Trey Beard, LHP, Florida Atlantic
Florida Atlantic has put together a great start to their 2025 campaign and Trey Beard has led the way on the mound. Not to discredit the rest of the staff, because they’ve been nails all season, as the Owls are pitching to a 3.86 ERA. Beard has racked up 62 strikeouts in 33 innings over six starts this year, which is tied for first in the country with Liam Doyle.
With a 4-0 record and 1.91 ERA, opposing batters are hitting just .169 against the southpaw despite only sitting at 91.1 topping out at 94, Beard has generated a 36% WHIFF and 26.7% chase rate on his fastball. With an over-the-top delivery, his heavy-fastball has a ton of late life paired with a nasty changeup that has decimated right-handed hitters.
Beard also throws a big curveball with a significant velocity change and tons of vertical break, sitting at 76.6 and has generated a 59.3% WHIFF and 25.8% chase rate. The variance in stuff and ability to land multiple pitches for strikes has made Beard one of the toughest at bats in the country.
Drew Whalen, RHP, Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky has been one of the most impressive pitching staffs in the country this year, finding themselves in the top-six in ERA, and WHIP. Drew Whalen is no exception to the rule, who has 35 strikeouts over 23 innings.
With a 4-0 record in five starts, Whalen holds a 2.88 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a .255 batting-average against. The sophomore has sat 92, but been up to 94 this season, and punched out seven or more hitters in four of his five starts.
Whalen has used an extremely effective cutter that borders on a slider that he throws 39% of the time and generates a 69.5% WHIFF, paired with his main off-speed, a splitter, which has fooled hitters all season and generated a 67.8% WHIFF.
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