The Division I college baseball season is nearly upon us, with games set to get underway at 10 a.m. ET on Friday morning.
For Baseball America’s final season-previewing act, we compiled a list of who we believe to be the top Division I player in every state.
It’s important to note that the following list considered factors like collegiate production and projected impact over each player’s draft profile, though oftentimes a state’s top collegiate draft prospect also earned the title of top player. There are also five states without Division I baseball–Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Vermont and Wyoming–and in those cases we picked either the top player from those states, or a player outside of Division I who will make an impact this season.
We also took into consideration 64Analytics.com’s Weighted Run Allowed Efficiency (wRAE) and Weighted Run Created Efficiency (wRCE) metrics, which are college-adjusted versions of the Runs Created statistics used to evaluate professional players.
So without further ado, here are Baseball America’s top Division I players in every state heading into the 2025 season:
Alabama: Ike Irish, C, Auburn
Few players in the country come into 2025 with as enticing an offensive profile as Auburn backstop Ike Irish, who is entering his third and almost certainly final collegiate season. Irish last season hit .319/.403/.627 with 11 doubles, 14 home runs and 59 RBIs en route to All-SEC honors and this season was named a Baseball America Preseason Second-Team All-American. Irish was the only player from an Alabama college to be included on BA’s Preseason All-American teams.
Alaska*: Coen Niclai, C, Oregon
Alaska is one of just five states without Division I college baseball, so we decided to highlight Coen Niclai, who was a force throughout his prep career at Service High School in Anchorage. Niclai was a two-time Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year and was selected by the Marlins in the 15th round of the 2024 draft. Niclai ultimately honored his commitment to Oregon, where he’ll look to hone his craft before attempting to become just the 13th Alaskan to reach the majors.
Arizona: Brendan Summerhill, OF, Arizona
Arizona outfielder Brendan Summerhill emerges from a deep group of intriguing selections. He checks plenty of boxes as a preseason First Team All-American, one of the Big 12’s top draft prospects and a mainstay in a potent Wildcats lineup. He’s a well-rounded outfielder coming off a loud summer on the Cape and has a chance to become a first-round pick. He narrowly edged out a pair of Arizona State outfielders in Brandon Compton and Kien Vu, who batted .413/.497/.793 with 14 home runs, 56 RBIs and 12 stolen bases last year.
Arkansas: Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Arkansas
Selected by MLB scouting departments as a Preseason First-Team All-American, Arkansas righty Gabe Gaeckle has the stuff to dominate in his first season as a starting pitcher. A leverage reliever for the Razorbacks last year, Gaeckle has the tools to overpower hitters with an upper-90s fastball, plus hammer curveball and sharp slider that has also shown the makings of a third plus offering. The righty will open the season as Arkansas’ ace.
California: Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara
Gauchos head coach Andrew Checketts has yet another bonafide ace to lead his mid-major powerhouse in righty Tyler Bremner, an elite draft prospect with the results to boot. Bremner last season dominated to the tune of a 2.54 ERA with 104 strikeouts against just 21 walks in 88.2 innings while featuring a mid-to-high-90s heater and one of the best changeups in college baseball. Bremner is a preseason All-American and should be a candidate for every major collegiate award this year, barring unforeseen struggles.
Colorado: Chase Spencer, OF, Air Force
One of the Mountain West’s most experienced players entering the season, Air Force outfielder Chase Spencer already has nearly 600 career plate appearances and maintained a .304/.404/.480 line with 44 stolen bases, all of which have come in the last seasons including 26 last year. He also generated a 49.70 wRCE and career-best 18.85% strikeout percentage as a junior in 2024.
Connecticut: Gabe Van Emon, LHP, UConn
Selected as Baseball America’s Preseason Big East Pitcher of the year, UConn southpaw Gabe Van Emon showed that he has what it takes to be a force on the mound with a great showing in the Cape Cod League over the summer when he posted a 2.65 ERA with 22 strikeouts to six walks in 17 innings. Van Emon is the top returning talent for a Huskies program that hasn’t missed an NCAA Tournament since 2017.
Delaware: Evan Bouldin, 2B/RHP, Delaware
Two-way player Evan Bouldin enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign at Delaware State last season when he hit .383/.434/.553 with seven home runs, 16 doubles and 39 RBIs (all career bests) and also pitched 28.2 innings with a 4.08 ERA and 35 strikeouts at Delaware State in 2024. Now a member of Delaware’s squad, Bouldin figures to be a factor in the infield and on the mound as a reliever, making him one of the most valuable players in the CAA, which is loaded with talent.
