikeout of his outing.

Marciano operates with a low-90s FB with carry, two-plane low-80s SL, and mid-80s CH with late depth. It’s a repeatable operation with short arm-action and garners solid extension down the mound. He sits into the back leg well and commands the zone. The young lefty could be a freshman to keep an eye on this season. 

David Lewis, 3B/1B, Virginia Tech – 4 AB, 1 R, 3 H, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B

The second Hokie to make the daily sheet, the senior hot corner put on an offensive display yesterday finishing a home run shy of the cycle in Tech’s 6-2 win over UNC Greensboro. Lewis tripled in his first at-bat off a liner to shallow left-center past the diving glove of Zachary Walsh in the second inning to score Treyson Hughes. His next at-bat he showcased some opposite field pop with a double to the right-center gap and later singled to shortstop in the sixth that knocked in Hughes for the second time.

Lewis started his collegiate career at Clemson before transferring to D2 North Greenville for his sophomore and junior seasons prior to coming to Virginia Tech for his final year of eligibility. The right-handed slugger totaled 42 long balls for the Trail Blazers and slashed .390/.476/.854 showing he had what it took to get back to ACC competition.

Alex Hernandez, INF/RHP, Georgia Tech – 5 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR

The two-way newcomer hit his second home run of the series, and seventh and eighth RBI of the week on Sunday in game three of a four-game homestand against Marshall. The two-run shot came in the third inning off a first-pitch fastball, as Hernandez hit a frozen rope to the opposite field (106 EV) that gave the Yellow Jackets a 4-0 lead. First to bat in the bottom of the fifth, Hernandez went pull side down the left field line for an extra-bagger and later scored on a Parker Brosius sac fly.

The freshman has been swinging a hot bat as of late and has shown his prowess on the mound as well early on, picking up a five-out save on February 16 against Old Dominion. The 6-foot-2, 188-pound righty relies heavily on his secondary offerings including a low-80s sweeper, a mid-80s changeup with fade; and a fastball that tops 93.

Marek Houston, SS, Wake Forest – 5 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 4 RBI, 1 HR, 1 SB

Marek Houston picked up right where he left off. On the heels of a 10-for-14 week, Houston delivered with his fourth home run of the season– an oppo-taco in the fourth inning off an 0-1 fastball on the outer half of the plate. He later drove in two with a line shot up the middle to give the Demon Deacons a three-run lead entering the ninth inning. Houston came into the game with a 1.397 OPS and is up to 19 RBI on the season which ranks first in the ACC. One of the top overall infielders in college baseball, Houston is likely to hear his name called early on Day 1. 

Big Ten

Covered by Jake Bargery

Devin Taylor, Indiana LF – 3 for 4, 4 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 Sac Fly

Ladies and Gentlemen, Devin Taylor has finally arrived. The consensus Big Ten player of the year and golden spikes contender didn’t have the explosive start to the season everyone had maybe hoped for, but he showed up yesterday against Harvard and hopefully, that was the spark he needed to get his season rolling. While Indiana never trailed in this one, Devin Taylor helped keep their foot on the gas by driving a two-run shot in the fourth, a sac fly in the seventh, and an RBI triple in the ninth. All of his tools were on display yesterday and I am fully expecting him to take this big performance and run with it. 

Taylor, as I already said, has been one of the biggest names in college baseball going back to last year. He has big time power to all fields and obvious strength with the frame to add even more. Both on the cape and in yesterday’s game, he was slapping the ball around at 100+ mph exit velocities all day long. The main concern with Taylor has been his pitch recognition however, he seemed to clean some of that up last year and last summer. Despite his slow start, Taylor is still firmly in the mix for all the major awards and for being selected in the first round of the 2025 draft.

Garrett Shearer, Northwestern RHP – 7 IP, 6 K, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, Win

Garrett Shearer follows up a strong start in opening weekend with another gem. After allowing a run in the first, Shearer settled down with a clean second inning, punching out two. For the rest of the game, he would only allow three more baserunners. The sophomore displayed resiliency as the score was 2-1 after the first and it remained that to the very end. Shearer is going to get the chance to continue his strong start next weekend in Durham against the Duke Blue Devils.

Shearer’s low-to-mid 90’s fastball with some big arm side run has been a major key to his success in his first two starts.He also possesses a tight slider usually sitting around the 80-82 range. Shearer’s go to out pitch though, is his changeup. He’s able to throw that pitch both in the zone for strikes, and also get batters to chase it when he needs to. He is a weapon for this Northwestern rotation and won’t be draft eligible until after next season.

