The 2025 college baseball season is fast approaching, and the Missouri Tigers are eager to build on the foundation laid last year. Under the guidance of first-year head coach Kerrick Jackson, the team closed the 2024 season with a 23-32 overall record, including a 9-21 mark in SEC play.
After facing UCF, the Tigers will remain on the East Coast, traveling to Vero Beach, Florida, to participate in the Andre Dawson Classic.
Florida A&M – February 21
After facing UCF, the Tigers head south to Vero Beach to compete in the Andre Dawson Classic at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex. Their first opponent will be Florida A&M, a team coming off a 29-27 (22-8) record last season. Despite a disappointing finish in the SWAC Tournament, the Rattlers are aiming for a significant leap in 2025 and will kick off their campaign against a high-profile opponent in Mizzou.
Their hitting last year was led by seniors Ty Johnson and Sebastian Greico, who both hit over .330 with an OPS over 1.000. This team was old in 2024, with eight of their position players being seniors or grad students. There were only two players that hit over .300 on the team last year that were not, and those were junior Janmikell Bastardo and redshirt sophomore Brodey Poppell. Bastardo, an outfielder, is coming into 2025 after hitting .313 with eight doubles, eight triples and seven home runs and Poppell was right there with a .324 average with eight doubles and seven bombs. Redshirt sophomore outfielder Kim Ben was another huge piece for them ending the year with a .926 OPS and should be back this year to fill his role again. Others like Jordan Brown, a sophomore outfielder, and Jakoby Stanley, a junior infielder, are going to be expected to take steps into bigger roles.
On the pitching side of things, just like their hitting, they lost a lot. 11 grads/senior arms were lost from last year, but they were all pen arms. All three of the team’s starters from last year are set to return to their spots in next season’s rotation. Their top arm, junior Caleb Granger, will likely be leading the rotation again after a 9-2 season and a sub-3 ERA. His 73/24 strikeout/walk ratio shows that he is a pitcher that keeps it in the zone and looks for contact from batters. Behind him are freshman Carson Kelly (4.83 ERA in 2024) and Caleb’s brother, Jacob (6.19). They lost two of their top three pen arm, but junior Cody Williams is back and expected to lead them. One of three pitchers to log over 20 appearances last season, Williams ended with 5.06 ERA in 48 innings. The only other two players from last year’s pen are expected to be returning this year, with all the rest of them being either seniors or grad students last year; junior Trevor Hanselman and freshman Blake Pacheco.
Guys to look for
Jordan Brown
Kim Ben
Alabama State – February 22
After a disappointing year in 2024 for the Hornets, going 29-27 (18-12) after a 40 win season in 2023, the Hornets face their first SEC opponent that is not Alabama or Auburn for the first time since their game against Georgia in 2019.
Florida A&M’s offense last season was led by standout freshman Juan Cruz. Hailing from Apopka, Florida, Cruz made an immediate impact, hitting .388 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs, and 57 RBIs, serving as the spark plug for the team. Overall, the Rattlers boasted an impressive lineup, with all nine players who started at least 39 games hitting over .300. The lowest batting average among them was .311, and the lowest OPS was .764.
Among the returners, freshman Isaiah Landry stood out as the next-best hitter behind Cruz, batting .324 with 17 extra-base hits in his debut season. However, with many seniors and graduate students departing, the lineup will undergo significant changes in 2025. Players like sophomore Devin Chandler and freshman Yeriel Pastrana, who had smaller roles last year, will be expected to step up. Additionally, new faces like Carlos “Carlo” Colon, a promising recruit from Puerto Rico, could also make an impact.
Florida A&M’s pitching staff will rely heavily on the return of their two main starters from last season. Jorhan LaBoy, the team’s workhorse, is expected to anchor the rotation again after posting a 4.89 ERA across more than 88 innings in 2024. LaBoy was the only pitcher to start more than 10 games for the Rattlers. Right behind him is junior Jose Almazan, who made 10 starts (the second-most on the team) but struggled with consistency, finishing with a 6.10 ERA and a .300 opponent batting average.
The bullpen is young but experienced, with several returners set to play key roles. Leading the way is Caio Araujo, who made a team-high 21 appearances in 2024 and posted an impressive 2.48 ERA. He will once again be the backbone of the bullpen. Supporting him will be familiar faces like Austin King (4.98 ERA) and Jafet Martinez (6.02 ERA), both of whom are expected to maintain or expand their roles this season. Additionally, incoming freshman John Gonzalez could make a significant impact in relief, depending on how he performs early on.
Guys to look for:
Jamal George
Carlos Carlo Colon
John Gonzalez
Southern University – February 23
The Southern University Jaguars, the former stomping grounds of Mizzou’s Kerrick Jackson, are coming off another challenging season. The program has struggled to recapture the success of 2019, when Jackson led the team to a SWAC championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Jaguars’ offense in 2025 will closely resemble last year’s lineup, as much of the core remains intact. Despite losing their top bat, Southern returns several key contributors, highlighted by sophomore KJ White and junior Khyle Radcliffe.
White enjoyed a breakout 2024 campaign, finishing with an impressive .359 batting average, though he lacked power, posting just a .386 slugging percentage. Radcliffe provided the pop in the lineup, complementing his .346 average with 15 doubles and six home runs. Another notable returner is sophomore outfielder Kameron Byrd, who ended 2024 with a .300+ average, nine doubles, and six homers.
Stepping into larger roles this season are junior infielder Jalon Mack, infielder Dylan Jones, and junior Logan Sanders. After playing limited roles in 2024, they’ll have opportunities to fill the gaps left by departing players and make their mark on the lineup.
Pitching was a major weakness for Southern University in 2024, as the team finished with a dismal ERA north of eight. The Jaguars are likely losing their top starter from last year, a senior, but they return the only other two pitchers who made at least seven starts. Leading the rotation in 2025 will be Ranard Grace, who posted a 5.98 ERA in 11 starts, and Nick Luckett, who struggled with a 10.54 ERA in seven starts (10 total appearances).
The bullpen also took a significant hit, with many of their top arms graduating. Among the returners are Joseph Semien (5.83 ERA), Genesis Prosper (10.89 ERA), and Peyron Huff (12.54 ERA), all of whom will need to step up in bigger roles. Freshman Roberto Barreto, a promising recruit out of Puerto Rico with a Perfect Game rating of 9 and a fastball touching 89 MPH, could also factor into the staff.
With 12 seniors on the 2024 roster—eight of them pitchers—Southern’s 2025 pitching staff will be significantly younger and largely unproven, making their development crucial for the team’s success.
Guys to look for:
Dominic Joseph
Sadir Ryan
Nick Luckett
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