2023 Atlantic Sun Conference College Baseball Preview

Preseason Awards

Player of the Year: Brian Ellis, CF, Florida Gulf Coast: Ellis has a ridiculous .359/.498/.504 slash line across four college seasons, but last spring was his best yet in terms of production. The 6-foot-2 center fielder hit .379 with 25 doubles, six home runs, a career-best 44 RBIs and a sky-high on-base percentage of .505. He will spray the ball all over the field and has an advanced feel for the barrel coupled with strong swing decisions. Ellis pulverizes fastballs especially, with a miss rate of just 11% in 2022. He has a very quiet setup at the plate and a low maintenance operation, with a small load and minimal stride. He’ll let his quick hands do most of the work and is sure to wreak havoc on pitching staffs across the conference yet again this spring.

Pitcher of the Year: Garrett Horn, LHP, Liberty: Horn exploded onto the scene as a true freshman, pitching himself to a 6-1 record along with a 1.93 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 51.1 innings pitched. He split time between the bullpen and the starting rotation last spring but will assume the coveted Friday night starter role this spring for the Flames. He utilizes a three-pitch mix that includes a fastball, curveball and slider. Each have hearty miss rates as well, with his fastball being at 31% and each secondary offering at 48%. His fastball has been up to 97 but will sit comfortably in the 92-95 mph range. Horn’s curveball and slider each have their own distinct shape, with his slider having ample horizontal movement, while his curveball takes on more of an 11-5 shape. After a full season as a starter, Horn’s numbers should be that much more impressive, and he projects to be the most dominant pitcher in the conference. 

Freshman of the Year: Jayden Hylton, OF/1B, Stetson: Hylton had a lot of draft buzz heading into July’s draft, but he opted to attend Stetson and play alongside his brother Brandyn Hylton, who is a first baseman. The younger Hylton is a long-levered outfielder who will also see time at first base. Hylton moves surprisingly well for someone who stands 6-foot-6 and after being one of the team’s best hitters this fall, his bat should factor into the Hatters’ lineup day in and day out. Defensively, he will get reps both in a corner outfield spot as well as first base. His tool set will allow him to have an impact on each game, and his offensive output has the chance to be as high as any true freshman in the conference. 

Predicted Order of Finish (2022 record)

1. Liberty (37-23, 19-11)

Liberty is coming off another successful season, something that has become the standard in the Scott Jackson era. It started its season off with a bang, winning a series against then No. 9 Florida in Gainesville. The Flames would go on to qualify for their third straight regional and their season ended where it started: in Gainesville with a loss against Central Michigan in 12 innings. Liberty will miss the production of Brady Gulakowski (.261, 16 home runs), Derek Orndorff (.257, 15 home runs) and Aaron Anderson (.310 with eight home runs), but it returns an offensive core that is nothing to slouch at. On the pitching staff there will be arms to replace with Mason Fluharty (6-3, 2.84), Joe Adametz (6-3, 2.51) and Max Alba (3-1, 5.23) all moving on to professional baseball. 

The offense will be led by outfielder Three Hillier, veteran backstop Gray Betts, third baseman Cameron Foster, and fifth-year outfielder Jaylen Guy. Hillier was arguably the Flames’ most reliable bat in 2022, hitting .309 with 14 doubles, seven home runs and 43 RBIs in 53 games. He has great plate discipline with smart swing decisions, a combination that led to him walking (32) more than he struck out (30) in 2022. Betts is perhaps the top catcher in the conference and while his defense is rock solid, his offensive profile is rather unique for a catcher. He will hit leadoff at times this spring, and he hit .296 last spring with seven home runs. Like Hillier, Betts also walked more than he struck out, with 28 walks to 23 strikeouts. Third baseman Cameron Foster is coming off a rather up-and-down 2022 season, and after some initial growing pains that are normal for any freshman, he wound up hitting .265 with 17 doubles and six home runs. Foster has a pro body with long levers, and he profiles as a third baseman long term. He’s still adding physicality to his frame, and some added impact will go a long way this spring. The defense and speed of center fielder Jaylen Guy was sorely missed last spring. He is the best defensive outfielder and fastest runner in the conference, as well as a leader in the dugout. To let his above-average speed really shine, he’ll need to get on base more than he has in previous seasons. Victor Castillo, a College of Central Florida transfer, will be a welcome addition to the lineup after posting a slash line of .376/.464/.660 last season. 

