2022 Atlantic Coast Conference College Baseball Preview

Image credit: Parker Messick (Photo courtesy of Florida State)

In 2021, the ACC had enough dramatic stories to fill a 10-part documentary series. There was Notre Dame, picked to finish last in the Atlantic Division in the preseason coaches’ poll, not only winning the division but taking the conference’s regular-season crown as well. There was Duke, winning its first ACC Tournament title ever, as it swept through the event despite being the ninth-seeded team.

There was Virginia, staving off elimination in the Super Regionals against Dallas Baptist and winning a game in the College World Series in its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2017. And finally, there was NC State, who knocked off top-seeded Arkansas and came within a game of the College World Series finals before Covid-19 protocols abruptly ended the Wolfpack’s season.

It was a whirlwind year, one that featured 63 players from the conference selected in the draft, but the exodus of talent doesn’t mean that the ACC won’t feature a plethora of future stars in 2022. It’s a deep and hard-to-predict conference once again but one thing is likely—the league getting eight or more bids to the NCAA Tournament. The conference managed eight bids last year despite monumental late-season slides from Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh and shaky years from Clemson, Louisville, and Wake Forest. It’s reasonable to expect that the league’s talent level and recent showings by ACC teams in the tournament will be rewarded when the selection show arrives.

Preseason Awards

Player of the Year: Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest

As a true freshman, Wilken hit .279/.365/.617 with 17 home runs and a team-high 44 RBIs. He followed that up with a .302/.430/.519 line on the Cape this past summer, tacking on six more home runs and showcasing raw power that may be unmatched in the conference. Wilken isn’t a typical swing-and-miss power hitter, though, as he drew 23 walks to 36 strikeouts with the Demon Deacons. The collegiate success he’s had thus far has been impressive and he only figures to add to a mammoth home run total while maintaining a high batting average.

Pitcher of the Year: Parker Messick, LHP, Florida State

After a smooth transition from the bullpen to the Friday night role last year, Messick is poised for another big season. As a second-year freshman, the southpaw went 8-2, 3.10 with 126 strikeouts across 16 starts and earned ACC pitcher of the year honors. Since the award’s inception in 2005, only Virginia’s Danny Hultzen has won it in consecutive seasons (2010-11), but Messick has a strong four-pitch mix and another year of experience under his belt to make a run for it. He has excellent command—as evidenced by a 12.6 K/9 to a 2.3 BB/9—and should be helped by an improved defense.

Freshman of the Year: Alex Mooney, SS, Duke

There are several freshmen that figure to fill holes in lineups and rotations throughout the conference, but Mooney is best suited to have an immediate impact. The Blue Devils are turning to the 6-foot, 180-pound shortstop out of Lake, Mich., to fill the void left by the departing Ethan Murray. Mooney may not have a plus tool, but he does a lot of things well. He’s an above-average runner, quality defender and gets the bat on the ball well. Murray was thrown into the fire as a true freshman back in 2019 and posted an .836 OPS on his way to an all-ACC freshman team nod. Duke will be hoping Mooney can produce similar results.

Predicted Order of Finish (2021 record)

Atlantic Division

1. Notre Dame (34-13, 25-10)

Notre Dame’s first Super Regional team since 2002 is back nearly intact save for All-American first baseman Niko Kavadas and bullpen ace Tanner Kohlhepp. Those are two departures that loom large, but that’s about it for Link Jarrett’s Irish. Notre Dame returns eight to its starting lineup and its pitching staff brings back most of its most important pieces. Projecting the Irish’s Opening Day lineup is as simple as taking the group that took Mississippi State to the brink, shifting Carter Putz to first base, and adding someone like redshirt sophomore Nick Juaire or transfer Connor Hincks (Virginia) to round out the lineup. Two-way player Jack Brannigan figures to feature prominently both as the starting third baseman and a key relief arm. Outfielder Ryan Cole is the top returning hitter after hitting .331/.449/.551 and he’s joined by Brooks Coetzee, Spencer Myers, Jared Miller and Zack Prajzner. The rotation of John Michael Bertrand, Aidan Tyrell and Will Mercer will be supplemented by strong arms in Alex Rao and Liam Simon along with transfers Ryan McLinskey (Seton Hall) and Austin Temple (Jacksonville).

