The opening weekend of the NCAA baseball match is within the books, and it was a complete library of them, from thrillers and superheroes to bizzarro mysteries.
Now, a Candy 16 of groups roll into the tremendous regionals with their eye-blacked faces pointed towards changing into a member of the newest octet to obtain an invite to Omaha, in what would be the seventy fifth group to play in a Males’s Faculty World Collection on the banks of the Missouri River.
So, what ought to all of us be on the lookout for, seeking to, taking a look at because the video games start Friday morning in Louisville? Learn forward. As a result of as my spouse ignores me and watches “10 Issues I Hate About You,” I’m impressed to compile this record of 10 Issues I Love About The 2025 Tremendous Regionals, plus now we have our MLB buddies Kiley McDaniel and David Schoenfield to present us their high prospects and greatest present main leaguers for each crew. — Ryan McGee
Soar to:
Prime storylines
MIA-LOU | FSU-ORST
ARIZ-UNC | CCU-AUB
UTSA-UCLA | MUR-DUKE
WVU-LSU | TENN-ARK
10 Issues I Love About The 2025 Tremendous Regionals
1. See the celebrities of the MLB draft at the moment!
The 2025 MLB first-year gamers draft takes place in just a little greater than a month, July 13-14, and in response to McDaniel’s newest MLB mock draft, there aren’t any fewer than eight first-rounders in motion this weekend. What’s extra, that group consists of three of the highest 4, 4 of the highest six, and 7 of the highest 17. That is lots. The group is led by Tennessee ace Liam Doyle, who not solely earned the Vols’ first win of the Knoxville Regional, he additionally got here out of the bullpen throwing heaters to scorch their path to the supers. Tennessee’s tremendous regional alone will characteristic a gaggle of potential big-time large leaguers, as Doyle will face off in opposition to Arkansas right-hander and All-Title Workforce member Gage Wooden, projected by McDaniel because the No. 7 decide, and SEC Participant of the Yr, shortstop Wehiwa Aloy, whom McDaniel at present has because the No. 13 decide.
2. Defenders of the West
Within the Omaha Baseball Village, the energized metropolis of memento tents and beer gardens situated adjoining to Charles Schwab subject, there may be at all times an enormous map of america exhibiting the places of all eight MCWS faculties and their distance from Omaha. There isn’t any clearer illustration of how faculty baseball has grow to be southeasterly dominated, seeing all of these SEC and ACC logos tipping the size to 1 aspect whereas in current seasons there was a hanging lack of groups west of Texas. That drought has rightfully grow to be a supply of soreness for a time zone that dominated the postseason for many years, powered by USC, Arizona State, Arizona, Cal State Fullerton, Stanford and rotating visits from seemingly each faculty within the state of California. This weekend three applications are the defenders of the West, as No. 8 Oregon State hosts No. 9 Florida State and Arizona travels to No. 5 North Carolina on Friday, after which No. 15 UCLA hosts UTSA starting Saturday.
3. Roadrunners in glass slippers
A part of the attraction of the MCWS is that irrespective of how top-loaded it has been over time, there may be at all times a Cinderella that crashes the ball, from Harvard to Maine to an alphabet soup of UC faculties to the legendary 2008 Fresno State Underdogs to Wonderdogs. It’s maybe my favourite a part of masking the occasion, watching a program make it to Omaha for the primary time. And there’s a bucket stuffed with candidates within the subject this weekend. UTSA shocked Texas in Austin and now travels to Westwood in search of its first MCWS berth. Identical for West Virginia, making its second supers look (its first was final yr), because it heads into the Cajun stress cooker of Alex Field Stadium. In the meantime, Murray State can be taking part in its inaugural supers in opposition to Duke, which has been to Omaha earlier than, however the newest of the Blue Devils’ three visits was in 1961.
4. Some head coach’s teaching head goes to return to a head and explode
Anybody in search of proof of the stress that these head coaches are beneath must look no additional than Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan’s multilocation meltdown at Coastal Carolina over a one-hour scheduling change, or notoriously mild-mannered Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter having to difficulty an apology for letting free a slur because the Demon Deacons have been within the course of of getting their season led to Knoxville. Walter says he says he would not even keep in mind saying it within the warmth of the second. So, who’s going to lose it subsequent? There would appear to be some straightforward candidates to select (no offense, Tony Vitello), but when we discovered something over the opening weekend, it is that we do not know what volcano has been idling with out us figuring out.