The centerpiece of the pitching staff is sophomore lefthander Garrett Horn. Horn was outstanding as a freshman, pitching his way to a 1.93 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 51.1 innings pitched. His fastball was up to 97 mph, while comfortably sitting in the 91-94 range. For secondary offerings, he has a wipeout slider that is particularly effective against lefthanded hitters, as well as a bigger-shaped curveball that he’ll throw to both lefties and righties. Horn has the potential to be a first-round draft pick in 2024, and his 2023 season is shaping up to be a special one. Also making the jump to the rotation is Mississippi State transfer Mikey Tepper. Tepper’s numbers aren’t the flashiest, but he’s a great competitor on the mound and can run his fastball up into the mid 90s. He’ll lean on his fastball, but his changeup profiles to be his best secondary offering. Other arms that will be key pieces include Trey Carter (2-1, 450 ERA), who had 39 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched in 2022, Tyler Germanowski, who threw just 3.2 innings last year but has big-time arm strength, and Nick Willard. Although the Flames lost talent on either side of the baseball, expect Coach Jackson to again get the most out of his roster and for the Flames to be squarely in the postseason picture come May. 

2. Kennesaw State (36-28, 19-11)

Under first-year head coach Ryan Coe, the Owls returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 when they advanced to a super regional. Kennesaw State was on the outside looking in when it came to making a regional until it ripped off three-straight wins in the A-Sun Tournament, eventually beating Liberty in the conference championship game. The Owls were competitive in regional play, losing a 14-11 shootout against Louisiana State and beating Army before being eliminated by host Southern Mississippi in a competitive 4-3 game. The Owls figure to be an extremely competitive bunch again in 2023, with their eyes again set on making a regional.

Atlantic Sun freshman of the year Donovan Cash leads the charge for the offense after hitting .357 with 21 doubles and 10 home runs, along with 60 RBIs in 62 games last season. Cash is physically built with serious thump in his bat, and he will again anchor the middle of the lineup. Surrounding Cash will be outfielder Spencer Hanson, who hit .311 with 11 doubles in 2022, switch-hitting outfielder/second baseman Zac Corbin (.304/.393/.438) and catcher Nick Hassan. Hassan got off to a torrid start at the plate before the coronavirus pandemic ended the 2020 season, scattering 22 hits across his first 51 at-bats (.431 average). His production dropped off a touch in 2021 but ticked up again last year as he hit .265 and sprayed 11 doubles. Hassan’s a sound defender whose bat will provide a boost to the lineup. 

The pitching staff is the biggest strength of this year’s Kennesaw State club. Sophomore Smith Pinson had a great first college season, with 80 strikeouts in 65 innings, while demonstrating fantastic command as he walked just 13 in 65 innings pitched. Pinson leans on his changeup, a pitch he’ll throw to both righthanded and lefthanded hitters. He threw it 52% of the time in 2022 and generated a miss rate of 47%. Blake Wehunt joins the rotation after throwing sparingly for Southern Miss in his first three collegiate seasons. Wehunt turned in a loud performance this summer, with a 2.27 ERA and 56 strikeouts to 11 walks across 39.2 innings in the Sun Belt. His fastball sat 92-95 this fall and he has feel for all three of his secondary pitches. The X-factor for the Owls is freshman Blake Aita. A physical righthander with loose, whippy arm action, Aita was impressive this fall. He sat 89-92, touching 93 with his fastball, but his slider is by far his best offering. It is a high-spin pitch with spin rates eclipsing 3,000 rpm, and one with which he’ll get plenty of swing and miss. He will be thrust into the rotation as a true freshman, likely starting midweek games. While its offense lost some key pieces from 2022, Kennesaw State’s rotation is perhaps the best in the conference and will allow it to be competitive night in and night out. 

