With fall practices complete and the college season less than two months away, it is becoming clearer which freshmen are in line to have prominent roles for their respective programs.
Last month, I wrote about 10 freshmen who are poised to have impactful roles in their first year on campus, and below you will find five more who fit the same mold. Although it’s just a sample, this is part of the lead up to a top 25 freshmen ranking that will be released in the coming weeks.
Rintaro Sasaki, 1B, Stanford
Sasaki sent shockwaves through the college baseball world last fall when he announced that he would be forgoing the Nippon Professional Baseball Draft to attend college in the United States. He would eventually commit to Stanford and was on campus by April, where he practiced with the team and continued to work with the coaching staff.
Sasaki made his stateside debut this summer for the Trenton Thunder in the Draft League, where he hit .221/.387/.395 with three doubles, four home runs and 17 RBIs across 26 games. He finished the summer with an outstanding nine-game stint in the Appy League in which he slashed .391/.913/1.508 with three home runs and eight RBIs.
At 6-feet tall, 289 pounds, Sasaki is as strong and physical as they come. While his carrying tool is his 70-grade power, Sasaki also has a feel for the barrel and consistently generates quality contact. He boasts thunderous bat speed, as well as sound pitch recognition skills. Though he’s limited to first base defensively, Sasaki’s offensive prowess makes up for it. He projects to hit in the middle of Stanford’s lineup this spring and has ACC freshman of the year upside.
Arnold “Jay” Abernathy, SS/OF, Tennessee
Abernathy had plenty of early-to-mid day two draft interest last July, so getting him to campus was a huge win for Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello and his staff. Though it’s still early, Abernathy has a chance to set the table atop the Volunteers lineup come opening day.
The quick-twitch Abernathy is not only a 70-grade runner, but also possesses plus bat-to-ball skills. He has plenty of quickness in his hands, and his swing is geared towards peppering the entire field with line drives. Abernathy puts pressure on opposing defenses, and his skillset enables him to affect the game in a number of ways. His speed and athleticism also translates defensively, where he is capable of handling either up-the-middle infield position and either centerfield or left field.
Abernathy this fall collected a pair of hits in both of Tennessee’s scrimmages and has seen time both on the dirt and in the outfield. With the Volunteers’ infield—from left to right—consisting of Andrew Fischer, Dean Curley and Gavin Kilen, Abernathy’s best path to consistent playing time will likely come in left field. However, he should seamlessly slide up to the dirt in 2026 since the aforementioned trio will all be drafted.
James Nunnallee, OF, Virginia
Nunnallee was drafted in the 14th round by the Milwaukee Brewers this July, but he never swayed from his commitment to Virginia. He lit the world on fire this fall and was one of the Cavaliers’ best hitters.
Nunnallee has an ultra-hitterish look in the box with an advanced feel for the barrel, quick hands and a polished approach. He uses the entire field and has shown impressive adjustability in his operation. It’s more extra-base hit than home run power right now, though it’s easy to envision Nunnallee adding impact as he continues to mature physically.
He is capable of handling all three outfield positions, but this season he will likely spend all of his time in either right or left field due to the return of potential top-five round pick Harrison Didawick.
Derek Curiel, OF, LSU
LSU netted the No. 1 2024 recruiting class and Curiel is a key reason why. The 6-foot-2 outfielder was always one of the more “famous” prep names in the 2024 class and garnered plenty of draft buzz. However, he saw his stock fall a bit last spring and eventually withdrew his name from the draft. It was a major recruiting win for head coach Jay Johnson and his staff, and Curiel has hit the ground running this fall.
It’s important to take fall numbers with a massive grain of salt, but it’s always better to perform than not. Curiel this fall finished second on the team with a .388 average, led the way with a .522 on-base percentage and his five doubles were tied for the second-most on the roster. He has a fluid, aesthetically-pleasing lefthanded swing that he pairs with a high-level approach and a present feel for the barrel. Curiel has an advanced baseball sense that is on display in the outfield, where he has strong instincts and takes efficient routes to the baseball.
The biggest question mark is how much power he’ll eventually grow into, but regardless, he figures to hit in the top-half of the LSU order this spring.
Myles Bailey, 1B, Florida State
A top 200 draft prospect on the final BA 500, Bailey instead opted to honor his commitment to Florida State. The hulking 6-foot-4, 257-pound first baseman was one of the most productive hitters this fall for the Seminoles and is poised to hit in the middle of the order come opening day.
Bailey has plus-plus raw power, a tool that was on full display during the fall. He has effortless hand speed, and his bat path is tailored for getting the ball up in the air with authority. Bailey’s biggest bugaboo as a prepster was swing-and-miss, though this fall he showed improvement in that area and consistently put the ball in play. I will be curious to see if that carries over to the spring or if it was just a flash in the pan. Bailey has no issue getting to his immense power in-game, and he has 20-plus home run upside in 2025.
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