5. ‘Ease his Woo Pig ache’
Omaha is not in Iowa, however you possibly can see it from there. So, it’s unimaginable not to consider “Discipline of Desires” when all of that baseball is being performed adjoining to all of that corn. Particularly when the voice says to Ray, “Ease his ache,” and it instantly makes me consider Dave Van Horn, head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks. He has coached 9 groups to the MCWS, the primary two being Nebraska Cornhuskers groups in 2001-02 that turned Rosenblatt Stadium a shade of Massive Pink as tens of hundreds of soccer jersey-wearing Huskers followers lined up for day-of basic admission tickets. His subsequent six visits have include Arkansas, the second-best faculty program by no means to win a natty, punctuated by its 2018 runner-up effort that’s nonetheless too painful to look at. However earlier than DVH and WPS can take into consideration Omaha, they must take care of Tennessee, aka the defending nationwide champs, aka one other program that was on that “How have they by no means gained all of it?” record till lastly getting it accomplished one yr in the past.
6. So, who’s No. 1 that record?
If the Hogs are the second-best program to by no means win all of it, who’s first? That will be the Florida State Seminoles, who rank third all time in MCWS appearances with 24 however are the one crew among the many high 11 in Omaha visits to not have gained no less than one title. This yr, the Seminoles are led by pitcher Jamie Arnold, who ranks No. 1 on McDaniel’s high 150 MLB prospects record. That is nothing new for a program that has introduced us greater than 100 All-Individuals and 50-plus large leaguers, from Buster Posey to J.D. Drew to Deion Sanders. However none of these guys have a hoop. Maybe that is the crew that may change that.
7. ACC vs. SEC
Barely greater than half of the groups remaining — 9 of 16 — are from two conferences, the SEC and ACC. It is no secret that the SEC has dominated the game lately — six of the previous seven champions and no less than one crew in 14 of the previous 15 championship collection. However the ACC believes that it has been closing that southern hardball hole and it could be proper. A yr in the past, your complete MCWS subject comprised groups from these adjoining conferences, although the ACC was despatched packing rapidly. After the SEC stumbled by the regional spherical, it pushed solely 4 of 13 groups into supers whereas the ACC graduated 5. A pair of collection are familial, as Tennessee faces Arkansas and Miami travels to Louisville, so every league is assured to have no less than one crew in Omaha. Seize some SPF and keep tuned.
8. The Triangle turns into The Diamond
The state of North Carolina has at all times been baseball obsessed, from the coast to the Appalachians. However none of these groups have ever introduced a MCWS title again to Tobacco Street, although various occasions have come painfully shut. See: UNC shedding back-to-back to Oregon State 2006-07, NC State being undone by COVID-19 in 2021. Now two campuses that sit solely 10 miles aside, UNC and Duke, can be internet hosting tremendous regionals, the Heels in opposition to Arizona starting Friday at midday ET, the Blue Devils kicking it off in opposition to Murray State 13 hours later in Durham. I grew up in Raleigh and went to a ton of video games at each ballparks as a child within the Nineteen Eighties, and between them and NC State, there could be a number of dozen folks there, principally me, my household, a number of scouts and the households of the gamers. This can be a good distance from that.
9. Return of the Chanticleers
One of many best faculty baseball tales ever was when Coastal Carolina gained all of it in 2016, led by one of many sport’s most beloved human beings in longtime head coach Gary Gilmore. It was one yr in the past that Gilmore stepped down after a run to the NCAA regionals, to concentrate on his household and his ongoing most cancers remedy (learn extra about that in our story from spring 2024). Now Gilmore’s former catcher and longtime assistant coach Kevin Schnall, in his first yr on the helm, has the Chants again within the supers for the primary time since 2016. They journey to Auburn, no straightforward activity, but it surely’s nice for the game to have the teal crew from South Carolina’s Grand Strand again within the nationwide dialog.