Florida: Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Like Bremner at UC Santa Barbara, Jamie Arnold is the clear choice in his state given his pure dominance on the mound and status as one of the most coveted arms in the upcoming draft. Arnold pitched his way to a 2.98 ERA with 159 strikeouts against just 26 walks in 105.2 innings as a sophomore last season and this year was the only unanimous Preseason All-American as a result. Arnold and Bremner are the early favorites from Pitcher of the Year honors.
Georgia: Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech
One of the most valuable players in the nation last season despite being just a true freshman, Georgia Tech outfielder Drew Burress generated a staggering 115.75 wRCE (No. 13 nationally) and batted .381/.512/.821 with 25 home runs, 15 doubles and 67 RBIs which unsurprisingly led to Preseason All-American status this year. Burress has a chance to put up monstrous career home run totals as he isn’t draft eligible until next year.
Hawaii: Itsuki Takemoto, RHP, Hawaii
A 6-foot-3, 200-pound righty born in Japan, Itsuki Takemoto broke out as a freshman for Hawaii last season, appearing on both sides of the ball but making the bulk of his impact on the mound, where he pitched to a 4.10 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 37.1 innings. Takemoto then took full advantage of an invite to the Cape Cod League, where he posted an 0.71 ERA in 25.2 innings and won most outstanding pitcher. He’s a key returning piece in Hawaii’s promising pitching staff.
Idaho*: Dax Whitney, RHP, Oregon State
We’ve reached our second state that is void of Division I baseball so, as we did with Alaska, we’re picking our favorite player from Idaho. This year it goes to Oregon State freshman righty Dax Whitney. There’s no denying Whitney’s talent, according to those who have seen him throw in his first few months on campus. The Beavers clearly shared in the sentiment as the first-year college player is set to open the season as the team’s Saturday starter, making him one of the more important first-year players in the nation.
Illinois: Nick Groves, OF, Illinois
Niagara transfer outfielder Nick Groves might not offer as much power as some of the other hitters on this list but few share his ability to make quality contact, which could make him one of the best table-setting bats in the Big Ten this season. Groves last year hit .326/.448/.460 with 18 extra base hits, 38 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, a 1:1 strikeout to walk ratio and a minuscule 12% chase rate while working a 91% overall contact rate and 94% overall in-zone contact rate.
Indiana: Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana
The Hoosiers were one of just two Big Ten teams to crack Baseball America’s preseason Top 25, which was largely a byproduct of outfielder Devin Taylor’s presence. A Player of the Year candidate, Taylor over the last two seasons owns a combined .338/.441/.655 line with 36 home runs, 24 doubles, 113 RBIs and nearly as many walks (73) as he has strikeouts (84). If he can stay on that same trajectory this year, Taylor could be picked closer to the top of the first round than the bottom.
Iowa: Cade Obermueller, LHP, Iowa
Cade Obermueller shared the spotlight in Iowa’s rotation a season ago with RHPs Brody Brecht and Marcus Morgan and pitched to a 3.92 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 59.2 innings in 2024. The Rangers drafted him in the 19th round, but he opted to instead return to school, where he’s now the headliner as Iowa’s Friday night starter. The low-slot lefty was up to 95 mph a year ago despite his smaller frame and could boost his stock even further by pitching with better command this spring.
Kansas: Dominic Voegele, RHP, Kansas
After turning down the opportunity to turn pro out of high school when he was selected in the 20th round of the 2023 draft by the Diamondbacks, righty Dominic Voegele shined as a true freshman, making 15 starts and pitching to a 3.89 ERA with 80 strikeouts to 29 walks in 81 innings, which led to Baseball America First-Team Freshman All-American status. Voegele posted a 91.43 wRAE last season, which ranked fifth among true freshmen who threw at least 75 innings.
Kentucky: Garret Pike, OF, Louisville
Former Toledo outfielder Garret Pike will get his first test of Power 4 baseball this year after transferring to Louisville, where he’ll step into a starting outfield spot and look to continue the success he generated at his previous stop. Pike last season hit .360/.435/.670 with 21 home runs and nine doubles. If he can repeat that with Louisville, Pike would be a force in a loaded ACC.
Louisiana: Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU
Louisiana’s a tricky state. We wouldn’t fault you if you preferred 1B Jared Jones, who bashed 28 homers last season and has a chance to enter the 30-homer club in 2025. Postseason hero Steven Milam is also a solid option. But we ultimately settled on Kade Anderson, who struck out 59 batters in 38.1 innings last year for the Tigers with a fastball that has reached 96 mph to go along with a plus curve. We’re eager to see what happens once he settles into a consistent starting role for one of the best teams in the country.
