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Jamie Arnold (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)
Baseball America is tracking the outings of college baseball aces. Here are 15 (though this week includes one unique entry) who stood out in Week 13, plus honorable mentions. Players are listed alphabetically.
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Arnold delivered another clinical outing Friday, striking out nine over six innings while surrendering just one earned run to Cal. It’s the latest installment in what’s been one of the steadiest campaigns in the country, with Arnold again flashing his signature traits: a deceptive slot, mid-90s life, a sharp slider and a dancing changeup that’s still rounding into full form. The lefthander rarely deviates from his blueprint and rarely gives teams reason to question his pro projection. Among this year’s draft-eligible arms, Arnold might be the safest bet to log big league innings—and a lot of them.
Final line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2/1 R/ER, 2 BB, 9 K
Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Bremner might not have lived up to the preseason hype in full, but he’s doing everything he can to finish strong. The UCSB righthander struck out 10 over 6.1 innings Friday against Loyola Marymount, marking his fifth double-digit strikeout outing in his last six starts. His plus changeup remains one of the most dominant pitches in the college game, and when his command syncs up, few arms in the country are harder to handle.
Still, a season ERA hovering just below 4.00 has complicated what once looked like a sure-fire early-first-round draft profile. But outings like this and the several before it—he’s struck out 61 over his last 36.1 innings—remind evaluators what makes Bremner special.
Final line: 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
College baseball’s most unforgiving lefthanded fastball was exactly that on Friday night when Doyle used it to light up a Vanderbilt offense that entered play averaging nearly seven runs per game over its last six SEC contests. The Tennessee junior, who was consistently grabbing high-90s velocity despite battling a blister, struck out 12 over seven scoreless innings while allowing just three singles and no walks. There’s steady belief that Doyle’s lineup-crushing heater and sensational overall results could push him well into the top 10 in this summer’s draft. He owns a 2.17 ERA, 124 strikeouts to just 23 walks, the highest strikeout rate in the nation among pitchers with at least 60 innings and a 2.30 FIP, which ranks among the top five.
Doyle has also shown week-to-week growth in his ability to carry his premium stuff deeper into ball games, an element of his game that gave evaluators some pause earlier in the season. Barring a total meltdown in his final outing of the regular season next week, Doyle has thrown down one of the best individual pitching seasons in recent years and is a major contender for every major national award as a result.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 12 K
Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State
It ended only two weeks ago, but Joseph Dzierwa’s late-season rough patch, which spanned three starts in a four-week stretch, feels like a thing of the distant past, as the long-limbed lefty posted another dominant outing. Against a surging USC, Dzierwa didn’t allow a run and struck out eight over seven innings, bringing his total to 16 scoreless innings with 19 strikeouts over his last two appearances.
It’s hard to imagine Dzierwa’s name sticking around the draft board too long this summer, as his unique approach, height, arsenal and angles have combined to produce one of the nation’s elite seasons on the mound.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
Blake Gillespie, RHP, Charlotte
He might not be garnering the same level of national attention but, from a statistical standpoint, Gillespie is right there in the same conversation as the Liam Doyles, Kade Andersons and Kyson Witherspoons of the world. He’s just been reliably dominant. The righthander turned in another quality start Friday, punching out seven over seven innings while limiting damage to two runs against UAB. Gillespie’s low-90s fastball plays up thanks to deception and carry, and his precision with a sweeping slider gives him a true out-pitch to both sides of the plate. While others have drawn more headlines, few have been more consistently effective and even fewer have helped their stock more over the past two months.
Final line: 7.0 IP 4 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 7 K
Grayson Grinsell, LHP, Oregon
Grinsell continued his ascension with another surgical outing Friday night, blanking Washington over seven innings while punching out eight. The lefthander mixed pitchability with poise, scattering three hits and just one walk in a performance that reaffirmed his standing as one of the West Coast’s most reliable arms. Oregon has leaned on him all spring, and he’s delivered with strike-throwing consistency, late-life fastballs and a deepening feel for sequencing. The Ducks’ postseason hopes are built in part on Grinsell’s steadiness, and he’s showing every sign of being ready for the stage.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K
Davion Hickson, RHP, Rice
Hickson has rediscovered his form at the perfect time. The Rice righthander fired eight efficient innings against Wichita State on Friday, continuing a late-season surge that’s seen him allow just six runs over his last 25.1 innings. That stretch stands in stark contrast to a rocky mid-April slide, when he gave up 15 earned in four starts and saw his ERA balloon to 4.93. But Hickson, a Florida State transfer, has stabilized the Owls’ rotation and pitched them into a 9-5 run since April 12. His strike-throwing and durability are trending up.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Will Jones, LHP, Northeastern
Jones spun another gem Friday, holding his opponent scoreless over 6.2 innings while allowing just two hits and striking out seven without a walk. It’s the latest in a quietly-stellar season for the Northeastern lefthander, who now owns a 2.17 ERA with just 13 walks in 58 innings. His profile is unorthodox—a mid-80s fastball, sweepy slider and looping slow curve that can dip into the high 60s—but the results compete with any. Jones has been the tone-setter for the nation’s team ERA leader and a central figure in Northeastern’s run to the CAA regular-season title and likely tournament berth.