10. It is a social gathering within the USA
Regardless of the place you reside, what faculty you root for, and even if you happen to take note of faculty baseball solely in June, ensure that to take the time this weekend to actually enjoy what the game has grow to be. Attempt to sniff that spicy steam rising from all of these pots cooking up all of that gumbo within the parking heaps round The Field at LSU. Watch the ocean of flags waving from the left-field Hog Pen as 13,000 Arkansas followers chant “Woo Pig Sooie!” Gasp on the botanical gardens-like greenery that drapes over the partitions of UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium. Hearken to the stomping of the aluminum grandstands of Oregon State’s intimate Goss Stadium. The Carolina pine needles that adorn the Bosh in Chapel Hill. Bo Jackson hanging out at Auburn’s Plainsman Park, nonetheless wanting as if he might jack one out over the 37-foot excessive Battle Eagle Wall in left subject. Omaha is Omaha. Nothing is healthier. However that is faculty baseball’s weekend to point out off the magic of the on-campus baseball expertise. Allow us to rejoice and be glad in it. — McGee
Louisville Tremendous Regional (Louisville, Kentucky)
Miami at Louisville
Louisville Cardinals
Prime prospect: Patrick Forbes, RHP
Forbes has a particular supply, a low three-quarters arm slot with a heater that sits 94-97 mph (and may hit 100) and has helped him flummox hitters this yr to the tune of 98 strikeouts in 60⅓ innings. — Kiley McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers
Louisville has been a catching manufacturing facility lately, producing Smith; 2021 No. 1 decide Henry Davis; and Dalton Speeding, lately known as up by the Dodgers. Smith, a two-time All-Star and two-time World Collection champion, has been one of many high catchers within the majors since his debut in 2019, and he already ranks as one of the best main leaguer Louisville has ever produced. — David Schoenfield
Miami Hurricanes
Prime prospect: Daniel Cuvet, 3B (2026)
Cuvet has been recognized to scouts for years for his uncooked energy, however his worth wasn’t met out of highschool because of issues on his contact price and protection at third base, which is principally nonetheless the scouting report. He completed the season robust and has a stable shot to go within the first spherical subsequent summer season. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Romy Gonzalez, Boston Pink Sox
Solely 5 Miami gamers have appeared within the majors in 2025 — Gonzalez and 4 pitchers who have not pitched that a lot, so Gonzalez will get the nod. Keep watch over Adrian Del Castillo, who debuted final season for the Arizona Diamondbacks however handled a shoulder damage in spring coaching and is simply returning to motion. He can rake, though his greatest place could be designated hitter. The most effective main leaguer in Hurricanes historical past is one other slugger: 2011 NL MVP Ryan Braun. — Schoenfield
Corvallis Tremendous Regional (Corvallis, Oregon)
No. 9 Florida State at No. 8 Oregon State
1:22
Oregon State breaks sport open with back-to-back jacks
Oregon State breaks sport open with back-to-back jacks
No. 9 Florida State Seminoles
Prime prospect: Jamie Arnold, LHP
Arnold opened the yr as the highest prospect within the 2025 MLB draft and has been a bit up and down, however he’s a lock for the highest 10 picks due to his plus stuff coming from a troublesome low three-quarters arm slot. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
Raleigh, a third-round decide in 2018, is off to a historic begin for the Mariners, tied with Shohei Ohtani for the most important league lead with 23 dwelling runs whereas producing an OPS over 1.000 (no catcher has accomplished that since Joe Mauer in 2009). That places Raleigh on tempo to set the single-season report for dwelling runs by a catcher. One other catcher ranks as one of the best main leaguer in FSU historical past: future Corridor of Famer Buster Posey. — Schoenfield
No. 8 Oregon State Beavers
Prime prospect: Aiva Arquette, SS
Arquette is securely within the combine at nearly each decide within the high 10, and he’s the one faculty place participant certain to go that top. Some scouts suppose he strikes to 3rd base ultimately, and there is some concern he is simply a mean on-base menace who should depend on his plus energy, although he is nonetheless participant. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