3 Florida Gulf Coast (35-23, 17-13)

Although FGCU fell short of its first regional appearance since 2017, 2022 was a successful season for the Eagles. They won 35 games, highlighted by a win at then No. 5 Miami. Although it lost outfielder Ian Farrow and his 21 home runs to the aforementioned Hurricanes, FGCU returns ample depth in both the lineup and on the pitching staff. 

Offensively it starts with outfielder Brian Ellis. Ellis hit .379 last spring with an eye-popping on-base percentage of .505. He also hit 25 doubles with six home runs, and he has outstanding feel for the barrel and a sound approach. The Eagles also return hulking third baseman Alejandro Figueredo, who outhit Ellis with a .392 average last year, while lashing 21 doubles and 13 home runs. He was tied for the team lead in RBIs with 62 in 60 games. First baseman Joe Kinker will hold down the right side of the infield and the middle of the order after hitting 20 home runs with an on-base percentage of .408 last season. Sophomore outfielder Harrison Povey profiles as the team’s best professional prospect and is coming off a very loud freshman season in which he hit .288 with 13 doubles, 15 home runs and 62 RBIs in 57 games. Povey stands at 6-foot-4 and has an athletic build, with even more room to fill out physically. Second baseman Edrick Felix transfers into the program after a standout 2022 season at College of Central Florida, where he hit .339 with 18 doubles, 19 home runs and 81 RBIs in 62 games. He has an above-average glove on the dirt as well as solid range to either side. 

Junior righthanders Najer Victor and Jason Woodward will headline the weekend rotation, and each are coming off impressive 2022 seasons. Victor had a 2.89 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 37.1 innings pitched, while Woodward had a 4.11 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 76.2 innings pitched. Victor has a short arm action and throws from straight over the top while hiding the ball well, which allows his fastball to play up, especially when elevated. His curveball has a true 12-6 shape and although he throws his fastball 64% of the time, it is his best secondary offering. Woodward’s best pitch is his spike curveball, which has huge depth and is a pitch that he can land for strikes. They make for a formidable 1-2 punch at the front of the rotation, and each are potential draft picks this July. The loudest stuff on the staff, however, belongs to lefthander Mason Miller. Miller made positive strides from his freshman season that saw him walk 28 hitters in 22 innings pitched, while also having an ERA north of 7.50. His command improved in 2022 as he walked 20 in 35.1 innings pitched, while also striking out 40. He attacks from a low three-quarter slot and is a particularly tough at-bat for lefthanded hitters. His slot allows him to get ample horizontal movement on his slider, a pitch that gets plenty of swing and miss. If Miller can continue to improve, it will be massive for the FGCU rotation and will turn it into perhaps the most well-rounded team in the conference. The Eagles’ explosive offense will keep them in every game, and the key will be finding depth beyond their rotation. FGCU’s group is in prime position to make its first regional since 2017. 

 

4. Eastern Kentucky (38-20, 20-10)

Eastern Kentucky won the most overall games (38) and conference games (20) among Atlantic Sun teams last spring and was well on its way to making its first tournament appearance since 1989, before falling to Liberty in the conference semifinals. EKU did take home the regular season Atlantic Sun title and it will look to earn a coveted tournament bid this spring. While the Kernels lost their best bat from 2022 in Kendall Ewell (.361 with 14 home runs), catcher Will King will lead the offense after hitting .313 last year, while leading the team in doubles (19), RBIs (60) and placing second in home runs with 11. He’s got great discipline and walked (24) more than he struck out (21) in 2022. King posts quality at-bats consistently and him continuing to produce will be huge for EKU. The switch-hitting Charle Ludwick was third on the team in home runs with 10, while also posting an on-base percentage of .412. Ludwick and King make for a solid duo in the middle of the order, while infielders Jalen Jones (.292, 12 stolen bases) and Logan Thomason (.284 with six home runs) will be key bats as well. 