2. Florida State (31-24, 20-16)

An already fearsome pitching staff could be even better this season as righthanders Carson Montgomery and Jackson Baumeister aim to join the conference’s arguably top 1-2 punch in Preseason All-American lefthanders Parker Messick (8-2, 3.10) and Bryce Hubbart (6-5, 3.80). That’s four high-end talents to cycle through on the mound, not to mention the experience of lefthander Jonah Scolaro (0-2, 2.28) and righthander Davis Hare (1-2, 2.67, 3 SV) out of the bullpen. The biggest questions facing the Seminoles, though, are at the plate and in the field. Florida State led the ACC in strikeouts and was last in batting average, while its fielding percentage tied for third-worst. And, all of that was with catcher Mat Nelson, the ACC player of the year who led a trio of Seminoles hitters taken in the draft. Coach Mike Martin Jr. went to the transfer portal and brought in a trio of infielders that all figure to have an immediate impact. First baseman Alex Toral (Miami) and shortstop Jordan Carrion (Florida) made the surprising move from rivals, while second baseman Brett Roberts (Tennessee Tech) is coming off a strong summer in the Cape Cod League. Returnee and likely second baseman Tyler Martin (.280/.445/.342) will pace the lineup from the leadoff spot and outfielder Logan Lacey (.295/.364/.518, 10 HR) gives the lineup some pop. The biggest questions surround Reese Albert, who was struggling last season before a season-ending injury. Can he return to the impact bat he was as a sophomore back in 2019? If so, this Seminoles lineup could complete a swift turnaround.

3. North Carolina State (37-19, 19-14)

The Wolfpack entered the offseason with plenty of question marks in their lineup after the departures of Tyler McDonough, Jose Torres, Austin Murr, Jonny Butler, Terrell Tatum and Luca Tresh from a team that reached the bracket finals at the College World Series, but coach Elliot Avent hit the transfer portal hard, and recruiting coordinator Chris Hart signed the 11th-best class in the country. The new-look lineup is bolstered by first baseman Gino Groover (Charlotte), third baseman Josh Hood (Penn) and outfielder Dom Piolli (Charlotte) and features exciting freshmen in shortstop Payton Green, DH Tommy White and catcher Jacob Cozart. Don’t forget about returnees in outfielder Devonte Brown (.252/.363/.500, 13 HR) and second baseman J.T. Jarrett (.251/.341/.333), either. Can the blend of experience and youth keep the Wolfpack lineup among the best in the ACC? Meanwhile, the pitching staff will miss workhorse Reid Johnson and old-school “stopper” Evan Justice but will lean on a talented front of the rotation duo in righthanders Sam Highfill (9-2, 3.66) and Matt Willadsen (5-3, 4.73). Lefthander Chris Villaman (5-2, 4.35) figures to assume Justice’s old role as a lights-out reliever. The southpaw struck out 71 in 60 innings of work last season and added two saves. Keep an eye on righthander Logan Adams, a 6-foot-6 junior college transfer who could be the Sunday starter.

