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Judd Utermark (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)
The 2025 NCAA baseball tournament is set to get underway on Friday, May 30, with teams opening regional play across the nation.
To get ready, Baseball America presents the ultimate tournament guide with stat-focused break downs of all 64 teams. Check out the full list of regional previews here.
1. Ole Miss
The Rebels mash—ranking top 10 nationally in home runs (105), slugging percentage (.499), and wRC+ (114)—and they draw walks at a 13.3% clip, 34th-best in the country. That combination of power and patience is even more dangerous when combined with a lineup that includes five players with a slugging percentage over .540, including Judd Utermark (.553) and Mitchell Sanford (.588).
On the mound, Ole Miss has strikeout stuff in bulk. It ranks 10th in the country in strikeout rate (27.1%) and eighth in K-BB% (17.0%), driven by starter Hunter Elliott (94 strikeouts in 78.2 innings). The question mark here isn’t so much about talent—it’s about consistency.
The Rebels are capable of overpowering anyone, but their walk rate on the mound (10.1%) is just 74th nationally. When locked in, Ole Miss has the profile of a team that could hit its way to Omaha.
2. Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech’s statistical case is compelling. The ACC regular-season champions stack up favorably to host Ole Miss nearly across the board, ranking 15th nationally in batting average (.314), 11th in slugging percentage (.535), 31st in on base percentage (.415) and 18th in weighted runs created plus (123).
The Yellow Jackets are one of the most consistent lineups in the country, paced by elite leadoff man Drew Burress and his 18 home runs, .339 average and 1.173 OPS. Kent Schmidt, Kyle Lodise, Alex Hernandez and Vahn Lackey have all reached at least 70 hits and carry strong walk-to-strikeout ratios.
Georgia Tech’s pitching isn’t elite, but it’s deep and deceptively efficient. The Jackets had four regular starters work at least 65 innings. Jaylen Paden and Mason Patel have ERAs under 3.00, and Georgia Tech’s top five arms all carry a batting average against of .265 or lower. That depth might be what carries Georgia Tech through what is arguably the deepest regional pod in the tournament.
If this becomes a battle of attrition, few teams have more answers. The caveat: strength of schedule (31st) and RPI (21st) drag down the metrics some. Still, this is a top-16 caliber team. And in Danny Hall’s final postseason before retirement, that added emotion can’t be ignored—even if we’re deviating slightly from what the stats say to acknowledge that.
3. Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky enters the postseason with sparkling metrics—top-30 marks in runs allowed per game, ERA, WHIP, slugging and wRC+—but a strength of schedule ranked 185th nationally leaves major questions about how it will respond to top-tier opposition.
The Hilltoppers haven’t consistently faced this caliber of pitching or lineup depth, which makes their postseason ceiling difficult to peg. What’s clear is that Ryan Wideman and Ethan Lizama will need to be at their best. Each has posted an on-base percentage above .395 and a slugging percentage above .650, with Wideman serving as an epic offensive catalyst who can do a bit of everything (he also has over 40 stolen bases on the year).
On the mound, Drew Whalen and Jack Bennett form a steady 1-2 punch for a team ranked third nationally in ERA.
4. Murray State
Murray State is not your typical four-seed. The Racers boast top-50 national rankings in batting average, slugging percentage and runs scored per game, and their walk rate (14.1%) ranks 13th in the country—evidence of a disciplined, opportunistic lineup. They also enter with 38 wins and a 21-8 league record, signaling sustained success across the year.
Pitching is less dominant, but the staff’s 4.70 ERA and 5.41 FIP are plenty serviceable for a team that can bash with regularity. It’s an experienced, high-floor club that profiles more like a three-seed and could make life uncomfortable for Ole Miss on opening day of the tournament.