The strength of this year’s Eastern Kentucky roster is its pitching. it lost its best arm in closer Will Brian to the draft (10th round, Yankees), but returns the vast majority of its innings. The entirety of the rotation is back and will consist of Rese Brown (6-3, 3.76), Rian Yates (0-2, 3.80), Michael Schuler (5-2, 4.11) and Isaac Milburn (2-4, 5.09). Brown has the best arsenal of the bunch, with his primary secondary offering being a changeup that got a 52% miss rate in 2022. It also return its best reliever outside of Brian in Anthony Vargas, who had a 2.11 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 21.1 innings pitched. His command wavered at times as he walked 19, but he’s got a wiry frame, a quick arm and will look to take over the closer role for the Kernels this year. This year’s Eastern Kentucky team will go as far as its pitching will take it and given the overall depth of the staff, it is poised to be able to go toe-to-toe with anyone in the conference. 

5. Jacksonville State (27-28, 19-11)

Jacksonville State joined the Atlantic Sun in 2022 and had a respectable first season, finishing tied for the second most wins in conference play with 19. From that team it returns its top three hitters in Mason Maners, T.J. Reeves and Brennen Norton, as well as Carson Crowe, who led the team in home runs (12) and RBIs (45) in 2022. Maners led the way for the Gamecocks last spring, hitting .342 with 12 doubles and four home runs. Norton turned in a strong season as well, hitting .315 with eight doubles and six home runs of his own. The best pro prospect on the position player side is without a doubt T.J. Reeves. After starting his career at Alabama, Reeves transferred to Jacksonville State and had the best season of his college career. He hit .317 with 14 doubles, eight home runs, had an on-base percentage of .426 and stole eight bases. Reeves has an incredibly physical build and is a great athlete, manning center field in 54 of his 55 games played last spring. He impacts the game in several ways and is a candidate to win A-Sun player of the year this spring. 

On the mound, JSU returns two of its biggest weapons in A.J. Causey and Reid Fagerstrom. Causey was fantastic last spring and finished with a 2.61 ERA with 58 strikeouts to 10 walks in 48.1 innings pitched. He throws from a sidearm slot, but has an incredibly unique profile for someone with that attack angle; typically, sidewinders lack velocity, but Causey has run his fastball up to 93 and averaged 88.8 mph on the pitch in 2022. His calling card is a high-spin, sweeping slider that generated a 57% whiff rate in 2022. Causey figures to be the best reliever in the conference and is on his way to potentially being a solid draft pick in 2024. Fagerstrom was consistent as a starter last year, notching a 4.45 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched. Like Causey, his slider is his best pitch and had a whiff rate over 50%. Jake Peppers (4-2, 4.39) will be the cornerstone of the rotation and has the most impressive stuff on the pitching staff. His fastball has been up to 97 mph and just like Causey and Fagerstrom, he has an above-average slider with a 57% whiff rate. With most of their offensive firepower back for another season as well as a solid core of pitchers, the Gamecocks will look to build on the momentum they established last spring.