4. Louisville (28-22, 16-16)

The Cardinals missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, going 8-12 in their final 20 games. They did so despite having an impressive arsenal of talent that has since departed to the pros—including the first overall pick Henry Davis, Alex Binelas (third round), Cooper Bowman (fourth), Michael Kirian (sixth), Lucas Dunn (eighth), Luke Brown (ninth), and Glenn Albanese (15th). That’s a lot for any team to replace, but Louisville is hoping that the strong recruiting classes over the last few years—fourth, 20th, 22nd, and 20th in the country—can take the next steps. The revamped lineup will be anchored by talented shortstop Christian Knapczyk (.297/.374/.385), catcher Dalton Rushing (.254/.342/.463) and center fielder Levi Usher (.216/.358/.306, 26 SB). Knapcyzk had an excellent freshman year and followed it by hitting .321/.400/.413 on the Cape. Rushing will take over catching duties after Davis’ departure and is also coming off a strong summer on the Cape, while Usher will be aiming to recapture his 2020 form at the plate. Keep an eye on tenured players Ben Metzinger (.235/.350/.431) and Cameron Masterman (.240/.373/.432), as well as freshman infielders Noah Smith and Will Cook. Meanwhile, on the mound, the Cardinals will hope for growth from the likes of righthanders Jared Poland (0-1, 3.94) and Carter Lohman (2-2, 5.31) – who were limited to a combined 36 innings last season – while lefthander Tate Kuehner (4-5, 3.55) figures to take on a bigger role as a sophomore. Keep an eye on lefthander Michael Prosecky, who was limited to just 8.1 innings in 2021 due to injury but can run his fastball up to 97 and has a four-pitch mix that found success on the Cape. If Dan McDonnell can get the most out of guys stepping into bigger roles, a quick return to the NCAA Tournament could be in the cards.  

5. Clemson (25-27, 16-20)

The Tigers have some exciting young talent with two-player Caden Grice (.317/.427/.618, 15 HR) and righthander Mack Anglin (2-6, 3.99) both landing on the all-ACC Freshman team a season ago, but there are concerns around how the lineup can improve after the loss of James Parker, Kier Meredith, and Bryce Teodosio—three of the better-performing players. Grice has premium power and played for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team over the summer, but that pop comes with a lot of swing-and-miss (74 strikeouts). To prevent teams from pitching around him, the Tigers are going to need strong seasons from the new faces like Tyler Corbitt (Citadel) and freshman Spencer Rich, as well as further development of the likes of Jonathan French (.248/.347/.416) and Dylan Brewer (.207/.332/.420, 10 HR). Rich hitting the ground running will be crucial for Clemson, as uber-talented freshman Will Taylor won’t be ready to go in center field on Opening Day as he continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered while playing football. Cooper Ingle is another name to watch—he played just four games a season ago but enjoyed a strong fall and could be near the top of the lineup as a DH. Clemson’s strength will be on the mound, as Anglin—who reaches 98 mph—will anchor a staff alongside Nick Hoffmann (4-1, 3.83, 4 SV) and Grice. Grice is an intriguing arm as the lefthander can run it up to 94 mph and will be trying to follow in the mold of Brendan McKay. Closer Geoffrey Gilbert (3-6, 2.23, 3 SV) is back, along with other key arms such as Ty Olenchuk (1-4, 5.87) and Nick Clayton (6-2, 4.30).

6. Wake Forest (20-27, 10-22)

Four years removed from a 43-win season and a Super Regional appearance, the Demon Deacons bottomed out with a 20-27 campaign, their lowest winning percentage since Tom Walter’s first season at the helm. The season never seemed to get out of the blocks for Wake, as it was hit by Covid-19 early. What’s next for the Demon Deacons? Losing Bobby Seymour, Chris Lanzilli, and Shane Muntz hurts, but the rest return to a lineup that was feast-or-famine a season ago. They have elite talent in sophomore third baseman Brock Wilken (.279/.365/.617, 17 HR) – he this summer became the first rising sophomore to win MVP honors on the Cape since 2006 (Justin Smoak) – and can expect consistency from shortstop Michael Turconi (.292/.371/.480, 8 HR) and center fielder Lucas Costello (.279/.350/.408) at the top of the lineup. The questions linger after that, though, as the three departures combined to slug 45 home runs and drive in 124 runs. Wake Forest will need several players to make the most of more opportunities, like Adam Cecere (.192/.340/.436, 4 HR), and get more out of returning starters like Pierce Bennett (.212/.340/.288). On the mound, the Demon Deacons must replace Ryan Cusick and William Fleming in the rotation and they’re going to count on a step forward from righthander Rhett Lowder (4-2, 6.12) as well as righthander Teddy McGraw (0-0, 4.42), who will move from the bullpen, and freshman lefthander Joshua Hartle, who is one of the top incoming prospects in the country after removing himself from draft consideration last summer. Righthander Eric Adler (1-3, 2.00, 6 SV) has the potential to be one of the country’s top relievers and is coming off a breakout summer on the Cape.