Chris Hacopian, Maryland SS – 3 for 3, 6 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 HR

Chris Hacopian was all over the field, reaching base in all five plate appearances yesterday. He took a walk in the first, but never came around to score. Back up in the third, he hit a two-run bomb, driving in his brother Eddie and breaking the 1-1 tie. After a single and his second walk, Hacopian was back up in the ninth with bases loaded. He did pretty much what we expect out of the Terrapins at this point, hit a grand slam to give Maryland the lead in the top of the last inning. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as Western Carolina was able to steal this one away on a walkoff homer in the tenth.

Roch Cholowski, UCLA SS – 2 for 5, 5 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 HR

UCLA played Michigan State yesterday in a non-conference matchup in Corpus Christi. The Bruins were off to a slow start, finding themselves down six after just three innings. Inf the fourth, after a couple walks and a HBP, Roch Cholowski stepped up and delivered a grand slam to give UCLA the lead. After Michigan State responds by tying it back up in the fourth, Cholowski again homers to give UCLA a 2-run lead. They were able to finish the job afterward and take care of their Big Ten competitors.

Reece Beuter, Iowa RHP – 7 IP, 5 K, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, 72 pitches, Win

Reece Beuter was basically unhittable for the Retrievers of UMBC. Beuter came out hot in the first with a couple quick groundouts and a punchout to end the inning. He allowed one baserunner in both the second and third innings, but again worked out of them quickly. To end his day, he retired the UMBC hitters in order through the final four innings. The key for Beuter today was efficiency as he only needed 72 pitches to complete his seven-inning outing.

Beuter attacks early with his fastball that can run up around 96. It has good jump out of his hand and he’s done a great job this year at getting ahead early with the fastball. He also has a sweeping slider that he can use to both paint the corners and get guys to chase on. Finally, his changeup typically sits around 82-85 with some big sink to it. Beuter is in his first season as a weekend starter for Iowa and he has shown early that he has the stuff to remain there for the long haul.

Josh Fitzgerald, Minnesota RF – 2 for 3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 HR

Minnesota shocked the world yesterday by defeating our preseason number 8 team in the country, Oregon State. Josh Fitzgerald was held in check until the sixth inning, where he drove in two on a single to give the Golden Gophers a three-run lead. In his next time up, Fitzgerald would hit a solo homer to extend the Minnesota lead to four and that proved to be the dagger as Oregon State was unable to come back.

CJ Richmond, Purdue 1B – 2 for 4, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 HR

Purdue had a pretty low stress day against Niagara again and it was a lot due to the production of veteran, transfer first baseman, CJ Richmond. He was responsible for the first three Purdue runs of the game, smashing two homers in the fourth and the sixth. Purdue wouldn’t need too much help as they continue as one of the hottest teams to start the season. The veteran leadership of this team has a change to carry them to a potential run in the Big 10 this year.

Caden Aoki, USC RHP – 5.2 IP, 7 K, 5 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 70 pitches, ND

Senior right-hander Caden Aoki has been predicted by most to be the ace of this USC staff. While he didn’t have his best stuff against George Washington in opening weekend, he bounced back in a big way yesterday against Rice. He did sputter out of the gate again, allowing a few hits, a wild pitch, and an untimely error in the first that would cause 2 runs to cross. After that though, Aoki would only allow two more baserunners in the rest of his outing. The USC offense never got rolling in this one, so he wasn’t able to get the win; however he showed everyone his potential and how there are even better things to come for him.

Aoki came over to USC in 2023 following his freshman season at Notre Dame. After making eleven starts in each of the last two seasons, Aoki has solidified himself as the leader of this Trojan rotation. He has been a big strike thrower for the Trojans, with a career 6.1% walk rate coming into the season and is yet to walk a batter this year. His stuff isn’t the loudest in terms of velocity, but he is able to baffle hitters by the way he controls the baseball and puts the ball basically wherever he wants to. There’s a reason he was one on the Big Ten Players to Watch list and he is going to be one of the arms to pay close attention to in the conference as the season goes on.

Bennett Markinson, Northwestern C – 2 for 3, 5 RBI, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 HR

In game two of the doubleheader versus Fordham, Northwestern was trailing by two runs in the fourth when Bennett Markinson came up clutch with a two run shot to open up the offense. Markinson came back to the plate in the fifth and blasted a 3 run homer for his second in as many innings. From then on, Northwestern took care of business and completed the sweep of the doubleheader.