6. Lipscomb (36-22, 20-10)

The Bison enjoyed a great 2022 season, finishing tied for the most wins in the conference and tallying 36 wins overall. Heading into the 2023 seasons, it will need to replace a lot of key pieces, especially on offense. It lost its three leading hitters in Malik Williams (.362/.427/.585), Rudy Maxwell (.330/.365/.569) and Maddux Houghton (.299/.414/.450), as well as two key arms in Ike Buxton (7-3, 3.86) and Trey Nordmann (3-0, 3.46), who each are in professional baseball with the Marlins and Orioles, respectively. It’s not all bad news for the Bison, however, as it returns slick fielding shortstop Caleb Ketchup, infielder Mason Lundgrin and third baseman Trace Willhoite, who led the team in home runs last spring with 17. Ketchup’s defense is his best tool, and he took home the conference’s defensive player of the year award last spring. He has soft hands, immense range and is comfortable throwing from any arm angle. He also will generate production with his bat, as he hit .284 last year with 15 doubles and five home runs. Ketchup is also a plus runner who stole 32 bases in 2022, while only being thrown out three times. While the A-Sun is deep in terms of talent, Ketchup is a dark horse to take home the conference’s player of the year award when all is said and done. Lundgrin is a solid hitter in his own right, and although he might not possess light-tower power, he will consistently move the baseball while occasionally finding a gap. He hit .294 in 2022 with 12 doubles, three home runs and 41 RBIs. His on-base percentage of .430 also led the team.

The pitching staff has also thinned out a bit, but similar to the offense there are a few key pieces that will be tasked with stepping up in 2023. It starts with southpaw Michael Dunkelberger. Dunkelberger is the Bison’s best returning starter from a statistical standpoint after posting a 3.45 ERA last year with 64 strikeouts to 18 walks in 78.1 innings pitched. What Dunkelberger lacks in velocity he makes up for in advanced command of his entire arsenal of pitches, and he avoids hard contact. Also back is the team’s best bullpen arm in Tyler Legere. Legere pitched his way to a 2.77 ERA with 24 strikeouts to just five walks in 26 innings pitched last spring. Legere throws from a sidearm slot and it’s a tough angle for hitters to pick up, making him effective out of the bullpen in short stints. Transfer righthander Ethan Smith was highly touted coming out of high school, and after stints at Vanderbilt and Tennessee, he will be tasked with being the Saturday starter this season. Smith has big stuff and if it all comes together for the veteran righthander, he will be one of the better arms in the conference. While there are a lot of question marks heading into 2023, Lipscomb will look to remain competitive and be in the hunt for a conference championship.

7. Stetson (26-29, 10-20)

The 2022 season was a bit of a down year for the Hatters, particularly in conference play, but they did have a few bright spots including a series win against Liberty and midweek wins over in-state rivals Miami and Florida State, all of whom were ranked when they fell to Stetson. The key in 2023 will be gaining consistency and with a strong freshman class, a plethora of returning arms and a key transfer portal addition, Coach Steve Trimper looks to accomplish just that. 

On offense Stetson returns veteran leadoff hitter Cam Hill, who led the team in nearly every offensive category last spring. He hit .311 with 11 doubles, six triples, five home runs, 30 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. All were tops on the team except his home run output, which was good enough for second best. Hill plays the game incredibly hard with his biggest asset being his baserunning ability. He’s a plus runner with outstanding instincts and feel for the game, which help him both on the basepaths and defensively, where he is a great center fielder. Hill will hit leadoff for Stetson again this spring and will play the role of a catalyst. Infielder Jake Bullard had a solid sophomore campaign, hitting .275 with 27 RBIs. He carried that momentum over to the NECBL, where he hit .289 in 45 at-bats. Bullard continuing to progress offensively will be incredibly beneficial for the Stetson lineup. Brandon Hylton led the team in home runs with six, and his upside is immense. After providing a glimpse of what he is capable of in 2020, the towering first baseman/outfielder is looking for it all to click offensively once again. His younger brother, Jayden, however, was a massive recruiting win for Trimper and his staff. He will be in the lineup on Opening Day and while it remains to be seen where he will fit in positionally, his bat is enough to keep him in the starting nine.

