2022 Big 12 Conference College Baseball Preview

Preseason Awards

Player of the Year: Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech

It would have been borderline nonsensical to predict that Jace Jung would equal or eclipse the accomplishments of his brother Josh at Texas Tech given all the success Josh enjoyed in Lubbock, but going into Jace’s third season on campus, that suddenly looks like a reality. Jace last season hit .337/.462/.697 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI, earning him Big 12 player of the year honors. He spent the following summer playing for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, where he continued to cement his status as one of the top prospects for the 2022 draft. With another season anywhere close to his last, and certainly if he were to become the first back-to-back Big 12 player of the year since Nebraska’s Alex Gordon in 2004-2005, he will go down, alongside his brother, as one of the best players of all time not only at Tech but also in the history of the Big 12. 

Pitcher of the Year: Tanner Witt, RHP, Texas

The crown jewel of Texas’ 2020 recruiting class as the No. 92 player on the BA 500, Witt was excellent in a bullpen role last season, putting up a 3.16 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 57 innings spread over a team-leading 28 appearances. His best work arguably came in Omaha, when he threw 5.2 scoreless innings against Tennessee in an elimination game. It’s expected that Witt will join the Texas weekend rotation alongside veterans Pete Hansen and Tristan Stevens for the 2022 season, and the righthander has the stuff to make that work. Last season, his fastball averaged over 92 mph and touched as high as 96 with a breaking ball and changeup that both had better than 30% whiff rates. The spin profile on both his fastball and breaking ball also gives those two offerings a chance to play up even more. One of the top prospects on the board for the 2023 draft, Witt has the track record and stuff to suggest that he’ll be one of the best pitchers in the country in short order. 

Freshman of the Year: Cade Horton, INF/RHP, Oklahoma

Horton was the favorite for this honor last season before he was lost for the season due to Tommy John surgery. The recovery from Tommy John puts into question when Horton can return to the mound—he came to Oklahoma as a two-way player—or even at what point he will be ready to play a defensive position full-time, but his powerful righthanded swing should be ready to go, even if his reps come in the DH spot. It might take him some time to get back up to speed given how long it has been since he’s seen live pitching, but once the rust is knocked off, he has impressive raw power that will make him an asset in the middle of the Sooners’ order.

Predicted Order of Finish (2021 Record)

1. Texas (50-17, 17-7)

Coming off of a trip to the CWS that saw it finish as one of the final four teams in college baseball, Texas goes into the 2022 season as the No. 1 team in the country, powered in large part by arguably the best pitching staff in the sport, an amazing thing to say one year after the Longhorns lost ace Ty Madden and relief stalwart Cole Quintanilla to the draft. Third-year sophomore lefthander Pete Hansen (9-1, 1.88), who was excellent last season primarily as the midweek starter, and fifth-year senior righthander Tristan Stevens (11-3, 3.31), who really fills up the strike zone, will be joined in the rotation by sophomore righthander Tanner Witt (5-0, 3.16), one of the most talented pitchers in the nation and one of the team’s bullpen workhorses a season ago. Sophomore righthander Aaron Nixon (2.12 ERA, 9 SV), a Team USA alum like Witt, will anchor the bullpen once again. 

Offensively, the return of fourth-year junior first baseman Ivan Melendez (.319/.438/.603) is massive. Last season, he led the Longhorns in a number of categories, including home runs with 13. That will at least help partially offset the departures of Cam Williams, Zach Zubia and Mike Antico, who combined for 33 homers in 2021. Defense should be a real strength for this Texas team, as it boasts plus defenders at key positions like third-year sophomore Silas Ardoin (.239/.389/.315) at catcher, Kansas grad transfer Skyler Messinger (.324/.398/.460) at third base, third-year sophomore Trey Faltine (.249/.374/.401) at shortstop and burners in fourth-year junior Eric Kennedy (.253/.333/.352) and third-year sophomore Douglas Hodo III (.281/.384/.398) in the outfield. Messinger, Hodo, sixth-year senior outfielder Austin Todd, who played just six games last season, and sophomore second baseman Mitchell Daly (.316/.413/.416) project to be Melendez’s primary protection in the lineup. 