7. Boston College (21-28, 10-23)

Some may say that last season was Boston College’s big shot, and the Eagles missed their chance to cash in as the pitching struggled and the lineup went through its ups and downs and navigated injuries. After the season, the team lost three cornerstone pieces to the draft in Sal Frelick (first round), Cody Morissette (second), and Emmet Sheehan (fifth). They also lost a trio of five-year contributors and another of their top pitchers to graduation. Now, BC picks up the pieces and it’s doing so deliberately. Coach Mike Gambino brought in Kevin Vance (Rhode Island) as the new pitching coach and also added Tyler Holt (Florida State) to the coaching staff. BC added several players in the transfer portal and will be counting on steps forward from former understudies in 2022. The Eagles’ do have a post-hype Friday night starter in Mason Pelio (3-8, 6.65) who is trying to rebuild his stock after a poor year, and intriguing young arms in sophomore Joe Vetrano (1-3, 4.14) and freshman Sean Hard following him. The lineup is anchored by infielder Luke Gold (.316/.364/.576, 9 HR) and will feature a plethora of understudies who are getting their chances in the lineup in 2022. One name to know is sophomore center fielder Travis Honeyman, who got just 18 plate appearances last spring but then rewrote the New England Collegiate Baseball League over the summer and earned league MVP honors.

Coastal Division

1. Virginia (37-27, 18-18)

After a run to the College World Series, Virginia was hit hard by the draft and graduation. The Cavaliers lost their starting rotation of Andrew Abbott (second round), Mike Vasil (eighth) and Griff McGarry (fifth) as well as reliever Zach Messinger (13th) and closer Stephen Schoch. On top of that, the left side of the infield of Zack Gelof and Nic Kent—the only two Cavaliers to start every game—went in the second and 11th rounds, respectively. Still, there’s a lot to like about Virginia on both sides of the ball. The lineup will feature two high-end talents in catcher Kyle Teel (.335/.416/.526, 9 HR), who last spring lead the Cavs in hitting as a freshman, and center fielder Chris Newell (.258/.336/.397, 13 SB) as well as veterans Devin Ortiz (.270/.359/.432), Max Cotier (.262/.344/.306) and Jake Gelof (.252/.336/.468). Ortiz could factor as a pitcher as well, but his bat will be crucial in the middle of the order. Gelof is a sleeper after playing in 29 games last season—the younger brother of Zack will take over for him at third base. Freshmen Griffin O’Ferrall and Casey Saucke both figure to challenge for playing time. On the mound, lefthander Nate Savino (3-3, 3.79) will take over as the Friday night starter and will likely be followed by Brandon Neeck (2-0, 1.93), who fanned 16 in 5.2 innings in regionals. Righthander Matt Wyatt (4-2, 3.86) will throw important innings thanks to his power arm that reaches 95 with a good changeup. The Cavaliers will have experience in the back of the bullpen with Northern Colorado transfer Dylan Bowers and fifth-year Paul Kosanovich (1-1, 4.60).  

