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Kade Anderson (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos)
Baseball America is tracking the outings of college baseball aces. Here are 15 who stood out in Week 11, plus honorable mentions. Players are listed alphabetically.
Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
It’s hard to ignore the surge Kade Anderson is making toward the top of this year’s college pitcher draft crop, and his latest outing only added fuel to the fire. The LSU lefthander silenced one of the most potent lineups in the country, spinning 7.1 innings of two-run ball with 11 strikeouts against Tennessee. Anderson, who’s long been praised for his competitiveness, athletic delivery and ability to pair a fastball with two legitimate swing-and-miss secondaries, continues to show polish and power in equal measure. His latest gem against the Volunteers was another reminder of his steep, positive trajectory.
Final line: 7.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 11 K
Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Baseball America’s top-ranked prospect for the 2025 draft keeps making it look easy. Jamie Arnold delivered again Friday night, tossing 7.2 innings of two-run ball with 11 strikeouts and just one walk against No. 19 Louisville. Arnold has proven to be as advanced and consistent as any player in the country, with scouts widely describing him as one of the surest bets in the upcoming draft. Beyond his standout 2.39 ERA and 68 strikeouts to 16 walks over 49 innings, Arnold brings polish, poise and three legitimate weapons to the mound every week. It’s a combination that continues to separate him from the rest of the college class, if not the entire 2025 draft field.
Final line: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 11 K
Trey Beard, LHP, Florida Atlantic
Trey Beard more than delivered in one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the weekend between him and Charlotte ace Blake Gillespie, who we’ll get to in a bit. The lefthander carved through Charlotte’s lineup for seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out six. While the strikeout totals weren’t quite as gaudy as we’ve often seen from Beard this season, the effectiveness was every bit the same. It marked his seventh quality start of the year and the third time in his last four outings he’s completed at least seven innings. With his entire arsenal flowing, Beard continues to anchor the FAU rotation and build one of the most consistent seasons of any arm in the country.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K
A.J. Colarusso, LHP, Boston College
Making his Ace Report debut, A.J. Colarusso turned in a strong performance against a surging Miami lineup with eight innings and two runs allowed on three hits and as many walks. Though he was saddled with a tough-luck loss, the outing continued a noticeable trend of improvement for the Boston College lefthander, who has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in four of his last six appearances. Colarusso leans on a high-80s fastball and steady slider to keep hitters off balance, and his growing ability to sequence and compete deep into games has been a key bright spot for the Eagles down the stretch.
Final line: 8.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Colin Daniel, RHP, Alabama-Birmingham
Another Ace Report debut comes courtesy of Colin Daniel, who delivered one of the most dominant performances of the week Friday against Rice. The UAB righthander spun a complete-game shutout, striking out 13 while allowing just three hits and—perhaps most impressively—not issuing a single walk. Daniel typically relies on a fastball-slider combo, with the slider acting as his primary swing-and-miss weapon in a profile that’s otherwise more geared toward ground balls (over a 50% groundball rate). On Friday, though, Daniel morphed into a different animal, missing bats at will and flashing a new level of dominance.
Final line: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K
Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee
Jay Johnson didn’t mince words after seeing Liam Doyle this weekend, calling him the best pitcher LSU has faced since Rhett Lowder in the 2023 College World Series. Doyle showed exactly why with another dominant outing, throwing 6.2 innings while allowing just one hit and striking out six against three walks. The Tennessee lefty has been a force all season, leaning on a fastball that few hitters can handle and showing massive year-over-year gains in his strikeout and walk rates. Already over 100 strikeouts on the year, Doyle continues to look like a first-round lock and one of the most intriguing, competitive arms in the 2025 draft class.
Final line: 6.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K
Samuel Dutton, RHP, Auburn
Samuel Dutton continued his breakout season with another standout effort, this time against a desperate Mississippi State squad fighting for postseason life. Dutton tossed six strong innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out nine and walking only one. His success has been fueled by a refined arsenal, blending a lively fastball with improved feel for his offspeed offerings to keep hitters off balance. What once looked like depth for Auburn has become a legitimate frontline arm, making Dutton’s emergence one of the best stories of the SEC season.
Final line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Blake Gillespie, RHP, Charlotte
Few players have showcased the power of the transfer portal better than Blake Gillespie, who found the right fit at Charlotte and is now dominating week after week. Gillespie was brilliant again Friday, tossing a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts, four hits allowed and two walks against fellow AAC contender Florida Atlantic. It marked yet another deep outing for the righthander, who has now thrown eight or more innings in five of his 11 starts. With 99 strikeouts over 73.1 innings, Gillespie’s stock continues to soar as one of the biggest breakout arms in the country.