Maine: Gianni Gambradella, RHP, Maine
A 6-foot-2, 205-pound righty from West Haven, Connecticut, Gianni Gambradella posted modest numbers last year as a sophomore, particularly a 5.68 ERA. But BA likes the righthander’s chances to bounce back this season and more closely mirror his results from his freshman year in 2023 when he pitched a 3.90 ERA in 57.2 innings. While his ERA rose last year, Gambradella missed more bats and surrendered fewer home runs, which are positive signs.
Maryland: Chris Hacopian, INF, Maryland
Chris Hacopian left little doubt about his readiness for college baseball last season when he hit .323/.431/.579 with 15 home runs, 42 RBIs and more walks (30) than strikeouts (26). Hacopian made 47 appearances at third in his breakout campaign but could slide over to shortstop this season after manning the position comfortably over the summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Massachusetts: Josiah Ragsdale, OF, Boston College
Boston College perhaps scored its biggest win of the transfer portal era this offseason when it landed a commitment from former Iona outfielder Josiah Ragsdale. A twitchy athlete who makes sound contact, Ragsdale last year batted .385/.470/.646 and then went on to enjoy an all-star summer in the New England Collegiate League, where he again hit over .300 and stole 29 bases in 35 games.
Michigan: Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State
There were several really strong options for the state of Michigan, but we ultimately settled on Michigan State southpaw Joseph Dzierwa, our pick to win Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. After finishing his freshman season in 2023 with a 4.67 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 52 innings, the 6-foot-8 southpaw found his swing-and-miss stuff and put up a much-improved 4.07 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 84 innings. Dzierwa ranked second in his conference in innings and strikeouts, third in WHIP (1.19) and ninth in ERA, which earned him a spot on the all-Big Ten second team.
Minnesota: Jake Perry, 3B, Minnesota
Minnesota third baseman Jake Perry put together his best season at the college level as a junior last season when he slashed .305/.398/.557 with nine home runs, 20 doubles, two triples and a team-high 43 RBIs. Perry returned to school for his senior year and figures to once again be an offensive leader for the Gophers.
Mississippi: Hunter Hines, 1B, Mississippi State
Mississippi State head coach Chris Lemonis told Baseball America that one of the best things to happen to his team this offseason was first baseman Hunter Hines’ decision to return to school to finish out his college career. Hines has hit .283/.370/.583 with 54 home runs and 169 RBIs in three seasons with the Bulldogs and this year ranks among the top veteran sluggers in the SEC.
Missouri: Zack Stewart, OF, Missouri State
The 2023 Missouri Valley Conference freshman of the year, Missouri State outfielder Zack Stewart didn’t let up as a sophomore, hitting .300/.377/.630 with 21 home runs and 55 RBIs, all of which were career highs other than his batting average and RBIs total. Now entering his draft year, Stewart is a critical piece for a Missouri State team looking to make a push to the NCAA Tournament.
Montana*: Kyler Northrup, INF, Washington State
A 6-foot-3 infielder from Montana, Washington State freshman Kyler Northrup is the third first-year player to make our list as he hails from a state that does not have Division I baseball. As a senior in high school, the multi-All-State honoree hit .380 with three home runs, 27 extra base-hits and 61 RBIs.
Nebraska: Mason McConnaughey, RHP, Nebraska
It might have been easy to overlook given the fact that he was pitching behind Nebraska ace and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Brett Sears last season, but righty Mason McConnaughey was plenty notable in his own right, as he posted a 3.45 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 73 innings en route to all-conference honors. McConnaughey recorded a 86.54 wRAE, which ranked among the top pitchers in the country.
Nevada: Taylor Holder, OF, Nevada
The Wolfpack will once again look to senior outfielder Taylor Holder as an offensive leader. In 2024, Holder batted .307, hit a team-high 14 home runs, drove in 36 runs and smacked 11 doubles while also posting team bests in slugging (.663), OPS (1.052) and runs scored (39). His success and experience landed him on our list.
New Hampshire: Elliot Krewson, INF, Dartmouth
An undersized but versatile infielder, Elliot Krewson has demonstrated a consistent ability to make quality contact, which was at its best last season when he hit .315 and led Dartmouth with 51 total hits. Krewson doesn’t have much pop—he’s hit just two home runs in three college seasons—but his ability to set the table and get on base has proven quite valuable.
New Jersey: Ty Doucette, 1B, Rutgers
Rutgers first baseman Ty Doucette impressed throughout his freshman year in 2024 when he slashed .321/.388/.556 and ranked second on his team with nine home runs and 49 RBIs despite missing 10 games due to injury. Doucette has a chance to make a considerable impact for the Scarlet Knights, who are searching for their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.