Brandon Anderson, Purdue – (weekend total) 9 for 16, 7 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 HBP

I wanted to highlight Brandon Anderson because he didn’t make my sheet for any single day, but as you can see, he was absolutely dominant in Purdue’s 4-game sweep over Niagara. Those numbers give him a slash line of .563/.667/.813 for an incredible 1.480 OPS on the weekend. It’s also worth noting that he only struck out once in his 21 plate appearances. While there wasn’t too much timely hitting necessary for the Boilermakers, Anderson delivered nearly every time he came to the plate.

Big 12

Covered by Rhys White

Brady Ballinger, 1B Kansas (Big12) 1-for-2, 2B, 2 R, RBI 

One of the best JuCo transfers in the early goings of this season, Brady Ballinger has hit the ground running at Kansas. Instantly being inserted into the middle of that lineup. He is your classic first-base masher type. Big power, good swing decisions. He is not much of an athlete over there, but that’s not important. He has easy loft in his swing and has been one of the better hitters in all of college ball, albeit in a two week sample. 

Logan Hughes, LF Texas Tech (Big12) 2-for-5, HR, 2B, R, 5 RBI

Not a bad day at the office for the Red Raiders hitters, and Logan Hughes was able to contribute to this with a bases clearing double. Hughes has a fairly linear swing and that allows him to get to pitches all over the zone. Like every Texas Tech hitter he is a former JuCO bandit. 

Smith Bailey, RHP Arizona (Big12) 5 IP, 3 H, BB 3 K 

Another quality outing for the freshman. Arizona is treating him with kid gloves on because he has had mono and gets sick really easy according to Arizona’s head coach. 66 pitches in this outing is not bad. Smith Bailey is able to maneuver his pitches all around the zone and just be solid. The arm action is a touch long for my liking, but on the other hand a pink glove is a baller move so they cancel each other out. 

Brendan Summerhill, RF Arizona (Big12) 2-for-4, 3B, R, 2 RBI, BB

There is just an air of smoothness when Summerhill plays. It’s solid across the board, with everything playing up because of the swing-decisions. But a 105 mph batted ball for a triple is nothing to sneeze at.

Brandon Compton, LF Arizona State (Big12) 1-for-1, 2 R, 4 BB 

And I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more, is what Brandon Compton was thinking to himself. The power and the patience give him a solid base-line as a prospect. Even if he is just a corner-outfield prospect at the next level. Teams seem almost afraid to pitch to Compton and are worried about leaving pitches that he could clobber. 

Nolan Schubart, RF Oklahoma State (Big12) 3-for-5, 3 R, 3 RBI, BB

Nolan just has steadily hit to start the season, it is a touch less power than I would have hoped but that’s not the biggest deal. He is basically a first-round bat with great power and a sound approach. Teams normally take this sort of hitter as high as the back-end of the top 10 all the way down to about 20. He has shown a willingness this year to go the other way when I have watched him that maybe thinks the hit tool is rounding up. 

Harrison Bodendorf, LHP Oklahoma State (Big12) 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K 

The Hawaii transfer is for a lack of abetter word wild at points. There isn’t a ton of velocity, hitting low 90’s high 80’s, but he has a big long sweeper and is a tough proposition for left-handed batters. Ultimately I think he ends up being a reliever, at the next level. He does have some cross body to his delivery, but the way in which Oklahoma State pumps out arms is a win for him, ultimately if I think a lot of them are just relievers. 

Isaac Cadena, 1B Texas Christian (Big12) 2-for-4, 3B

The Ohio Stat transfer just continues to hit, he isn’t catching much and that tells you what TCU thinks of him. But as a leftie-hitting first-base type Dana has more than enough juice and has shown enough contact in his brief college career to not just be outright ignored. He hits in the middle of this lineup and has a chance to be the offensive spark this team needs. 

Trever Baulmer, RHP Texas Christian (Big12) 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K 

The talented freshman had himself another solid outing for the Texas Christian Horned Frogs. Baulmer was bumping 93-96 in this turn through the rotation and looks every bit like an impact freshman. The curveball is probably the best secondary. TCU reloaded this year and Baulmer stepping in to provide quality innings as a freshman is going to be a massive win for everyone involved. If he can work on the slider and changeup he could look like a monster come the 2027 MLB Draft

Southeastern Conference 

Covered by James Weisser 

Ike Irish, C, Auburn - 4 AB, 3 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 0 BB, 2 K

One of the top catchers in this year’s MLB Draft had his first breakout game of the season at the plate, reaching base twice on two hits, including a two-run homer, and scoring three runs on the day.

