2019 NCAA Crystal Ball Predictions

Image credit: (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Before the first pitch of the season is thrown, Teddy Cahill, Joe Healy and Dave Serrano look into the crystal ball to make a few predictions for the 2019 season.

National Champion

Teddy Cahill: Florida State. This is a bit sentimental with the Seminoles going for their first national championship in Mike Martin’s final season. But the young Seminoles should be hitting their stride in June.

Dave Serrano: Vanderbilt. As deep as Vanderbilt has been under Tim Corbin, this may be one of his deepest teams. With a great balance of offense and pitching, the stage is set for a national championship run.

Joe Healy: Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt checks all the boxes. They bring back a lot of players from their 2018 team, they welcome in yet another highly-regarding recruiting class and they are loaded with tons of veterans.

Omaha Sleeper

Teddy Cahill: Indiana. Indiana has a strong nucleus coming back, including its top two hitters, strong defenders up the middle and a couple key arms. The Hoosiers have the potential for a deep postseason run.

Dave Serrano: West Virginia. One year removed from their first regional appearance in years, this veteran team that welcomed a deep freshman class is primed for a deep postseason run.

Joe Healy: Georgia Tech. A weekend rotation of Xzavion Curry, Tristin English and Connor Thomas is a pretty good starting place. Georgia Tech must replace Joey Bart, but it has the bats to do so.

Player of the Year

Teddy Cahill: Adley Rutschman, C, Oregon State. He’s the favorite to the be the first overall draft pick in June thanks to his impressive all-around tool set.

Dave Serrano: Adley Rutschman. Rutschman produced a stellar sophomore campaign that helped lead Oregon State to the national championship.

Joe Healy: Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona State. Torkelson succeeded like few freshmen before him. It’s tough to ask anyone to replicate, but he has the ability to do it.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Teddy Cahill: Graeme Stinson, LHP, Duke. Stinson has as much upside as any pitcher in the country, but he will be asked to shoulder a bigger role this spring .

Dave Serrano: Andre Pallante, RHP, UC Irvine. Pallante will anchor the Anteaters’ rotation and will look to lead them back to the NCAA Tournament.

Joe Healy: Kevin Abel, RHP, Oregon State. It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Abel as a freshman, but he found his groove in Omaha and is ready for a big season.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Teddy Cahill: Landon Marceaux RHP, Louisiana State. The Tigers are thrilled to have Marceaux and believe he could be their best incoming freshman since Aaron Nola. He’s ready to go right away.

Dave Serrano: Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt. Rocker last year ranked No. 13 on the BA 500 but passed on pro ball. He will thrive growing up with a talented Commodores team.

Joe Healy: J.T. Ginn, RHP/1B, Mississippi State. With a fastball he can run into the mid-90s and a dastardly power slider to complement it, Ginn has the raw stuff to compete in the SEC right now.