Under The Radar 2024 College Baseball Recruiting Classes

Image credit: Rice coach Jose Cruz Jr. (Photo by Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images)

To round out the coverage of the 2024 recruiting cycle, it’s time to take a look at eight recruiting classes who flew under the radar. With the recruiting landscape going through rapid and drastic changes thanks to the introduction of NIL, it is impressive to see which schools who do not fall under the “power four conference” umbrella are able to adapt and still land high-end talent that will serve their programs well for the next three-to-four years. Similar to the piece that discussed 10 recruiting classes who fell just short of the top 25, there is no particular order to the schools mentioned below.

You can also find our overall Top 25 recruiting classes here.

Florida International

Recruiting coordinator: Brian Jeroloman
Top recruit: Adonys Velez, SS
BA 500 freshmen (if applicable): 1

The brother of Florida recruiting coordinator Chuck Jeroloman, coach Brian Jeroloman was able to put together a solid recruiting class of his own. The class has a heavy focus on the Sunshine State, which is similar to FIU classes of the past. While often overshadowed by other programs in the state, the Panthers have been able to land plenty of high-end talent of their own in years past. 2024 was a big step in the right direction, as in head coach Rich Witten’s second season the Panthers won their most games (27) in a single season since 2017.

The class is headlined by shortstop Adonys Velez, who possesses an advanced defensive acumen. Velez has impressive actions and a borderline plus arm at shortstop, which are two traits that make him a safe bet to stick at the position long term. The biggest key for Velez will be how much progress his offense makes during his time on campus. There is a little bit of pop from gap-to-gap right now, but his hit tool is below-average. If he can shore up his pitch recognition skills and approach, Velez has the chance to be a day-two draft prospect when he is next eligible. Outfielder Cole Cleveland packs an exciting toolset of his own, while 6-foot-4 lefthander Loic Guillemette has been into the low-90s with his fastball and is the most intriguing arm in the class.

Xavier

Recruiting coordinator: Joey Bellini
Top recruit: Jack Detienne, RHP
BA 500 freshmen (if applicable): 1

A former infielder at Cincinnati, coach Joey Bellini was added to the Musketeers’ staff in 2021 as a volunteer assistant. Following two years in the role, he was promoted to recruiting coordinator where he has done an admirable job. Xavier, especially recently, has been highly competitive in the Big East and captured its fifth conference tournament championship in 2023. The Midwest has always had plenty of high school talent, and recently the Musketeers have shown they can keep some top talent home and win recruiting battles against other programs in the region.

Righthander Jack Detienne had plenty of draft buzz this spring, though he ultimately decided to honor his commitment to Xavier. In addition to a fastball that has been up to 96, Detienne’s curveball has flashed plus and looks the part of a true out pitch down the road. While he predominantly throws his fastball and curveball, Detienne has shown a low-80s changeup that is a bit of a work in progress. Strike-throwing has been a bit of a bugaboo, which is something he’ll look to improve upon at school. Outfielder JD Crisp and physical, 6-foot-3 infielder Alex Martin are the headliners on the position player side, while fellow righthander Benjamin Escobar has an impressive 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame and a fastball that has been into the low-90s.

Harvard

Recruiting coordinator: Bryan Stark
Top recruit: Gavin Smith, SS
BA 500 freshmen (if applicable): 1

As one of, if not the most elite academic institutions in the United States, Harvard has done well in terms of both earning commitments from solid recruits and then developing said players into eventual draft picks. The Crimson have had players drafted or signed in six of the last seven drafts with a particular focus on their pitchers. Harvard has appeared in the tournament just once since 2005, and after a down year last season it will look to compete for its first Ivy League tournament title since 2019.

Infielder Gavin Smith had some draft interest this spring, though he was viewed as someone who would likely end up at school. No particular tool stands out with Smith, though he does a lot of things well. His actions and athleticism figure to allow him to stick somewhere on the infield—even if it means an eventual move off of the shortstop position—and there should be more power to come as his frame continues to add strength and physicality. There are also present bat-to-ball skills and a plus arm to boot, so expect Smith to be a regular member of the Crimson’s starting nine in 2025. Harvard has shown a particular knack for developing pitchers, so keep an eye on lefthanders Luca Alagheband and Charley Bergsma. Alagheband has been up to 92 from a tough-to-pick up slot, while Bergsma has flashed impressive pitchability.

UNC-WILMINGTON

Recruiting coordinator: Chris Moore
Top recruit: Mason Hughes, SS
BA 500 freshmen (if applicable): 1

The CAA is arguably the most “slept on” conference in college baseball, as it boasts a number of quality programs and prospects year in and year out. It is ultra-competitive, yet UNCW seems to always find itself at the top of the conference when all is said and done. The Seahawks have won back-to-back conference titles in 2023 and 2024, and last year won their first tournament game since 2018. The Carolinas have long been known as a recruiting hotbed, and it is easy for talented players to get overlooked. On top of landing notable recruits, UNCW has found plenty of these “diamonds in the rough” and has done a great job of developing them once on campus. As one of the premier programs in the Carolinas, expect Wilmington to be in the mix for its third-straight conference title in 2025.

Shortstop Mason Hughes’ toolset is intriguing, especially his offense, and he has the chance to be an impact bat right away for the Seahawks. There is no shortage of bat speed and even though there are some moving parts in his operation, Hughes has still shown the ability to get his barrel to the baseball on a rather consistent basis. He will likely show more power as his frame continues to fill out, and he is also a plus runner. The main question mark with Hughes is where he’ll end up defensively, and his skillset could profile best at second base long term. Catcher JT Siner has generated some buzz this fall with his bat, while 6-foot-2 lefty Mason Child is armed with a low-90s fastball and has plenty of projection remaining.