He wasted no time making an impact, launching a two-run blast to left-center field on the first pitch he saw, an 85 mph fastball low and away. The home run traveled 385 feet with a scorching 105 mph exit velocity, showcasing his raw power and ability to drive the ball with authority.

In his next plate appearance, he was hit by a breaking ball up and in but later came around to score, displaying his aggressive baserunning and ability to impact the game beyond the batter’s box.

He capped off his offensive performance with a single to left field on an 0-1, 77 mph breaking ball, further proving his ability to adjust and find barrels against different pitch types.

However, his biggest statement may have come behind the dish, as he gunned down four baserunners within the first three innings (seven of nine on the season), further solidifying his reputation as an elite defensive catcher with a cannon for an arm and advanced receiving skills.

Even with his continued success and improvements behind the plate, Irish has been logging innings in right field since his time on the Cape last summer, adding another layer of versatility to his profile. His ability to handle multiple defensive positions while maintaining his high-level offensive production makes him an intriguing and well-rounded prospect heading into July’s draft. A big boost to his Catcher 1 resume would be proving he can consistently increase his home run totals and be a bigger threat in the XBH department. While his defensive prowess is undeniable, showcasing more impact power at the plate could separate him from the rest of the catching class and solidify him as the top backstop in the 2025 MLB Draft.

Ethan Petry, 1B, South Carolina - 3 AB, 3 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K

The reigning Cape Cod League MVP, Petry, was locked in at the plate, reaching base three times on a walk and two doubles while driving in two runs and scoring three as South Carolina rolled past Milwaukee in a dominant 14-4 victory.

In his first at-bat, Petry wasted no time showcasing his opposite-field approach, drilling a 2-0 fastball low and away into the right-center field gap for an RBI double before coming around to score. His next at-bat saw him continue his run-producing day, as he stayed back on a 2-0 breaking ball and laced a hard line drive that was knocked down by the shortstop, resulting in an RBI groundout to extend the Gamecocks' lead.

By the fourth inning, Petry’s presence in the lineup was felt, as Milwaukee opted to intentionally walk him, and he later came around to score his second run of the game on a wild pitch. In his final at-bat, he jumped on the first pitch he saw, a hanging breaking ball, roping his second double of the day to right field, further proving his ability to drive the ball to all fields with authority.

Petry's elite approach, bat speed, and power-to-all-fields ability were on full display in this matchup, reinforcing why he’s one of the most highly regarded bats in the 2025 MLB Draft class. If he continues to tap into his power consistently and further refine his already polished hit tool, his stock will only continue to rise.

However, Petry presents a volatile draft profile, making him one of the harder projections to pin down as July approaches. While his offensive upside is undeniable, teams will weigh his consistency and defensive value when determining his ultimate draft position.

Currently, we see him as a Round 1-2 lock, but his performance throughout the spring will dictate whether he cements himself in the first round or slides. 

Kade Kurland, INF, Florida - 3 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 4 RBI, 2 HR, 0 BB, 0 K

One of Coach O'Sullivan's most trusted veterans heading into the 2025 season, Kurland made an immediate impact off the bench in the bottom of the fifth. His first at-bat resulted in hard contact, as he lined out sharply to shortstop on a 1-0, 75 mph breaking ball, leading to an inning-ending double play.

However, he wasted no time making up for it, launching a two-run homer in his next plate appearance on an inside 70 mph breaking ball, sending it 363 feet with an exit velocity of 105 mph.

Kurland wasn’t done yet. In his final at-bat, he crushed another two-run homer, this time to left field on a 1-0, 93 mph fastball over the middle of the plate, ultimately sealing a walk-off, run-rule victory for the Gators in a 12-2 win over Dayton.

As one of Florida’s most experienced bats, Kurland’s calling card is his power, which plays to both sides of the field with ease. This performance was a strong early-season statement, and if he continues to impact the baseball at this level, his name will be firmly on the radar in day 2 talks as we move closer to July’s MLB Draft.

Stone Lawless, C, Tennessee - 3 AB, 3 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 K

The depth the Vols have is crazy! Lawless showcased his offensive ability in Tennessee’s dominant 11-1 win over Samford, reaching base three times with two hits, a walk, and a home run, while also crossing the plate three times.

