More talent exists in collegiate baseball now than at any other time in the sport’s history. Thirteen of the top 15 picks in the 2024 MLB Draft, as well as the top eight picks, came from college. In the 2014 draft, it was four of six, and only five years ago, three of the top six picks were high school students.
Who might come next? Which names should I be aware of for the 2026 draft?
Asking our panel about the best college baseball players they have ever seen and the top players in the game in 2025 is how we kick off our annual college baseball coaches forum. The coaches reminisce about their recruitment experiences in Part 2, which was released on Tuesday.
Who was their career’s most significant recruitment discovery? But what about the escapee? We discuss roster sizes and revenue sharing, two of the hottest problems in collegiate baseball, in Part 3 on Wednesday. Additionally, the coaches talk about NIL and the transfer portal on Thursday in Part 4.
The coaches are as follows:
NC State’s Elliott Avent
Bloomquist, Willie, Arizona State
Mainieri, Paul, South Carolina
Mingione, Nick, Kentucky
Xavier, Billy O’Conner
Virginia’s Brian O’Connor
Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan
Sabins, Steve, West The state of Virginia
Ungricht Brock, San Diego
Wasikowski, Mark, Oregon
Who do you think will be the nation’s top position player in 2025 who isn’t on your team?
Bloomquist: Oklahoma State’s Schubert (Nolan). He has a decent probability of succeeding. strong power hitter. A few years back, he set us on fire. He is a dynamic individual.
Mainieri:
I must select Jared Jones, a player I recruited to LSU.
Mingione: For me, it would be Texas A&M’s (Jace) LaViolette. There is simply no denying the strength. He flees. His arms are strong. He’s done it in our league and has all the tools you need. It is difficult to locate.
Billy O’Conner:
Cam Cannarella is my choice. Last year, we played him. He’s the type of child that’s entertaining to watch because, although he’s not the biggest or most tool-savvy kid, he’s a ball player and a grinder in everything he does. Will he be selected first overall? Most likely not. Although I am certain that he will be selected in the draft, is he the kind of player that makes you say, “Oh my God, that looks like a big leaguer?” across from the dugout? Not until he takes the field and performs flawlessly on all fronts—offensively, defensively, and in baserunning. He’s really entertaining to watch.
Brian O’Connor:
Two, in my opinion. Drew Burress of Georgia Tech, in my opinion. He hit high as a freshman last year.300s, had less than 40 strikeouts, 25 home runs, and extra-base hits. He is also a top-tier center fielder. I was profoundly impacted by him.
The other would be Texas A&M’s Jace LaViolette, who is only seen on television. Additionally, a center fielder hits a lot of extra-base hits and hits over.300. Many people make a lot of effort to play center field with low strikeout rates, and we all understand the importance of power and extra-base hits at every level of baseball.
O’Sullivan:
Jace LaViolette would have to be your choice. He can play center field, middle of the field, and has left-handed power. He is large and strong. He’s as good as any of the men we’ve had, but I can only compare him to the ones we’ve had before. Additionally, he still has a little more projection. Additionally, he will be surrounded by some excellent players.
Sabins: Oklahoma State’s (Nolan) Schubert is my choice.
Ungricht: I think I’d have to choose Jace LaViolette, the man from A&M.
Wasikowski:
I know Jace (LaViolette) is a good hitter, and we watched the A&M team (in the Super Regionals last season). He is clearly very talented and talented. Last year, I genuinely believed that Travis Bazzana had separated himself in a freakish manner even before the season began. All of the guys this year, in my opinion, are excellent players, but I’m not sure who has truly set themselves out in terms of being like the guy, you know. When I saw LaViolette, I thought he was excellent. I believe that Jared Jones at LSU possesses a great deal of power.
I believe there are a few students at Arizona State on the West Coast. Kien Vu is an advanced, truly exceptional hitter, in my opinion, and I wouldn’t sleep on him. That Vu kid is really, extremely excellent, but I know that the West Coast doesn’t get much play for truly great players. Therefore, I would think about him and Brandon Compton of Arizona State on the West Coast. ASU has two of the best hitters, in my opinion, and they are both left-handed bats with unique skills.