2. Georgia Tech (31-25, 21-15)

The defending Coastal Division champions will miss Luke Waddell and Justyn-Henry Malloy atop the lineup, but there’s a lot of returning production for a team that finished second in the conference in runs scored. Catcher Kevin Parada (.318/.379/.550, 9 HR) after leading the team in batting and extra-base hits as a freshman, while third baseman Drew Compton (.294/.393/.567, 13 HR) and first baseman Andrew Jenkins (.302/.382/.560) pack a punch. Left fielder Tres Gonzalez (.279/.422/.412) could take Waddell’s leadoff spot, but Alabama-Birmingham transfer shortstop Chandler Simpson is a speedster that the Yellow Jackets are also expecting big things from. The big questions facing Georgia Tech, though, are if it can improve on the mound and defensively. They have a lot to replace, as Brant Hurter (seventh-round pick) and Andy Archer (transfer) combined for over 160 innings of work. The burden follows on younger arms, with righthanders Zach Maxwell (2-2, 3.09) and Marquis Grissom Jr. (1-3, 5.58) expected to head up the rotation. Maxwell is a towering 6-foot-6 and throws in the upper 90s with a strong curveball but has previously pitched in relief for the Yellow Jackets, while Grissom is up to 96 mph with a plus changeup. Righthander Cort Roedig (0-2, 15.63) is another power arm, while Joe Mannelly (2-0, 5.81) and Luke Bartinicki (2-2, 6.00, 7 SV) are veterans that will pair with underclassmen Aeden Finateri and Dawson Brown (2-0, 4.40) to form a bullpen that can only make progress.

3. Miami (33-21, 20-15)

In Gino DiMare’s first two full seasons at the helm of Miami, the Hurricanes have won 41 and 33 games, respectively. They haven’t been able to reach a super regional, though, and last year were knocked out of regionals with losses to South Florida and South Alabama by a combined score of 17-4. It was a disappointing end to an up-and-down season and the squad was hit hard by the draft and transfers—they lost Adrian Del Castillo, Christian Del Castillo, Anthony Villar, and transfers Alex Toral, Gabe Rivera and Raymond Gil. That’s a big chunk of a lineup to replace—especially Christian Del Castillo’s .369 average and the patience of Toral and Villar (both ranked in the top 10 in the league in walks)—but the Hurricanes have a good core back. Third baseman Yohandy Morales (.284/.343/.541) returns to anchor the lineup after a solid freshman season, while shortstop Dominic Pitelli (.219/.289/.320) and first baseman CJ Kayfus (.298/.375/.509) are developing into key pieces. Newcomers Maxwell Romero Jr. (Vanderbilt), Jacob Burke (Southeastern Louisiana), and freshman Lorenzo Carrier all figure to slot in as well. Save for the departing Victor Mederos (Oklahoma State) and talented swingman Jake Smith, Miami brings back a pitching staff brimming with potential. Star closer Carson Palmquist (1-1, 2.22, 14 SV) is expected to jump to the rotation with Andrew Walters (0-0, 1.46) assuming stopper duties, while Alejandro Rosario (6-4, 5.21), Alex McFarlane (2-1, 4.50) and Jake Garland (6-4, 5.69) make up a rotation that has an important year of experience under their belt. 

4. Duke (33-22, 16-17)

The news of Henry Williams’ Tommy John surgery was a disheartening start to the 2022 campaign, especially as the trio of Marcus Johnson, Luke Fox, and Williams had a chance to be the conference’s top rotation. Still, the reigning ACC Tournament champions bring back the bulk of a pitching staff that will be a year older and feature a lot of depth. Johnson (5-3, 3.05, 7 SV) and Fox (2-2, 3.05) form a dangerous tandem, with Johnson moving from the bullpen and bringing a mid-90s fastball to Friday nights. Righthander Billy Seidl (4-0, 6.12) could slide into the weekend rotation after displaying plenty of promise on the Cape. Offensively, there’s a lot the Blue Devils need to replace with Ethan Murray, Michael Rothenberg, Joey Loperfido, and Peter Matt all moving on. There’s reason to be excited about Duke’s core, though, as left fielder RJ Schreck (.337/.435/.635, 18 HR, 11 SB) and the right side of the infield in Chris Crabtree (.279/.344/.587, 13 HR) and Wil Hoyle (.227/.344/.400) bring back capable bats and veteran leadership. They’ll be joined by the likes of talented freshman outfielder Devin Obee and Luke Storm, while third baseman Graham Pauley is taking strides. Fellow freshman Jonathan Santucci is an x-factor, as he could help both the pitching staff and the lineup. Duke’s lineup was among the conference’s best in 2021 while the pitching staff hit a few bumps, but a reversal of the roles this year could still mean another inspired run.