2. Oklahoma State (36-19-1, 12-12)

The steadiest program in the Big 12 during coach Josh Holliday’s tenure, Oklahoma State should once again have the floor of being a quality regional team with the ceiling to be much more than that. The Cowboys used the transfer portal more aggressively than most, and the hope is that many of those new additions step into prominent roles right away. Among that group is first baseman Griffin Doersching (.316/.488/.772), who projects to hit in the middle of the order after slugging 20 home runs at Northern Kentucky last season. If Doersching’s power production translates as he steps up in competition level, it will help a lineup otherwise led by fifth-year senior left fielder Jake Thompson (.342/.502/.479), fourth-year junior second baseman Hueston Morrill (.218/.331/.363), whose numbers in an injury-riddled 2021 season don’t paint the picture of how productive he can be, third-year sophomore center fielder Caeden Trenkle (.268/.389/.439) and sophomore third baseman Nolan McLean (.263/.410/.526). Junior college transfer Lyle Miller-Green and fourth-year junior South Carolina transfer David Mendham (.243/.320/.381) also have enough pop to end up in the middle of the order when it’s all said and done. 

Sophomore Victor Mederos (2-3, 5.11), a transfer from Miami, will be just as important as Doersching among incoming transfers. A righthander with big-time stuff, Mederos never quite got on track in Coral Gables last season, but the hope for Oklahoma State is that he will slot in behind third-year sophomore ace righthander Justin Campbell (7-2, 2.57) in the rotation. The key to taking the rotation to the next level is likely the development of third-year sophomore righthander Bryce Osmond (2-5, 7.42). He was a blue-chip recruit in the class that arrived at OSU prior to the 2020 season, but like Mederos, has struggled to acclimate. The bullpen projects to be led by sophomore righthander Trevor Martin (4.60 ERA, 31.1 IP) and fourth-year sophomore righthander Roman Phansalkar (6.35 ERA, 17 IP), who the coaching staff says took a big step forward, with two fourth-year junior Kentucky transfers in lefthander Dillon Marsh (4.34 ERA, 29 IP) and righthander Jimmy Ramsey (7.02, 16.2 IP) also likely to log valuable innings. 

3. Texas Tech (39-17, 14-10)

It speaks to the excellence that Texas Tech has achieved in the last eight years that it gets the benefit of the doubt as we look toward 2022 despite losing a number of key pieces after last season. The Red Raiders always just seem to make the pieces work. The centerpiece of the lineup is third-year sophomore second baseman Jace Jung (.337/.462/.697), but he’ll be supported by fourth-year junior first baseman Cole Stilwell (.288/.422/.548), who had a breakout season in 2021. For the Red Raiders’ offense to live up to the program’s standard for run scoring, they will likely need some subset of the group of fifth-year seniors in outfielder Easton Murrell (.250/.442/.417), third baseman Parker Kelly (.194/.333/.240), outfielder Cody Masters (.192/.375/.551) and Texas A&M grad transfer utility man Ty Coleman (.246/.321/.361) to step into bigger roles. Defensively, one storyline to watch is how well fifth-year senior Kurt Wilson (.274/.394/.453) adjusts to shortstop after playing primarily outfield to this point. 

On the mound, Texas Tech will get a boost from the healthy return of fourth-year junior righthander Brandon Birdsell (4-1, 3.06) at the front of the rotation. Through the halfway point of the season, Birdsell was Tech’s most effective starting pitcher, but he missed the second half with a rotator cuff injury. Behind Birdsell, sophomore righthander Chase Hampton (4-1, 3.86), who had a solid season as a swingman in 2021, and junior Colorado Mesa transfer Andrew Morris, who went 9-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 78 innings for the Mavericks last season, stand out as the top candidates to fill out the weekend rotation. Another transfer, former Fordham lefthander Garrett Crowley, will likely be an important piece in the bullpen. He has big stuff, including a fastball that reaches the mid 90s, and can be a weapon if he shows the control to match. 

4. Baylor (31-20, 11-13)

Baylor returns most of the key pieces off of a 2021 club that was the last team left out of the NCAA Tournament. In the lineup, third-year sophomore center fielder Jared McKenzie (.383/.453/.626) gives the Bears a plausible Big 12 player of the year candidate, but he’s got plenty of help around him in the form of fourth-year junior second baseman Jack Pineda (.327/.430/.493), third-year sophomore shortstop Tre Richardson (.308/.389/.463), fifth-year senior third baseman Esteban Cardoza-Oquendo (.291/.386/.343), fourth-year junior infielder and probable DH Antonio Valdez (.281/.408/.386), sophomore right fielder Kyle Nevin (.275/.328/.337) and fifth-year junior first baseman Chase Wehsener (.255/.345/.379), all of whom got regular playing time last season. The floor is very high for this lineup. The key to unlocking a higher ceiling, however, would be one of the aforementioned returners taking another step forward to replace the production of departed catcher Andy Thomas and to give McKenzie a fellow superstar in the order. 