Rice

Recruiting coordinator: Mikey Hoehner
Top recruit: Blaine Brown, LHP
BA 500 freshmen (if applicable): 1

Once a national powerhouse under the late and all-time great head coach Wayne Graham, the last six seasons have been a struggle for the Owls. They have not finished above .500 or appeared in the tournament since 2017, but head coach Jose Cruz Jr. and his staff have shown slow and steady improvement in their three years with the program. Rice’s win total has increased in each of Cruz Jr.’s three seasons, but the goal is to become a consistent postseason contender.

6-foot-4 lefthander Blaine Brown is a mighty intriguing ball of clay for the Rice coaching staff to mold, and he looks the part of a potential day two draft pick should his stuff continue to trend in the right direction. He was up to 93 this spring, though there is even more in the tank given his projectable frame and some low hanging fruit to clean up in his delivery. His breaking ball is just okay, though, and his control will escape him at times, but there is a lot to like and dream on. Rigthander Ethan Atchley has a loose, whippy arm action with plenty of arm speed and his fastball jumps out of his low release point, while 6-foot-6 righthander Drew Devillier possesses a low-90s fastball and will also be a quarterback on the football team.

Florida Atlantic

Recruiting coordinator: Michael Cleary
Top recruit: Kyle Boylston, OF
BA 500 freshmen (if applicable): 1

Like its south Florida counterpart, Florida Atlantic in years past has shown the ability to put together quality recruiting classes in a state that is loaded with premier programs. Like UNCW in the Carolinas, FAU has shown that in a baseball hot bed it can still seek out—and land—talent that will make a positive impact on its program. It has seen three alums make their big league debuts in the last four years, headlined by former first baseman Nolan Schanuel. Since 2012, the Owls have won 40+ games four times, have appeared in the tournament five times and have finished above .500 all but once.

Outfielder Kyle Boylston is a dynamic athlete who on top of his ability on the diamond, was also a standout football player during his time at St. John’s Country Day (Fla.). Thanks to his plus speed and athleticism, Boylston has a chance to stick in centerfield long term. His offense is his biggest question mark right now, particularly his hit tool, and it will be interesting to follow how it develops during his time in Boca Raton. There could also be some more power in the tank with Boylston, which gives him an intriguing all-around ceiling. The position player depth is the biggest strength of this year’s recruiting class, but righthanders Joseph Abbazia and James Litman are both armed with low-90s fastballs and could log innings as true freshmen.

Kennesaw State

Recruiting coordinator: Matthew Passauer
Top recruit: Tyler Bayer, RHP

Head coach Ryan Coe and his staff have done a fantastic job since taking the reins of the program in 2022. In that same year, Kennesaw State won the Atlantic Sun conference tournament and made a regional for the first time since 2014 and following a down year in 2023, the Owls last year won 32 games which is their second-highest mark since 2014. Coe and company have produced draft picks in each of the last three seasons and have multiple draft prospects on their 2025 roster. Like a lot of the schools discussed, Kennesaw State sits in a region that both contains major programs and is chock-full of high school talent.

Righthanded pitcher Tyler Bayer was a 19th-round selection by the Arizona Diamondbacks this July, but he opted to instead honor his commitment to Kennesaw State which was a major win for the Owls. A 6-foot-4 righthander, Bayer moves well on the mound and boasts plenty of arm speed with some effort in his delivery. His fastball has been up to 93 and he’ll pitch in the low-90s with it, and it’s an offering he pairs with a solid slider and a changeup that serves as his third offering. A switch-hitter, Bayer has also shown some offensive prowess and there is a chance he will get the opportunity to play both ways for the Owls. Fellow righty Nolan McKinstry has also been up to 93 with his heater and has plenty of projection remaining, so another jump in velocity could be in the cards.

While Bayer and McKinstry are the class’ two biggest names, there is also depth on the position player side. Lastly, 6-foot-7 righthander Ethan Osada possesses an imposing frame with stuff to boot. Between its returning talent and impressive recruiting class, Kennesaw State is in a prime position to compete for an Atlantic Sun title both in 2025 and beyond.

Liberty

Recruiting coordinator: Andrew See
Top recruit: Jack Frankel, RHP

After a tough 2024 season in which it went 24-34, it was an offseason full of change for Liberty. Former head coach Scott Jackson departed and joined the coaching staff at North Carolina, a move that resulted in the eventual hiring of head coach Bradley LeCroy. LeCroy had a successful two-year run as the head man at Virginia Commonwealth that culminated in the program’s second conference tournament championship and regional berth in the last three seasons. Before VCU, LeCroy was an assistant coach at Clemson for 15 years. Liberty made the tournament in both 2021 and 2022, but has seen a year-over-year decline in wins in both 2022 and 2023. However, LeCroy and his staff put the Flames in a strong spot to recapture their recent success.

While top recruit Sawyer Black followed Jackson to North Carolina, Liberty was still able to net a quality recruiting class. Righthander Jack Frankel has the look of someone who will make an immediate positive impact on the pitching staff. He is armed with a fastball that has been up to 94, two distinct breaking balls with his high-spin curveball being the better of the two and a changeup that has shown positive flashes. On top of his four-pitch arsenal, Frankel is an advanced strike-thrower which only helps his stuff play up. Physical righty Ty Goodson’s low-90s heater is his calling card, while 6-foot-2 shortstop Landon Scilley and his enticing toolset headline the position player group. After a down couple of seasons, Liberty is poised to again compete for an ASun conference title.