Kwan and Adley Rutschman led the Beavers to the 2018 Males’s Faculty World Collection title and each debuted within the majors in 2022. Rutschman, the No. 1 decide in 2019, has been the larger identify, however Kwan has the upper profession WAR, and he has actually been higher than Rutschman in 2024 and to date in 2025. It’s a must to give the nod to Kwan. Jacoby Ellsbury remains to be the highest all-time OSU participant, however Kwan and Rutschman each have the possibility to ultimately overtake him. — Schoenfield
Chapel Hill Tremendous Regional (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
Arizona at No. 5 North Carolina
0:38
Maddox Mihalakis cranks a homer
Arizona Wildcats
Prime prospect: Brendan Summerhill, OF
Summerhill can actually hit and has above-average to plus energy, pace and arm power, which is why he ought to go in the midst of the primary spherical. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Austin Wells, New York Yankees
9 former Arizona gamers have appeared within the majors this yr, and whereas Tylor Megill is pitching very properly for the Mets, catchers are arduous to search out, and Wells is an effective one. He completed third within the AL Rookie of the Yr voting final yr and is flashing extra energy to date in 2025, though he is hitting simply .212. The most effective main leaguer ever is a troublesome name between Corridor of Fame reliever Trevor Hoffman (who was an infielder in faculty) and six-time All-Star middle fielder Kenny Lofton (who additionally starred on the basketball crew in faculty). Laborious to disclaim a Corridor of Famer, however Lofton might get there sometime — as might Terry Francona as a supervisor. — Schoenfield
No. 5 North Carolina Tar Heels
Prime prospect: Luke Stevenson, C
Stevenson has some points with bat-to-ball (perhaps he is a .240 hitter within the large leagues?), however he is arguably above common to plus at every little thing else on the sector, so he appears more likely to go within the again half of the primary spherical.– McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
Gallen is off to a gradual begin with Arizona this season, however he has been a high starter for a number of years now, ending third within the 2023 Cy Younger voting and fifth in 2022. He is already third on the all-time profession WAR record from UNC, however nonetheless considerably behind Kyle Seager and B.J. Surhoff, who run a detailed 1-2. Surhoff was the highest decide within the 1985 draft — forward of Will Clark, Barry Larkin and a few man named Barry Bonds. — Schoenfield
Auburn Tremendous Regional (Auburn, Alabama)
No. 13 Coastal Carolina at No. 4 Auburn
No. 13 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Prime prospect: Caden Bodine, C
Bodine is a complicated framer who’s a switch-hitter with an unimaginable really feel for contact — he swung and missed at 4% of pitches confronted this season — who suits someplace from the late first to early second spherical. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Anthony Veneziano, Miami Marlins
Veneziano and fellow reliever Garrett McDaniels are the one CC gamers to seem within the majors in 2025. Veneziano has pitched extra, though he is at present within the minors after posting a 4.86 ERA in 20 appearances with Miami. He does have one of many two profession wins by a Coastal Carolina participant within the majors (Keith Hessler has the opposite). We’ll give greatest all-time main leaguer to longtime catcher Kirt Manwaring, who performed 13 seasons from 1987 to 1999. — Schoenfield
No. 4 Auburn Tigers
Prime prospect: Ike Irish, OF
Irish in all probability will return to taking part in catcher as soon as he turns professional, however proper now he is one of many high pure hitters within the nation, and he has plus energy, a package deal that in all probability will land him within the first spherical. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Casey Mize, Detroit Tigers
The previous No. 1 decide is lastly dwelling as much as preliminary expectations after sitting out 2023 due to Tommy John surgical procedure and returning final season. He is 6-1 with a 2.82 ERA, a part of a stellar Detroit pitching workers. Bo Jackson is essentially the most well-known Auburn baseball alum, in fact, however he ranks behind Corridor of Famer Frank Thomas (to not point out Tim Hudson and former MVP Josh Donaldson) on the all-time record. — Schoenfield
Los Angeles Tremendous Regional (Los Angeles, California)
UTSA at No. 15 UCLA
0:45
Mulivai Levu smashes dwelling run vs. UC Irvine
UTSA Roadrunners
Prime prospect: Robert Orloski, RHP (2026)
UTSA is not flush with professional prospects like another applications within the supers, however Orloski is a professional prospect in subsequent yr’s class. He is the Roadrunners’ worthwhile multi-inning aid ace, as much as 96 mph with a top-of-the-zone heater. — McDaniel