The Bears’ pitching staff won’t necessarily blow anyone away with stuff, but the most prominent roles will be held by veterans and this coaching staff always does a good job of putting an effective group together on the mound. A projected rotation of fifth-year senior lefthander Tyler Thomas (5-2, 2.49), fourth-year junior righthander Blake Helton (4-3, 3.44) and Nevada grad transfer righthander Jake Jackson (5-4, 5.45) is long on track record and experience. The wildcard on the pitching staff is third-year sophomore righthander Will Rigney. The top player in Baylor’s 2019 recruiting class, Rigney has been hampered by injuries in his first two seasons on campus, but when healthy, he has high-octane stuff that could make him an effective back-end reliever. 

5. Texas Christian (41-19, 17-7)

Kirk Saarloos, the pitching coach at TCU since the 2013 season, takes over the big chair this season after the departure of longtime head coach Jim Schlossnagle. Despite the loss of key pieces like lefthanders Russell Smith  and Haylen Green and righthanders Charles King and Johnny Ray, Saarloos will have a veteran pitching staff to work with in year one. The rotation will be led by fourth-year junior lefthander Austin Krob (8-1, 3.81) and Oregon grad transfer righthander Brett Walker (6-3, 3.66). Fifth-year junior Arkansas transfer righthander Caleb Bolden (2-0, 4.50) is a versatile pitcher who should also hold an important role. Fourth-year junior righthander Marcelo Perez (4.15 ERA, 30.1 IP) returns to the bullpen to help mitigate the loss of Green. Wild cards on the staff include third-year sophomore righthander Riley Cornelio (4.91 ERA, 7.1 IP) and sophomore righthander Cam Brown (1.93 ERA, 9.1 IP). Both have good stuff, but neither has established himself at this level. 

The clear centerpiece of the lineup is sophomore third baseman Brayden Taylor (.324/.445/.572), who had a massive freshman season in 2021. Sophomore outfielder Luke Boyers (.307/.411/.353) will also carry a heavy load, but there are questions about the lineup otherwise. Sophomore outfielder Elijah Nunez’s on-base ability (.375 OBP) and speed (10 SB) made him a more productive offensive player than his .225 average would suggest. Fifth-year senior shortstop Tommy Sacco (.231/.343/.313) is a steady hand defensively, but wasn’t necessarily an impact bat last season. Steps forward for players like Sacco, Nunez and third-year sophomore catcher Kurtis Byrne (9-for-27) or immediate contributions from newcomers will be paramount for the TCU offense to thrive. 

6. Oklahoma (27-28, 11-13)

Oklahoma went into the 2021 season having to replace its entire weekend rotation from the 2020 season, and while that rebuilt staff took the lumps last season, two members of the weekend rotation are back with valuable experience in third-year sophomore lefthander Jake Bennett (4-3, 6.34) and fourth-year junior lefthander Braden Carmichael (6-3, 5.04). Junior college transfer lefthander Chazz Martinez, a 12th-round pick in the draft over the summer, and Lamar transfer righthander Trevin Michael (6-3, 3.29) project to slot in behind them as the Sunday starter and midweek starter, respectively. Another junior college transfer, righthander Griffin Miller, should be  a key arm out of the bullpen, as will fifth-year senior righthander Jaret Godman (6.49 ERA, 34.2 IP).

In the lineup, the Sooners boast a solid core in third-year sophomore Peyton Graham (.288/.400/.502), who will move to shortstop after playing third base the last two seasons, third-year sophomore catcher Jimmy Crooks (.287/.385/.502), fourth-year junior corner infielder Brett Squires (.275/.358/.542) and fifth-year senior center fielder Tanner Tredaway (.309/.391/.423). But there is plenty to be determined elsewhere in the lineup, with lots of competition to be found at a number of positions, and the key to the Oklahoma offense helping lead it to regionals will be the emergence of other impact bats. Redshirt freshman Cade Horton, a blue-chip recruit who missed last season due to Tommy John surgery, could provide that much-needed jolt. When he gets back on the mound is an open question, but he could also provide some pop at DH until that point. 