New Mexico: Tye Wood, OF, New Mexico
A speedy switch-hitter who returned to the college ranks for his senior season, New Mexico outfielder Tye Wood enjoyed a career year in 2024 when he hit .325/.489/.481 with 15 extra base hits, 32 RBIs, 20 stolen bases and a near even strikeout to walk ratio. Wood gives the Lobos an experienced and mature bat in their 2025 lineup.
New York: Eddie Smink, RHP, Stony Brook
Righty Eddie Smink took a huge step forward in his second year at Stony Brook as he turned in a 3.11 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 55 innings, which were spread across 11 starts. Smink was an all-conference honorable mention for his efforts last year but appears to be tracking toward an all-conference team selection this year if he can maintain his positive trajectory.
North Carolina: Luke Stevenson, C, North Carolina
North Carolina seems to have the complete package behind the plate in Luke Stevenson, who last year as a freshman hit .284/.420/.535 with eight doubles, 14 home runs and 58 RBIs all while showing great feel for his position defensively. The draft-eligible sophomore is one of the best receivers in college baseball this year, too, and could gain helium up draft boards and Player of the Year rankings with another well-rounded season on a team capable of an Omaha run.
North Dakota: Jake Schaffner, INF, North Dakota State
Tabbed by Summit League coaches as a player to watch entering the 2025 season, middle infielder Jake Schaffner more than held his own as a true freshman last year. As a first-year player, he appeared in 48 games and made 47 starts en route to first-team all-Summit League honors. Schaffner led North Dakota State in batting average (.337), on-base percentage (.436) and hits (64). He’ll more than likely start at shortstop this year.
Ohio: Kerrington Cross, 3B, Cincinnati
For Cincinnati to be at its best this season, it will need third baseman Kerrington Cross to once again produce at a high level. Last year, Cross hit .321 with 11 home runs, 53 RBI, 63 runs scored, 46 walks and 16 stolen bases, ranking among the top 10 in the Big 12 in walks, runs, and stolen bases.
Oklahoma: Nolan Schubart, OF, Oklahoma State
Nolan Schubart took advantage of the hitter-friendly home confines of O’Brate Stadium as a sophomore last season and finished the year ranked first in the Big 12 in home runs, on-base percentage, OPS and RBI. With 2024 first-round pick Carson Benge no longer in the fold, it’s Schubart’s turn to take the reins of a potent Cowboys offense. The power-hitting outfielder enters the season ranked No. 25 on Baseball America’s Top 200 draft prospects list for 2025.
Oregon: Aiva Arquette, SS, Oregon State
A 6-foot-4 second baseman turned shortstop, Aiva Arquette hit .311 with 17 home runs, 14 doubles, 47 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 63 games across two seasons at Washington before hitting the portal and finding a new home at Oregon State this offseason. Arquette will be prominently featured in a loaded Beavers lineup and attempt to give his new team first-round picks in back-to-back years for the first time since 2018-19.
Pennsylvania: Luke Cantwell, 1B, Pitt
First baseman Luke Cantwell hardly blinked after making the jump from Fairleigh Dickinson to Pitt in 2024, as he started all 55 games at first base for the Panthers, whom he paced in walks (57), runs (49), hit by pitches (18), and on-base percentage (.515). Cantwell reached base safely in 51 straight games to end his first season in the ACC. One of the top first basemen in college baseball this year, Cantwell is looking to post his third-straight season with double-digit home runs.
Rhode Island: Luke Delongchamp, RHP, Bryant
Righty Luke Delongchamp thoroughly dominated opponents in his first season at Bryant, where he led the American East in ERA (2.76) and recorded 59 strikeouts, walked 18 and held opponents to a .242 average in 65.1 innings. Delongchamp returned to Bryant for his senior season in 2025 and figures to once again rank among his conference’s best pitchers.
South Carolina: Cam Cannarella, OF, Clemson
South Carolina was admittedly the most difficult state to pick as it boasts talents such as South Carolina outfielder Ethan Petry, Clemson righty Aidan Knaak and Charleston outfielder Avery Neaves, among others, all of whom have a very legitimate case for top player in the state entering the year. However, the edge went to Clemson center fielder Cam Cannarella, who is one of the top hitters and defenders in college this season. The early first-round hopeful produced a .337/.417/.561 line with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and 60 RBIs in 58 games last year while playing through a torn labrum. The thought of what he could do at full health gave him the edge over the aforementioned candidates.