In his first at-bat, he wasted no time, jumping on a first-pitch fastball and singling to left field. His plate discipline was on display in his third at-bat, where he worked a six-pitch walk, showing an advanced approach and patience at the dish.

The highlight of his night came in the fourth at-bat, where he crushed a 2-0 fastball that was middle-in, sending it 387 feet to left field with an exit velocity of 103 mph.

With Tennessee’s loaded roster, Lawless is making a strong case for more opportunities, and if he keeps delivering performances like this, he’ll be tough to keep out of the lineup.

Ethan Mendoza, INF, Texas -  4 AB, 2 R, 3 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K

The Arizona State transfer made a significant impact in Texas’ 4-1 victory over Dartmouth, collecting three hits, a home run, two RBIs, and scoring twice.

Mendoza wasted no time making his presence felt, leading off the bottom of the third inning with a bunt single, advancing to second on a throwing error, and eventually scoring the game-tying run.

His biggest moment came in the bottom of the fifth, when he launched an opposite-field home run on a 2-2 fastball, a 344-foot wall-scraper with a 95 mph exit velocity, marking his first homer as a Longhorn and the game-winning hit as Texas never looked back.

In his final at-bat, Mendoza continued to produce, singling up the middle on a 2-1 pitch low and away, driving in his second RBI of the day.

With his hit tool and ability to impact the game in multiple ways, Mendoza is proving to be a valuable addition to Texas’ lineup and a name to watch as the season progresses.

Cody Bowker, RHP, Vanderbilt  - 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP, Win

The prized portal addition for Coach Corbin, Georgetown transfer Andrew Bowker, delivered a dominant performance, throwing five shutout, hitless innings while striking out six in Vanderbilt’s 10-0 rout of Saint Mary’s.

Bowker battled early command struggles in the first inning, throwing 17 pitches and issuing a leadoff walk, but he quickly found his rhythm, sitting 92-94 mph with his fastball and closing the frame with two strikeouts.

He settled in during the second, retiring the side on just eight pitches, efficiently mixing in his fastball and slider. In the third, despite a 16-pitch inning due to only throwing first-pitch strikes to one of his first four batters, he continued to generate weak contact and controlled the zone well.

By the fourth, Bowker was fully locked in, needing just 10 pitches to sit down the side, getting all three outs on soft contact off his fastball.

His final inning of work required 28 pitches, as he worked in his cutter and changeup, finishing with six total swings and misses, including five off his fastball (26.3%).

While Bowker’s fastball remains his best weapon, his off-speed offerings will need refinement as he continues to build out his arsenal. If he sharpens his command and secondary stuff, he could emerge as a high-impact arm for the Commodores this season.

Robbie Burnett, CF, Georgia - 2 AB, 3 R, 2 H, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 SB

One of the plethora of transfers that arrived in Athens over the summer, the UNC-Asheville transfer has quietly been one of Georgia’s best hitters this season. Sunday may have been his most impressive performance yet, as he reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk, a triple, a home run, three runs scored, and three RBIs.

He opened the scoring in his first at-bat, ripping a 2-2 hanging 83 mph breaking ball into right field for a two-run triple. A misplay by the sliding right fielder allowed him to cruise into third before later coming around to score.

In his next plate appearance, he worked a five-pitch walk, displaying his patient approach at the dish.

His power stroke was on display in his third trip to the plate when he drove an opposite-field home run to left field on a 2-0, 87 mph fastball up and away. The blast traveled 362 feet with an exit velocity of 96 mph, showing his ability to drive the ball with authority.

To cap off his strong day, he reached on a hit-by-pitch in his final at-bat on a 3-1, 89 mph fastball low and inside. He stole second shortly after and later came around to score again, further proving his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.

If he continues this level of production, expect his name to gain more traction as a legitimate mid-round bat for July’s draft.

Wehiwa Aloy, SS, Arkansas - 4 AB, 3 R, 4 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 0 BB, 0 K

The biggest bright spot in the Razorbacks' lineup through the first two weekends, Aloy has been an absolute nightmare for opposing pitchers, consistently barreling baseballs and showcasing his offensive firepower. That trend continued on Sunday as he delivered a flawless 4-for-4 performance at the plate, capping it off with his third home run of the season. His ability to find the barrel with authority has made him one of the most dangerous hitters in the country early on, and if he keeps producing at this level, his stock will continue to soar heading into SEC play and into first round lock territory. 