5. North Carolina (28-27, 18-18)

In his debut season after replacing the Mike Fox, coach Scott Forbes steered a youthful North Carolina side—the roster featured double-digits of true freshman—to a winning season. The Tar Heels managed this despite playing the eighth-hardest schedule in the country and struggling to find consistency on the mound and at the plate. Ace Austin Love was the bright spot on a pitching staff that posted a 5.14 ERA, but he was drafted in the third round, while the lineup takes a hit with the departure of sparkplug outfielder Justice Thompson and three-hole hitter Caleb Roberts. Still, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the Tar Heels in 2022. Righthander Max Carlson (2-2, 6.04) was shut down early last season but will aim to headline the staff, while junior college transfer and crafty lefthander Brandon Schaeffer could follow him. Shawn Rapp (1-2, 5.26) and Davis Palermo (0-1, 6.88) are the names to know in the bullpen. Offensively, right fielder Angel Zarate (.324/.424/.497) was UNC’s leading hitter last year but could face competition for the leadoff spot in the form of dynamic freshman center fielder Vance Honeycutt. Third baseman Mac Horvath (.227/.311/.387) struggled as a freshman but is expected to take a step forward alongside fellow sophomores Johnny Castagnozzi (.241/.311/.389) and Tomas Frick (.257/.307/.346). Shortstop Of course, Danny Serretti (.249/.332/.488, 9 HR), who hit for power well last season and anchors the defense, also returns.

6. Virginia Tech (27-25, 16-20)

Virginia Tech was a top-30 team by RPI midway through April last year, but the wheels came off down the stretch. The Hokies won just one of their final 14 conference games, losing four straight series before bowing out of the ACC Tournament in two games. There are some big shoes to fill offensively with TJ Rumfield (.315/.402/.478) and Kevin Madden moving on, but Virginia Tech returns the top of its order in Jack Hurley, Tanner Schobel (.279/.359/.441) and Gavin Cross (.345/.415/.621, 11 HR, 9 SB). Cross is the highest profile of the three after a breakout in 2021 that included a stint on Team USA, but Schobel could also be poised for a strong year after posting a .800 OPS as a freshman. Transfers Conor Hartigan (James Madison) and Eduardo Malinowski (Pennsylvania) figure to make an impact as well. Virginia Tech is also tasked with replacing the bulk of innings from its staff last year, losing Peyton Alford, Anthony Simonelli, Shane Connolly, and Chris Gerard. That’s a lot to replace, but the Hokies were ninth in the conference in ERA and have room to improve. Virginia Tech figures to be more flexible with its staff in 2022, but the main names to know are lefthander Ryan Okuda (50 Ks in 40.2 IP) or righthanders Griffin Green (24:7 K/BB ratio) and Graham Firoved (21 appearances, 3.48 ERA).