The arms will be the biggest strength of the 2023 Stetson club and its depth will be enough to keep it in most games. It starts with righthander Danny Garcia, who had a great 2022, pitching his way to a 3.20 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched. He showed impeccable command as he walked just six hitters. He will pound the strike zone and does a nice job avoiding hard contact. Joining Garcia in the rotation will be fellow righthander Cole Stallings. Stallings had a nice 2022 season in his own right, finishing with a 4.41 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched. Austin Amaral (4-2, 3.17) will be the focal point in the Stetson bullpen, but he also has the ability to start. The team’s best arm from a pure stuff standpoint is Florida State transfer Dylan Jacobs. Jacobs hardly threw last season for the Seminoles but pitched very well in the fall. His fastball has been up to 97 with carry and a wipeout slider is his best offspeed pitch. If it all clicks for the righthander, he has the makings of a potential top-five round draft selection in 2024. Pitchability specialist Nick Durgin (1-5, 5.40) and two-way player Anthony DeFabbia will also have roles on the pitching staff. If its offense can produce at a respectable clip and the pitching staff meets its high expectations, Stetson could be a dark-horse team to win the A-Sun championship. 

8. Jacksonville (27-28, 13-16)

After winning the Atlantic Sun in 2021, the Dolphins were looking to replicate that success in 2022. They fell short of winning back-to-back conference championships, but along the way they beat a ranked Florida State team and took a series from Liberty. Heading into 2023, the Dolphins will be without their two best arms in Mason Adams (5-5, 4.80) and Tyler Vogel (4-0, 1.78). Adams was selected in the 13th round of this year’s draft by the White Sox, while Vogel was selected in the 12th round by the Giants. Vogel was the best reliever on last year’s staff, while Adams was the best starter. Offensively, the Dolphins will lean on the production of infielder Blake DeLamielleure, who hit .283 with four home runs and 19 stolen bases last year. As a team that hit just 24 home runs, losing Chris Coipel, who hit 13 of them, is a huge blow. Florida graduate transfer Kris Armstrong will look to provide a spark and although 2022 was a bit of a down year for the first baseman, he had a great 2021 as he hit .289 with nine doubles and eight home runs before hitting .308 with seven home runs in the Cape Cod League. He has big-time strength and will immediately slot into the heart of the JU order. 

On the mound, the Dolphins will turn to redshirt senior Christian Graham (2-5, 4.37), Heston Mosley (2-4, 5.06) and freshman lefthander Dakota Stone. Stone has a thick build physically and there’s an argument to be made that he is the best arm on the staff. Bryce Fisher (1-0, 3.03) had 39 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched last year and will have a prominent role out of the bullpen. The Dolphins will need to take a massive leap forward offensively and find consistency with several of their arms to sustain a high level of competitiveness throughout the 2023 season.

9. North Florida (22-33, 11-18)

The Ospreys enter 2023 with huge holes to fill offensively after losing four of their five best hitters in Isaiah Byars (.330/.387/.479), who transferred to Kentucky, Brock Edge (.324/.406/.510), Cade Westbrook (.311/.380/.368) and slugger Abraham Sequera, who hit .307 and also led the team in home runs (11) and RBIs (53). That is a massive amount of production lost in just one year, but one bright spot is junior shortstop Aidan Sweatt. Sweatt hit .329 last spring to go with eight doubles and three home runs, while playing sound defense up the middle. He will be the focal point of the offense this spring, and for an offense that lost 30 of its 39 home runs hit, Sweatt will need to really hit. Redshirt senior catcher Dallen Leach has some pop in his bat as well, hitting seven doubles and four home runs last year. He is someone who will need to step up next to Sweatt. The pitching staff will again be led by 6-foot-4 lefthander Peter Holden. Holden led the team in ERA last spring (3.41), while striking out 58 in 68.2 innings pitched. Like Sweatt, Holden is the lone headline returner on his side of the baseball, and other arms around him will need to take a step forward in their production. In a deep top half of the conference, it could be difficult for North Florida to compete for a conference title this spring. 