Aloy has always been a hyper-aggressive hitter with serious thump to his pull side and immense strength throughout his frame. His power is his calling card, grading out as above-average to plus due to his exceptional bat speed and explosive rotational force in his swing. However, the biggest test for him this season will be his ability to consistently put the ball in play and maintain solid contact numbers. While his raw power is undeniable, his approach and ability to handle high-level pitching will ultimately determine how well he can translate that power into production at the next level. If he can refine his approach and prove he can adjust to premium velocity and spin, his draft stock could skyrocket as one of the most dangerous and coveted top-of-the-order bats in the 2025 draft class.

Mid-Majors and Independents

Covered by Brian Switzer II “Switz”

Grant Jay, C, Dallas Baptist (Conference USA) - 4 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 5 RBI, 2 HR, 0 BB, 1 K

At this point, Jay is becoming a regular on the College Daily Sheet, and for good reason. Over the weekend, he torched an overmatched pitching staff, launching four home runs and driving in 10 RBIs in the series, putting on yet another dominant offensive performance.

However, the challenge for Jay’s draft stock remains finding enough quality arms to face to prove himself as a top-three backstop or first-round talent. He’ll need to keep piling up performances like this, consistently punishing mid-major pitching until he gets the opportunity to prove himself against elite arms, whether it be in non-conference play, postseason matchups, or select opportunities throughout the spring. If he can continue to dominate inferior competition while capitalizing on his chances against top-tier arms, he could force his way into the early-round conversation. In our next board expansion and revised rankings he will be a top 5 catcher in the class and a top 100 college prospect. 

Brooks Bryan, C, Troy (Sun Belt) - 5 AB, 2 R, 3 H, 4 RBI, 1 HR, 0 BB, 2 K

Like a common trend in this draft cycle, many of the premier catchers in the 2025 class are emerging from the mid-major level and Brooks Bryan is firmly in the mix as a top-five college backstop in the country.

A Golden Spikes finalist in 2024, Bryan is coming off a breakout season where he showcased his elite power and run-producing ability, belting 18 home runs, driving in 85 RBIs, drawing 31 walks, and posting a .970 OPS. His raw power is among the best in the 2025 draft class, consistently producing impressive exit velocities thanks to his explosive bat speed and ability to barrel up baseballs with plus raw power.

After a slow start to opening week, Bryan had his first true breakout game of the 2025 season on Sunday, launching his first home run and reminding everyone why he’s one of the most imposing power bats in the class. If he continues to find his rhythm at the plate, his name will only rise up draft boards as the season progresses.

Like Jay, Bryan finds himself in that middle ground, where Power 4 bias may be preventing him from breaking into first-round conversations despite his talent and production. However, he does have his warts that can debunk this ideology; his offensive profile > defensive prowess (throwing out runners and framing), which could raise concerns for teams evaluating him as a long-term backstop.

That being said, his bat is loud enough to carry his draft stock, and his plus raw power, bat speed, and run-producing ability make him one of the most feared hitters at the mid-major level. Right now, he’s shaping up as a Comp Round to early Day 2 selection (Rounds 2-4), but if he continues to mash and shows even marginal defensive improvements, he could easily outperform his draft position once he gets into pro ball.

Nate Anderson, OF, Kennesaw State (Conference USA) - 5 AB, 2 R, 3 H, 4 RBI, 1 HR, 0 BB, 2 K

Entering the 2024 season, Anderson was expected to be a massive transfer portal addition, bringing speed, gap-to-gap power, and a veteran presence to the lineup. However, injuries derailed his season, limiting his opportunities and preventing him from making the impact many anticipated.

Flash forward to 2025, Anderson has gotten off to a slow start, but Sunday afternoon might have been the breakout performance he needed to get back on track. He was a double shy of hitting for the cycle, showcasing the power and speed tools that made him a priority addition out of Gardner-Webb.

Anderson got things rolling in his first at-bat with a hustle infield single to third, using his legs to beat out the throw and jumpstart the offense. His next plate appearance showcased his elite speed, as he blasted a triple into right field, driving in two runs. Then, in his third at-bat, he put his power on full display, launching a three-run homer to right field, giving Kennesaw State a three-run lead.

Unfortunately, in his final at-bat, Anderson flied out to center, narrowly missing the double needed to complete the cycle. Regardless, this was the kind of game that could kickstart his season and get him back on the radar as a key piece for Kennesaw State.