Final line: 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K
Jake Knapp, RHP, North Carolina
Knapp has already outpaced any expectations North Carolina could reasonably have had for him coming off a 600-plus-day layoff, and Thursday’s outing against NC State only added to his remarkable comeback. The righthander pitched into the ninth against one of the ACC’s tougher lineups, attacking the zone with precision and pitchability over 100-plus pitches. He now owns a sparkling 2.04 ERA over 71 innings and has emerged as a stabilizing presence at the top of UNC’s rotation, which hit its stride soon after Knapp took over in the leading role. Knapp’s story is one of resilience, but his results are more than just feel-good, they’re central to the Tar Heels’ national seed pursuit.
Final line: 8.0+ IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 4 K
JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Miss
There’s not much more to say about Middleton that we haven’t already written in a previous Ace Report. The Southern Miss righty has established himself as a force this year, and his draft stock has benefited accordingly. The Southern Miss ace racked up 10 strikeouts over eight innings Friday—his fourth double-digit punchout game of the season—while limiting Louisiana to just three hits.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, 3 BB, 10 K
Missouri Bullpen
This isn’t your typical Ace Report entry, but Missouri’s bullpen earned its flowers Friday night—and then some. The Tigers, winless in SEC play through 24 games, pulled off a stunner in College Station by rallying to beat Texas A&M 9-6, and the relief trio of Kaen Jacobi, Brock Lucas and Xavier Lovett was the backbone. The three combined for 6.2 scoreless innings, holding one of the SEC’s top lineups at bay long enough for Missouri’s offense to explode for six runs in the ninth.
The win doesn’t erase the struggles of the season, which instead offered a glimpse at a more patient, pragmatic approach coming from the top. Athletic director Laird Veatch acknowledged the program’s uphill climb last week in candid fashion: “That is an area … where we have not necessarily invested to the level that we need to, candidly.”
His message? Missouri doesn’t need a spin through the coaching carousel—it needs a commitment to long-term support.
“That’s a process,” Veatch said. “It doesn’t happen overnight.”
Final line: 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K
Jacob Morrison, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Morrison continues to be the steady hand at the front of Coastal Carolina’s rotation, and Friday was no different. The righthander carved through Louisiana-Monroe with six scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out six. His ERA now sits at 1.84 over 73.1 innings, a testament to the consistency and command that’s defined his breakout year. Morrison doesn’t overpower hitters, but he rarely gives them anything to square up and is a major reason why the Chants boast one of the most complete pitching staffs in the country.
Final line: 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Nuno Parache, RHP, Nicholls State
In the chaos of a hyper-competitive Southland title race, Parache delivered a statement. The Nicholls State righthander dominated Southeastern Louisiana, one of the league’s top teams, with a career-best 10 strikeouts across seven shutout innings. He didn’t walk a batter and allowed just two hits. Parache’s ERA now sits at 3.81 over 54.1 innings, and Thursday’s effort marked a clear high point in his season.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K
Zach Royse, RHP, UTSA
Royse picked the perfect night to deliver one of his best outings of the year. The UTSA righthander struck out eight over 6.2 innings against East Carolina, helping lock up the program’s 38th win and a regular-season AAC title. It was the first time Royse pitched into the seventh since late March, limiting a strong lineup to one run while pounding the strike zone. With the postseason looming, Friday’s effort was a timely reminder of what he can bring when he’s on.
Final line: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Evan Siary, RHP, Mississippi State
Siary delivered a masterpiece when Mississippi State needed it most. The righthander struck out 15 in eight shutout innings against archrival Ole Miss, carving through the lineup with complete control and dominant stuff. He didn’t issue a walk and allowed just six scattered hits, earning what might’ve been the most important win of the Bulldogs’ season. With Mississippi State sitting at 10-15 in SEC play entering the contest and likely needing 13 to stay in the at-large conversation, Siary’s gem could end up being a turning point. No pitcher in the country had a bigger impact this week.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 15 K
Zane Taylor, RHP, UNCW
Taylor continued his dominant form Friday night, striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings against Stony Brook. The senior righthander may not have prototype size at 6-foot, 200 pounds, but his high-effort, over-the-top delivery and deep arsenal have made him one of the CAA’s toughest pitchers to handle. Taylor works comfortably in the 92–94 mph range with a fastball that’s touched 98 at peak. He backs it with a sharp, mid-80s slider and cutter that both generate whiff rates in the low 40s. Taylor also mixes in a quality changeup and a seldom-used but functional curve. It’s the type of look that makes him a strong senior sign candidate with upside.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K
Honorable mentions
- Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 10 K
- Trey Beard, LHP, Florida Atlantic: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R/ER, 0 BB, 8 K
- Brian Curley, RHP, Georgia: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3/2 R/ER, 4 BB, 9 K
- Dominic Fritton, LHP, NC State: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 7 K
- Griffin Kirn, LHP, West Virginia: 7.0 IP. 7 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 3 K
- Ryan Prager, LHP, Texas A&M: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 7 K
- Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 6 K
- Jay Woolfolk, RHP, Virginia: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1/0 R/ER, 3 BB, 7 K
- Bryan Young, LHP, Rider: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K
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