7. Pittsburgh (23-20, 16-17)

On April 19 of last year, Pitt was 20-11, nationally ranked and building a hosting resume. The Panthers were scoring more than six runs per game, enough to compensate for a pitching staff with a 4.45 ERA. Then, Covid-19 hit. Pitt didn’t play again until May 5 and finished the year 3-9 over the final month. The Panthers missed the postseason, then lost ace Mitch Myers (12th round), closer Jordan McCrum, second baseman David Yanni (team-high 12 home runs) and right fielder Nico Popa (second on the team with a .313 average). Pitt does bring back its top hitter from a season ago, all-ACC third baseman Sky Duff (.366/461/.524), and bolstered its lineup with La Salle transfer catcher Tatem Levins. To have success in 2022, though, the Panthers need to be better through the whole lineup, and that means players like Ron Washington Jr. (.292/.346/.480) and Kyle Hess (.263/.337/.446) taking steps to the next level. On the mound, righthander Matt Gilbertson (6-5, 4.45) will assume the role of Friday night starter and brings an 86-90 fastball and three offspeed pitches as a classic innings-eater. Keep an eye on righthander Logan Evans, a Penn State transfer who pitches well to contact and had a good fall, as well as key bullpen arms in fellow transfers Baron Stuart (South Florida) and Ben Dragani (Michigan).

Top 20 2022 Draft Prospects

  1. Gavin Cross, OF, Virginia Tech
  2. Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech
  3. Carson Palmquist, Miami
  4. Parker Messick, Florida State
  5. Bryce Hubbart, Florida State
  6. Nate Savino, LHP, Virginia
  7. Marcus Johnson, RHP, Duke
  8. Alex McFarlane, RHP, Miami
  9. Tres Gonzalez, OF, Georgia Tech
  10. Jack Brannigan, 3B/RHP, Notre Dame
  11. Eric Adler, RHP, Wake Forest
  12. Zach Maxwell, RHP, Georgia Tech
  13. Luke Gold, 2B, Boston College
  14. Dalton Rushing, C/1B, Louisville
  15. Chris Newell, OF, Virginia
  16. Chandler Simpson, SS, Georgia Tech
  17. Marquis Grissom Jr., RHP, Georgia Tech
  18. Michael Prosecky, LHP, Louisville
  19. Tanner Schobel, SS, Virginia Tech
  20. Henry Williams, RHP, Duke

Top 10 2023 Draft Prospects

  1. Yohandy Morales, SS, Miami
  2. Brock Wilken, 3B, Wake Forest
  3. Carson Montgomery, RHP, Florida State
  4. Kyle Teel, C/OF, Virginia
  5. Christian Knapczyk, SS, Louisville
  6. Alex Mooney, SS, Duke
  7. Alejandro Rosario, RHP, Miami
  8. Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Florida State
  9. Caden Grice, LHP/1B, Clemson
  10. Luke Fox, LHP, Duke

Top 10 Freshmen

  1. Alex Mooney, SS, Duke
  2. Will Taylor, OF, Clemson
  3. Josh Hartle, LHP, Wake Forest
  4. Jackson Baumeister, RHP, Florida State
  5. Lorenzo Carrier, OF, Miami
  6. Payton Green, SS, North Carolina State
  7. Tommy White, 3B, North Carolina State
  8. Will Koger, RHP, Louisville
  9. Jonathan Santucci, OF/LHP, Duke
  10. Roman Kimball, RHP, Notre Dame

Best tools

Best Pure Hitter: Gavin Cross, Virginia Tech
Best Raw Power: Caden Grice, Clemson
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Tyler Martin, Florida State
Best Athlete: Will Taylor, Clemson
Fastest Runner: Chandler Simpson, Georgia Tech
Best Baserunner: Spencer Myers, Notre Dame
Best Defensive Catcher: Kevin Parada, Georgia Tech
Best Defensive Infielder: Jared Miller, Notre Dame
Best Infield Arm: Jack Brannigan, Notre Dame
Best Defensive OF: Tres Gonzalez, Georgia Tech
Best OF Arm: Gavin Cross, Virginia Tech
Best Fastball: Zach Maxwell, Georgia Tech
Best Breaking Ball: Bryce Hubbart, Florida State
Best Changeup: Parker Messick, Florida State
Best Control: Carson Palmquist, Miami

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