7. Kansas State (34-23, 10-14)

Although it was disappointing to not end up in the NCAA Tournament at the end of last season, it’s still an achievement that Kansas State last season enjoyed its best performance in the Big 12 since 2015. And although the Wildcats turned over a lot of talent after last season, the hope is that the talent in Manhattan has been upgraded to the point that they can build on last season’s success rather than taking a step back. Jordan Wicks is gone from the front of the rotation, as is Carson Seymour, who had plenty of arm talent as well, but in fourth-year sophomore righthander Connor McCullough (5-4, 4.77), K-State has a steady veteran to lead the rotation. The development of third-year sophomore Arkansas transfer Blake Adams (11.81 ERA, 5.1 IP), top freshman arm Jackson Wentworth and third-year sophomore Oklahoma transfer Christian Ruebeck (10.38 ERA, 13 IP) is key to K-State’s pitching staff being good enough to compete within the conference. 

There are plenty of reasons for optimism in the lineup, one season after the Wildcats finished second in the conference in home runs with 89. Fourth-year junior left fielder Dylan Phillips (.333/.422/.643) is a nice cornerstone for the middle of the order. He hit a team-leading 16 homers in 2021, giving him 31 for his career. Sophomore shortstop Nick Goodwin (.277/.355/.482), who is rapidly emerging as a premium prospect for the 2023 draft, will be a key piece, as will fifth-year senior first baseman Terrence Spurlin (.339/.406/.496). There is also hope that an influx of position player talent via the transfer portal, including fifth-year senior catcher Justin Mitchell (.250/.375/.316) from Oklahoma, who brings leadership to the position, and sophomore outfielder Dom Johnson (.154/.389/.154) from Oklahoma State, who was one of the fastest players in the 2020 prep class, and fifth-year senior second baseman Josh Nicoloff from Columbia, who hit .313 and .394 in 2019 and 2020, respectively. 

8. West Virginia (25-27, 8-16)

The Mountaineers have a chance to improve upon its 8-16 record in Big 12 play in 2022 if they can just manage to get the ball to the bullpen with a lead, because the talent they have on the back end can really shorten games. Third-year sophomore righthander Jacob Watters (3.33 ERA, 27 IP), whose fastball can reach 100 mph, returns to close games, while sidearming fourth-year sophomore righthander Noah Short (2.51 ERA, 28.2 IP) will look to set him up, just like last season. Adding to the strength of the bullpen is Navy grad transfer Trey Braithwaite (4.44 ERA, 24.1 IP), who is the all-time saves leader for the Midshipmen, and Pittsburgh grad transfer righthander Chase Smith (5.47 ERA, 26.1 IP), who has 129.2 career relief innings under his belt. The key will be getting quality starts to set up the bullpen, and that responsibility will likely fall to sophomore righthander Carlson Reed (4-5, 7.59), sophomore lefthander Ben Hampton (4-3, 4.83) and freshman righthander Chris Sleeper. 

WVU should have speed and athleticism in spades in its lineup thanks to the return of third-year sophomores in right fielder Austin Davis (.320/.390/.400) and center fielder Victor Scott II (.232/.359/.368). The pair combined for 37 stolen bases a season ago, and both can really go get it in the outfield, which is a big plus for the Mountaineers defensively. They also have a plus defender at shortstop in fourth-year sophomore Tevin Tucker, who missed all of last season due to injury. Finding players to provide some thump in the middle of the order is the biggest question for the lineup after losing the three top home run hitters from last season. Some of that power could come from freshman first baseman Grant Hussey, the top prep player in the state of West Virginia in 2021. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he certainly looks the part, and had he not removed his name from the draft prior to the event last summer, he might be plying his trade in the minor leagues right now instead of Morgantown. 