10. Central Arkansas (24-29, 18-12)

While its overall record might not stand out, Central Arkansas was very respectable in conference play, winning 18 games, including series wins against top league opponents such as Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky and Lipscomb. The bad news heading into 2023 is that the Bears lost their top arm in Tyler Cleveland (7-2, 2.93) after he was selected in the 14th round of the 2022 draft by the Mariners. Cleveland was a unique starter as he threw from a submarine slot, but he was outstanding as he struck out 101 in 95.1 innings pitched while walking just 16. Like North Florida, UCA lost its top offensive producers in Hunter Hicks (.326 with 17 doubles and 11 home runs) and Connor Emmet (.299 with 11 home runs). A trio of returners in Tanner Leonard (.292/.409/.434), Kolby Johnson (.279/.386/.367) and Drew Sturgeon (.266/.365/.410) will attempt to fill the void from the departures of Hicks and Emmet, which is no small task. Their best returning arm is righthander Trent Gregson, who was great out of the bullpen in 2022. He posted a 4.30 ERA and struck out 80 in 60.2 innings pitched. His fastball has been up to 94, but his slider had a miss rate of 41% and is his best pitch. Getting the ball on Friday nights will be Jesse Barker, who had a 5.27 ERA in 2022 with 55 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched. The 2023 season will be a year of growth for Central Arkansas as it looks to replace some key departures.

11. Austin Peay (19-37, 10-14 OVC)

With 2023 comes the complete overhaul of the Austin Peay baseball program. Roland Fanning is now at the helm and went right to work in the transfer portal, bringing in 27 new faces. On top of going through a coaching change, the Governors will compete in the Atlantic Sun for the first time. Virtually the entire offense from 2022 is now gone, but keeping 6-foot-4 outfielder Harrison Brown, who hit .306 with 11 doubles and six home runs, and corner infielder Michael Robinson (.287 with 12 doubles and five home runs) was huge for Fanning. John Bay could emerge as a consistent producer for Austin Peay after hitting .324 in limited at-bats for Oklahoma State in 2022. Lyle Miller-Green will have a role both on offense and on the mound. Miller-Green has the most raw power in the conference, a tool that is a legit 70, but continuing to refine his hit tool will be key. Austin Peay had a team ERA of 8.00 last spring, but with entirely fresh faces in the starting rotation that mark could improve in 2023. On Fridays the ball will be given to North Carolina transfer Nick James. James had a 2.89 ERA in just 9.1 innings pitched in 2022, and the southpaw’s changeup is an above-average offering. Also in the rotation is the aforementioned Miller-Green, whose fastball will touch 94, and Missouri transfer Jacob Kush. Between a new coaching staff, a new conference and almost an entirely new roster the deck might be stacked against the Governors this spring, but it will be interesting to see how they do given the circumstances.

12. Bellarmine (11-43, 8-22)

In just their second year at the Division I level, the Knights produced the conference’s player of the year in 2022, with outfielder Matt Higgins taking home the honor. Higgins hit .366 and showed off his big-time raw power, slugging 20 doubles and 22 home runs, while also driving in 61 runs in 54 games. Higgins is now in the Giants organization after signing as an undrafted free agent. Though they won just 11 games last year, 2023 looks to be a step in the right direction for the Knights. They return two-way talent Casey Sorg, who hit .320 across 50 at-bats while also pitching his way to a 4.91 ERA. Catcher Ashton Smith will also figure into the middle of the order after hitting .309 over 81 at-bats last spring. First baseman Davis Crane (.288 with four home runs) will give the Knights some juice in the middle of the order. Aside from Casey Sorg, the entire weekend rotation is back for another season. It is comprised of Nolan Pender (3-9, 5.13), Gavin Braunecker (3-7, 5.99) and Drew Buhr (0-6, 6.97). When teams make the jump from Division II to Division I it always takes a few seasons to gain a solid footing. Bellarmine has some quality opponents scheduled for 2023, with a four-game series against Indiana and midweek games against Tennessee and Louisville. It will be interesting to watch the Bellarmine program continue to progress in 2023, and with a good core of returning talent there should be an uptick in wins. 

