College Baseball
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10 True sophomores that are building upon strong freshman seasons

A great freshman season always garners buzz in college baseball. It’s a sign that there’s a new kid on the block and a new player to look out for on the diamond.

However, a strong freshman and sophomore season holds even heavier weight. It doubles down on the player’s potential and proves that they can maintain whatever success they cultivated in year one. 

Here are 10 true sophomores — five position players and five pitchers — putting together outstanding sophomore campaigns after a strong freshman year.

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Roch Cholowsky — UCLA, Shortstop

There isn’t a bigger climber on this list than the Bruins’ shortstop. 

Cholowsky had a strong rookie campaign for UCLA in 2024, leading them in batting average (.308) and hits (61) amidst a season spoiled by team injuries. He earned Second Team Freshman All-American honors by Perfect Game.

Somehow, the second year has taken his game to even greater heights. He’s batting .359 with 15 doubles and 18 home runs, leads the Bruins in over eight hitting categories and holds the best WAR (wins-above-replacement) in the country according to 643charts. He’s been the catalyst for UCLA’s rise to the second-best record in the Big Ten and is expected to take the program back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022.

A top prospect in high school, more All-American honors are calling Cholowsky’s name.

Kade Anderson — LSU, LHP 

Kade Anderson LSU

Anderson had a small sample to work with as a freshman, splitting his time as a starter and out of the bullpen with 38.1 innings, but the flashes of potential were there. He had a 3.99 ERA and shined in both the SEC tournament and NCAA regional round. 

The left-hander has lived up to those expectations, becoming one of the best starters in the SEC.

The Tigers’ Friday night starter has the second-most strikeouts (124) in the nation and punched out at least 10 hitters in eight of his 13 starts. A 3.66 ERA on 76.1 innings, Anderson’s must-see moment was a complete game shutout versus Oklahoma in April.

LSU’s ace didn’t receive any awards after his freshman year, outside of making the academic roll. His hardware case should look a lot different by July.

Justin Lebron — Alabama, Shortstop

The shortstop was so electric in his freshman year that he was named to the Preseason All-American team by NCWBA and Perfect Game before the 2025 season. 

And he’s lived up to the title.

The Miramar, FL native’s batting average is lower than last year, but the pop in his bat has bolstered. With 15 fewer at-bats than his 2024 total, Lebron already has twice the number of doubles (16), 17 home runs, and 65 RBIs — compared to 38 a year ago. The Crimson Tide’s captain of the infield has collected multiple conference and national awards so far, and it doesn’t look like he’s stopping anytime soon. 

Ricky Ojeda — UC Irvine, LHP

Between D1Baseball’s 2024 First and Second Team Freshman All-Americans, Ojeda tabbed the fourth-best ERA at 3.46 in the group as a freshman.

The left-handed reliever might top the entire group this season.

Ojeda has been lights out from the Anteaters’ bullpen, sitting at a 1.95 ERA— the fourth-best in college baseball. He’s 12-0 in 23 appearances, has held opposing hitters to a .176 batting average and has given up more than one run in just one appearance all year.

Garrett Wright — Bowling Green, Catcher

Garrett Wright Bowling Green

The Bowling Green catcher produced a hard-to-top freshman campaign after batting .380 on the season and earning the title of MAC Freshman of the Year. 

However, using the term ‘dominant’ may not be enough to describe Wright’s sophomore season. He’s stamped his name in the conversation for best player in the conference. 

He leads the MAC in batting average (.412) and on-base percentage (.519) amongst players with more than 100 at-bats, and ranks in the top five in hits, runs, triples and slugging percentage. Wright broke the program’s career and single-season record for hit-by-pitches. 

The Massillon, Ohio, native hasn’t taken his foot off the pedal since arriving at BGSU.

Tommy LaPour — TCU, RHP    

LaPour was Wichita State’s second-best starter as a freshman. Even though his ERA wasn’t the lowest (4.25), he held the third-best opposing batting average (.225) in the conference and secured the AAC Newcomer Pitcher of the Year award to back it up.

The flamethrower, who now dons the purple-and-white for TCU, is even more polished in year two.

LaPour mans the top spot in the Horned Frogs’ starting rotation with a 2.70 ERA — the second-best amongst Big 12 starters. In nearly the same amount of innings compared to 2024, the right-hander has shaved down on hits, runs and home runs surrendered, and upped the number of strikeouts. He was named NCWBA Pitcher of the Month at the start of May.

The right-hander has made the jump from the AAC to the Big 12 look seamless. 

Kade Lewis — Wake Forest, Infielder

Lewis stepped onto the scene at Butler with authority as a freshman, securing Big East Freshman of the Year behind a conference-leading .377 batting average. 

After taking his talents down to Winston-Salem, Lewis has upped the ante. Hitting .405, the second-best in the ACC, the third baseman hasn’t allowed his batting average to dip below .400 once all year. He has 31 RBIs in 51 contests, 55 total, and the third-most hits (75) and third-best OPS (1.170) in the conference.

Lewis was named to D1Baseball’s Midseason First-Team All-Americans list and given the Demon Deacons one of the best left sides of the infield in college baseball with shortstop Marek Houston. 

Jason DeCaro — North Carolina, RHP

Jason DeCaro UNC

DeCaro made the D1Baseball’s Freshman All-American First Team in 2024 and is putting together another strong campaign.

The right-hander started the season red hot, giving up just one run over 18 innings in February, but went through a rough patch at the beginning of ACC play, resulting in nine straight off days in early April. 

He’s gotten his swagger back since the hiatus, though, producing four consecutive outings that reminded Tar Heel fans of the old Jason. A 3.55 ERA and fifth-most wins in the ACC, DeCaro has been crucial in UNC’s return to a nationally top-ranked team. 

Chris Hacopian — Maryland, Utility

Hacopian had big shoes to fill when he came to College Park in 2024. His older brother, Eddie, started every game for the Terrapins in 2023, and their father, Derek, was the ACC Player of the Year for Maryland in 1992.

The Maryland shortstop stepped out of his elders’ shadows in year one, starting all 55 games and receiving a Second Team All-Big Ten nod. Now, he has made a statement in his second go-around. 

Hacopian has been one of the best hitters in the conference, let alone for the Terrapins, hitting .374 with 12 doubles and homers and 57 RBIs — better than last season in three categories. He caught fire at the start of May, going 12-for-19 in the team’s series against Penn State and tying the program record for hits in a game with six. 

Jacob Dudan — NC State, RHP

Dudan took Raleigh by storm in 2024, not allowing an earned run in his first eight collegiate appearances and recorded the second-most saves (6) on the team. He earned D1Baseball First Team Freshman All-American honors.

The Wolfpack reliever has turned it up a notch in year two with a 2.77 ERA across 19 outings, including nine straight appearances without giving up a run. He has struck out at least two in nine outings.

Dudan has thrived in the late-game role and has become one of the most reliable arms on NC State’s pitching staff.

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