South Dakota; Luke Luskey, 1B, South Dakota State
In a state with limited options, South Dakota State first baseman Luke Luskey stood out from the pack after slashing .286/.395/.514 with eight home runs, as many doubles and 31 RBIs in 45 games. An all-Summit League second-team selection as a freshman last season, Luskey appears to have the tools to take a step forward with more experience under his belt.
Tennessee: Andrew Fischer, 3B, Tennessee
Volunteers shortstop Dean Curley might be the best draft prospect in the state of Tennessee entering 2025, but Ole Miss transfer third baseman Andrew Fischer gets the nod from BA as the state’s top player thanks to his experience and production. In his final season with the Rebels, Fischer hit .285/.397/.643 with 20 home runs, 10 doubles, two triples and 57 RBIs. He’s expected to be an everyday player at his third school (he opened his college career at Duke) and could work his way into the first round with a big season.
Texas: Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
This selection should come as no surprise after BA named Jace LaViolette its Preseason Player of the Year and tabbed him as the No. 1 2025 draft prospect. The 6-foot-6, 230-pound slugger produced an impressive 108.8 90th percentile exit velocity and limited his chase rate to just 17.2 percent as a sophomore in 2024 when he slashed .305/.449/.726 with 29 home runs, 78 RBIs and 64 walks against 81 strikeouts. He’s obviously a candidate for every major award this year and a huge signing bonus in July.
Utah: Core Jackson, SS, Utah
Utah shortstop Core Jackson likely could have turned pro after his junior season with the Utes when he hit .363/.463/.516 with 15 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 41 RBIs and 17 stolen bases, but he instead opted to play out his eligibility and return to campus in 2025. Jackson’s approach stood out in his junior season after walking nearly as many times as he struck out and earning all-Pac-12 honors. He gives Utah a steady lineup presence as it navigates its move to the Big 12.
Vermont*: Kyle McCausland, OF, Middlebury College
Vermont is the penultimate state that doesn’t offer any Division I baseball but rather than pivot to a product of the state who took his talents elsewhere, we’re instead going to jump to the Division III ranks where Middlebury College outfielder Kyle McCausland has done damage for three straight years. After winning NESCAC player of the year in 2023, McCausland came back with another great season in 2024 when he hit .327/.395/.629 with a career-high 12 home runs. McCausland and Middlebury open their season on March 1 against Emory.
Virginia: Henry Ford, OF, Virginia
Henry Ford established himself as one of the nation’s top underclassmen last year when he batted .336 with 17 home runs, 13 doubles, 69 RBI and a thunderous .261 ISO. The draft-eligible sophomore made the move to right field this offseason, a chance head coach Brian O’Connor told Baseball America was Ford’s “future in this game.” Ford is a premier draft prospect and viewed widely as one of the top bats in college baseball this year.
Washington: AJ Guerrero, OF, Washington
Despite an unexpected coaching change in Seattle that saw head coach Jason Kelly leave for the Texas A&M pitching coach position, Washington outfielder AJ Guerrero decided to stick with the Huskies for his senior season, an increasingly rare move in the transfer portal era. Guerrero hit .304/.364/.572 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI last year despite at times being a bit too overzealous at the plate and hacking at bad pitches. If he can cut down on his strikeouts, Guerrero could be in for an explosive season.
West Virginia: Bryce Blevins, LHP, Marshall
To be sure, there were other strong candidates for this spot. However, it’s hard to argue against the sheer value Marshall lefty Bryce Blevins brings to his team after a stellar sophomore season in 2024. Blevins last year pitched to a 3.45 ERA with 71 strikeouts against just 20 walks in 86 innings, which includes a pair of complete games. Blevins will pitch at the front of the Herd’s rotation this year as he tries to help them navigate a very talented Sun Belt conference.
Wisconsin: Justin Hausser, 1B, Milwaukee
Milwaukee first baseman Justin Hausser might not have the typical home run numbers associated with the position he plays but it does seem like that type of pop could be in the tank for the senior, who hit .317/.374/.445 with 18 doubles. Hausser produced a 90th percentile exit velocity of 102.6 mph and a peak velocity of 105.1 mph in 2024, both of which are encouraging. He’ll try to get to that pop more regularly this season.
Wyoming*: Colter McAnelly, RHP, Utah
Our series ends in Wyoming, which is devoid of Division I college baseball. Picking a player to represent the state was reasonably easy, though, after Utah righty Colter McAnelly offered such a promising performance as a freshman in 2024. The 6-foot-4 pitcher went 5-4 in 15 appearances (10 starts) and accumulated a 4.76 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 51 innings, which was good enough to earn Utah’s internal rookie of the year award. McAnelly should again be a factor as a starter in 2025.
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