13. North Alabama (12-41, 5-25)

North Alabama won just 12 games in 2022, but it did stun in-state foe Alabama and exploded to beat Memphis 10-0 for its two most notable victories. Some bad news for the Lions heading into 2023 is that they lose their top producers from 2022 in Luke Harper (.379 with 16 doubles), Austin Thrasher (.348 with four home runs) and Devne Daniel (.307 with three home runs). They do return outfielder Jonathan Lane (.277), who led the team with five home runs last spring. Their other main bat will be infielder Drew Hudson, who hit 12 doubles and four home runs last season. Lefthander Jacob James is the best returning arm for UNA after striking out 66 in 71.2 innings pitched. It will be an uphill battle for North Alabama in 2023, and it will likely finish in the bottom third of the conference again. 

14 Queens (29-22, 17-7 SAC)

The 2023 season will be the most exciting year in Queens baseball history as it makes the leap to the Division I level. The Royals also have the benefit of returning nearly all their production from last season, headlined by Nick Brassington, who hit .370 with 14 doubles and 16 home runs; Dillon Lewis, who hit .350 with 11 doubles and eight home runs; Riley Cheek, who hit .330 with 16 doubles and 11 home runs and other key pieces such as Will Budnick and Christian Maggio, who each produced in limited sample sizes. They do lose pitcher Tanner Jacobson (10th round, Cardinals), who had a 4.09 ERA while striking out 79 in 61.2 innings pitched last year. Zach Kelly (1-3, 4.10) and Daniel Bagwell (4-3, 4.20) are the top returning arms for Queens, while 6-foot-4 righthander Justin Offschanka (3-0, 5.19) and Key Yamagishi (1-2, 8.88) will round out the rotation. Queens is playing with house money in 2023, but don’t expect the Royals to roll over in any of their games. They will take teams by surprise with their offensive prowess, but the biggest question mark is if they possess the pitching depth to keep them within stirking distance on a nightly basis. Regardless of what the result of its initial Division I season is, Queens has some exciting times ahead. 

Top 10 2023 Draft Prospects

1. Trey Gibson, RHP, Liberty
2. Jason Woodward, RHP, Florida Gulf Coast
3. Mason Miller, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast
4. Mikey Tepper, RHP, Liberty
5. T.J. Reeves, OF, Jacksonville State
6. Jake Peppers, RHP, Jacksonville State
7. Najer Victor, RHP, Florida Gulf Coast
8. Cameron Foster, 3B, Liberty
9. Austin Amaral, RHP, Stetson
10. Caleb Ketchup, SS, Lipscomb

Top 5 2024 Draft Prospects

1. Garrett Horn, LHP, Liberty
2. Dylan Jacobs, RHP, Stetson
3. Blake Aita, RHP, Kennesaw State
4. Harrison Povey, OF, Florida Gulf Coast
5. A.J. Causey, RHP, Jacksonville State

Top Newcomers

1. Dylan Jacobs, RHP, Stetson
2. Mikey Tepper, RHP, Liberty
3. Jayden Hylton, OF/1B, Stetson
4. Blake Aita, RHP, Kennesaw State
5. Edrick Felix, SS, Florida Gulf Coast

Best Tools

Best pure hitter: Brian Ellis, Florida Gulf Coast
Best power hitter: Lyle Miller-Green, Austin Peay
Best strike-zone discipline: Brian Ellis, Florida Gulf Coast
Best athlete: Jaylen Guy, Liberty
Fastest runner: Jaylen Guy, Liberty
Best baserunner: Cameron Hill, Stetson
Best defensive catcher: Gray Betts, Liberty
Best defensive infielder: Caleb Ketchup, Lipscomb
Best infield arm: Caleb Ketchup, Lipscomb
Best defensive outfielder: Jaylen Guy, Liberty
Best outfield arm: Jaylen Guy, Liberty
Best fastball: Garrett Horn, Liberty
Best breaking ball: A.J. Causey (Slider), Jacksonville State
Best changeup: Smith Pinson, Kennesaw State
Best control: Danny Garcia, Stetson