Final line: 9.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K
Grayson Grinsell, LHP, Oregon
Fresh off a complete-game gem against UCLA, Grayson Grinsell wasted no time stacking another big-time performance, this time in a massive series opener against rival Oregon State. Grinsell fired seven innings of two-run ball, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out five to help Oregon pick up a critical resume-building win. The lefthander has now delivered quality starts in five of his last six appearances, continuing to show why he’s rising in national circles. Grinsell’s ability to sequence his fastball and sharp slider while competing deep into games has made him one of the steadiest and most trusted arms on the West Coast.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Davion Hickson, RHP, Rice
In a tumultuous season for Rice marked by a coaching change and just 11 wins through 33 games, Davion Hickson has been one of the few steadying forces. The junior righthander turned in another strong effort against UAB on Friday, striking out 10 over 7.2 innings while allowing three runs on just three hits. Was it a perfect outing? No. But Hickson has consistently given the Owls a chance each time out, and amid a challenging year, he’s quietly put together a season worthy of real recognition.
Final line: 7.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R/ER, 3 BB, 10 K
Tommy LaPour, RHP, TCU
Tommy LaPour continues to look like one of the best workhorses in the country, delivering another elite outing Friday night against Baylor. The TCU righthander nearly went the distance, tossing 8.2 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out eight on a 123 pitches. Even late in the outing, LaPour’s stuff was overwhelming. He touched 100 mph on his 113th pitch, generating over 2,600 RPMs of spin and 20.7 inches of vertical break according to TCU’s baseball analytics account. LaPour’s combination of power, durability and strike-throwing has been a cornerstone of the Horned Frogs’ success all season.
Final line: 8.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R.ER, 3 BB, 8 K
JB Middleton, RHP, Southern Mississippi
Regular Ace Report readers need no introduction to JB Middleton, who has been a mainstay in this space all season—and for good reason. Middleton was dominant again Friday, tossing a complete-game four-hitter with eight strikeouts and just one walk in a blowout win over Appalachian State. The righthander continues to lean on a heavy fastball, a sharp, late-breaking slider and improved command that has helped unlock the best version of his game. With a strong, durable frame and a competitive edge that shows every time he takes the ball, Middleton has solidified himself as one of the most dependable frontline arms outside the Power 4 this year.
Final line: 9.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 8 K
Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida
Baseball America’s top-ranked college pitcher for the 2026 draft looked every bit the part Friday night when Liam Peterson delivered arguably the most important outing of his young career. Facing No. 7 Arkansas with Florida’s postseason hopes still hanging in the balance, Peterson struck out a career-high 13 batters over six-plus innings, allowing five hits, three runs and two walks. His changeup was a major weapon, showing effectiveness to both sides of the plate and helping him keep one of the nation’s deepest lineups off balance. The third run on his line came only after Peterson was extended into the seventh inning following a career-high 105-pitch workload when he issued a walk and was removed. It was a big-time showing for a pitcher who continues to ascend.
Final line: 6+ IP, 5 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 13 K
Dominic Voegele, RHP, Kansas
Dominic Voegele returned to the Ace Report with another statement performance, blanking Utah over 8.2 innings while scattering six hits, walking none and striking out five. The talented underclassman left just one out for the bullpen to manage, saving valuable arms for the rest of the weekend and giving Kansas a major boost in a critical series. On a roster built largely around seasoned upperclassmen, Voegele’s trustworthiness as weekend arm has been one of the Jayhawks’ most important developments—and a sign that their success has staying power.
Final line: 8.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma
Kyson Witherspoon continues to be as steady and dominant as they come, turning in another strong outing Thursday night at Georgia. The Oklahoma righthander fired seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out eight. Witherspoon leans on a power fastball that plays up with life through the zone and a sharp breaking ball that has become a true separator in his arsenal. His ability to pitch deep into games, generate whiffs when needed and manage damage has made him one of the most reliable arms, not just in the SEC, but nationally, and it’s catapulted him near the top of draft boards.
Final line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Honorable Mentions:
- Andrew Berg, RHP, Army: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R/ER, 4 BB, 5 K
- Jacob Frost, LHP, Kansas State: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 8 K
- Ben Jacobs, LHP, Arizona State: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R/ER, 2 BB, 11 K
- Colter McAnelly, RHP, Utah: 8.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 7 K
- Tyler O’neill, RHP, Bucknell: 9.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R/ER, 5 BB, 7 K
- Ryan Prager, LHP, Texas A&M: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 3 K
- Ruger Riojas, RHP, Texas: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
- Riley Quick, RHP, Alabama: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 7 K
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