As the 2023 College Baseball Season starts to pick up, we would like to project how some teams will perform in the upcoming season.
Alabama Crimson Tide:
Last year, The Tide finished the season with a record of 30-27, just missing out of the NCAA Tournament. However, they are on a hot start to the 2023 season starting 5-0 at the top of the SEC West. Alabama has a very good balance between returning talent and incoming players that can help boost their lineup. One of those players is 6-6 pitching ace Brock Blatter from Montana. With returning stud outfielder William Pickney who batted .303 last season with 7 stolen bases as well as 7 home runs. Pickney has the potential to be the multi-tool player Alabama needs this season.
5. Arkansas Razorbacks
Last year, the Razorbacks finished the season with a 46-21 record, reaching the College World Series. They are off to a decent start with their overall record being 3-1. That record also ties Auburn and Texas A&M. Although Arkansas missed out on winning the College World Series last year, they will still be a dangerous roster. Where they’ve added transfer outfielder Jared Wegner from Creighton, who went to hit .348, 11 stolen bases, and 11 home runs. Wegner is only one of five transfers that Arkansas recruited. They have a lot of offensive talent as well as solid pitching that will keep them as a tournament contender later in the Spring. Especially when the Tide faces them in late March/early April. Alabama’s pitching needs to be top-notch to be able to compete with this offense.
4. Vanderbilt Commodores
Last year, the Commodores finished the season with a 39-23 record, losing to Oregon State in Regionals. They are off to a bit of a decent start with a 3-2 record, tying Tennessee. The major thing Vanderbilt has going for them is their pitching. With Carter Holton and Devin Futrell being their ace starters this season and Thomas Schultz being their top reliever. Vandy is going to stop a lot of electric offenses like LSU, Florida, and Tennessee. On top of their ace pitching along comes Enrique Bradfield, Jr. who batted .317 with 46 stolen bases and is easily deemed to be the fastest man in the league. Alabama’s offense is going to have to find a break with Vandy’s pitching once they face them in early May.
3. Florida Gators
Last year, the Gators finished the season with a 42-24 record, losing to Oklahoma in Regionals. They are off to a solid start with a 4-1 record placing second in the SEC East behind South Carolina. Florida’s talent both offensively and pitching-wise is extremely talented. Their best player is outfielder Wyatt Langford who went off last season batting .355 and hitting 26 home runs in the process. This team is expected to go to Omaha for the CWS however they have had their struggles with falling short in the past due to mass strikeouts in their offense. However, if they fix those issues and just maintain contact by staying consistent, there is no doubt they might be the most dangerous team in the SEC. When Alabama faces them in Gainesville this season in mid-March, it is imperative that The Tide finds the holes in both their lineup and their pitching. In recent years Florida’s bullpen has been their Achilles’ heal, but they have recruited some new transfers to help solve that issue.
2. Ole Miss
Last year, the Rebels finished the season with a 42-23 record, winning the College World Series. They are currently off to a hot start with a current record of 4-0 tying with LSU. Ole Miss may not be one of the best teams in college baseball on paper, however, they did with the College World Series last year and from early games, it looks like they want to run deep in the tournament yet again. Jacob Gonzalez not only being their best player but one of the top MLB Draft prospects in all of college ball. Rebels also had one the best recruiting classes that will definitely benefit their pitching both starting and relieving. Their returning ace is Hunter Elliott, who had a 5-3 record with an electric 2.70 ERA and 102 strikeouts. Elliott is now experienced and should be lights out from the mound if he can stay healthy. Alabama needs to do their research on this team throughout the season because although they might not have the ranking to back them up, this is a team that doesn’t know the word quit. The Tide plays them in their last series of the season in mid-May.
1. LSU
Last year, the Tigers finished the season with a 40-22 record, losing to Southern Miss in Regionals. This shouldn’t surprise any NCAA Baseball fans as this LSU team has a stacked lineup as well as a stacked pitching staff. Outfielder Dylan Crews having a lights-out year batting .349 and hitting 22 home runs in the process. He’s one of the best hitters in all of college ball and expresses his dominance well in the SEC. On top of that, they have to return ace Ty Floyd who is a strikeout machine, and have added Paul Skenes who has a gun of an arm and hits dingers at DH as well. The one thing holding this team back is their defense with major issues of just that surfaced last season. Alabama has to stay on its toes against this lineup due to how they approach this team in late April, as they should approach with caution. The talent this team possesses undoubtedly makes them one of the top teams in the SEC.