9. Kansas (30-27, 8-16)

Kansas has a quality core of talent around which it hopes to build out a team that can make a push to finish closer to the middle of the pack in the Big 12 rather than the cellar. In the lineup, that group is headlined by a pair of sophomores in shortstop Maui Ahuna (.314/.413/.422) and second baseman Tavian Josenberger (.316/.392/.413), the latter of whom moves back to the dirt after playing center field last season. Both are premium athletes who project to be high draft picks in the 2023 draft. On the mound, the Jayhawks could have one of the best arms in the conference in fifth-year senior righthander Cole Larsen (5-5, 3.87) on Friday nights. He’ll be supported by third-year sophomore righthander Ryan Vanderhei (2.70, 26.2 IP), who will move from the bullpen to the rotation next season with a fastball that reaches the mid 90s. And in fifth-year senior Jonah Ulane (1.44 ERA, 25 IP), KU has one of the most accomplished closers in the country.

Those five players have the talent to compete with just about anyone in the Big 12, but the key for Kansas will be the depth behind that core. In the lineup, Eastern Kentucky grad transfer Caleb Upshaw (.325/.401/.560), fifth-year senior left fielder Tom Lichty (.252/.288/.350), who the coaching staff sees as the best hitter on the team when healthy, speedy fourth-year junior center fielder Casey Burnham (.286/.432/.400), fourth-year junior third baseman Dylan Ditzenberger (.274/.324/.381) and fifth-year senior catcher Nolan Metcalf (.276/.384/.419), who has enormous raw power, will be looked upon to give the lineup length. On the mound, it’s an open question who will step up, but sophomore lefthander Sam Brady (11.94 ERA, 17.1 IP) and freshman righthander Steven Andrews are among those who will get a crack at holding important roles. 

Top 2022 Draft Prospects

1. Jace Jung, 2B, Texas Tech
2. Peyton Graham, SS, Oklahoma
3. Jared McKenzie, OF, Baylor
4. Nolan McLean, 3B, Oklahoma State
5. Victor Mederos, RHP, Oklahoma State
6. Justin Campbell, RHP, Oklahoma State
7. Cade Horton, SS/RHP, Oklahoma
8. Trey Faltine, SS, Texas
9. Jimmy Crooks, C, Oklahoma
10. Pete Hansen, LHP, Texas
11. Tre Richardson, SS, Baylor
12. Bryce Osmond, RHP, Oklahoma State
13. Dom Johnson, OF, Kansas State
14. Jacob Watters, RHP, West Virginia
15. Trevor Martin, RHP, Oklahoma State
16. Jake Bennett, LHP, Oklahoma
17. Silas Ardoin, C, Texas
18. Luke Boyers, 3B, Texas Christian
19. Connor Oliver, LHP, Texas Christian
20. Brandon Birdsell, RHP, Texas Tech

Top 2023 Draft Prospects

1. Tanner Witt, RHP, Texas
2. Brayden Taylor, 3B, Texas Christian
3. Nick Goodwin, SS, Kansas State
4. Maui Ahuna, SS, Kansas
5. Cam Brown, RHP, Texas Christian
6. Tavian Josenberger, 2B, Kansas
7. Roc Riggio, 2B, Oklahoma State
8. Lebarron Johnson, RHP, Texas
9. Travis Sthele, RHP, Texas
10. Dylan Campbell, 2B, Texas

Top Newcomers

1. Victor Mederos, RHP, Oklahoma State
2. Cade Horton, INF/RHP, Oklahoma
3. Griffin Doersching, 1B, Oklahoma State
4. Thomas DiLandri, OF, Texas Christian
5. Roc Riggio, INF, Oklahoma State
6. Chazz Martinez, LHP/OF, Oklahoma
7. Joshua Stewart, RHP, Texas
8. Brett Walker, RHP, Texas Christian
9. Caedmon Parker, RHP, Texas Christian
10. Andrew Morris, RHP, Texas Tech

Best Tools

Best Pure Hitter: Jared McKenzie, Baylor
Best Power Hitter: Jace Jung, Texas Tech
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Jace Jung, Texas Tech
Best Athlete: Victor Scott, West Virginia
Fastest Runner: Eric Kennedy, Texas
Best Baserunner: Victor Scott, West Virginia
Best Defensive Catcher: Silas Ardoin, Texas
Best Defensive Infielder: Trey Faltine, Texas
Best Infield Arm: Trey Faltine, Texas
Best Defensive Outfielder: Austin Davis, West Virginia
Best Outfield Arm: Austin Todd, Texas
Best Fastball: Brandon Birdsell, Texas Tech
Best Breaking Ball: Justin Campbell, Oklahoma State
Best Changeup: Pete Hansen, Texas
Best Control: Tristan Stevens, Texas