No present main leaguers
Solely two UTSA gamers have reached the majors: John Bormann, who had one plate appearances with the Pirates in 2016, and pitcher Justin Anderson, who had a 4.39 ERA in 50 appearances with the White Sox final season however is at present within the minors. — Schoenfield
UCLA Bruins
Prime prospect: Roch Cholowsky, SS (2026)
Cholowsky was a borderline first-round prospect out of highschool for a lot of groups, however his worth wasn’t met. He is now arguably the highest faculty prospect for subsequent yr’s draft, and he must be within the combine to go No. 1 general for the subsequent 12 months. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
Cole is out for the season following Tommy John surgical procedure, however is the clear standout from a bunch that features 9 Bruins who’ve performed within the majors this season. Best Bruin ever? Cole has an argument with 153 wins and a Cy Younger Award, and Chase Utley could make the Corridor of Fame, however the reply needs to be Jackie Robinson. Apart from his historic significance, he was one of many best second basemen of all time, main the NL thrice in WAR. –– Schoenfield
Durham Tremendous Regional (Durham, North Carolina)
Murray State at Duke
Murray State Racers
Prime prospect: Will Vierling, C
I famous that there is not a pitcher on the Murray State workers who averaged 92 mph on their fastball this season, which helps underline that the Racers aren’t flush with professional prospects. Vierling is the cousin of Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling and is a later-round prospect for this yr’s draft. — McDaniel
No present main leaguers
The Racers have 5 former gamers within the minors, however their final large leaguer was Kirk Rueter, who gained 130 video games within the majors in a high quality profession that lasted from 1993 to 2005 — not unhealthy for a soft-tossing lefty who was an 18th-round draft decide. — Schoenfield
Duke Blue Devils
Prime prospect: A.J. Gracia, OF (2026)
Gracia acquired off to a gradual begin this season, however he caught fireplace in April as he dialed in his swing — he has a 1.307 OPS in his previous 28 video games, all however a number of in opposition to SEC and ACC competitors. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Marcus Stroman, New York Yankees
It has been a troublesome yr for Duke alumni within the majors as Stroman is at present injured, Griffin Conine is out for the yr after getting off to a pleasant begin with the Marlins, and Matt Mervis and Graham Pauley are again within the minors after beginning the season with Miami (the Marlins apparently love their Duke gamers). The best Blue Satan of all time is a simple name: Dick Groat, a two-time All-American in basketball in 1951 and ’52 and the UPI nationwide participant of the yr in 1952, who went straight to the Pittsburgh Pirates out of faculty and gained NL MVP honors in 1960. — Schoenfield
Baton Rogue Tremendous Regional (Baton Rogue, Louisiana)
West Virginia at No. 6 LSU
2:13
Spotlight: LSU blows previous Little Rock with sizzling bats, heads to Tremendous Regional
The 6-seed Tigers rack up 4 homers with a pair by Luis Hernandez and one by Ethan Frey, who went 4-for-4 on the day, of their 10-6 regional finale win over the Trojans.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Prime prospect: Chase Meyer, RHP (2026)
Meyer is a reliever who sits 92-96 and touches 98 mph, however his greatest pitch is his 83-87 mph curveball that averages over 3000 rpm, and opposing batters are hitting .133 in opposition to it.– McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Victor Scott II, St. Louis Cardinals
The speedy Scott struggled when he was rushed to the majors final season, however he has settled on this season and is holding his personal on the plate whereas taking part in an excellent middle subject. Leaving apart “Piano Legs” Hickman, who attended WVU within the Nineties, one of the best fashionable large leaguer comes all the way down to reliever Steve Kline or infielder Jedd Gyorko. In different phrases, Scott has an opportunity to surpass each due to his nice protection. — Schoenfield
No. 6 LSU Tigers
Prime prospect: Kade Anderson, LHP
Anderson has been purple sizzling down the stretch and might need snuck forward of Doyle and Arnold as the highest faculty pitcher within the draft. All three are in supers and the margins are tight. Anderson looks like the most secure guess to be beginning pitcher, however his upside is extra second/third starter than ace.– McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
The LSU program has pumped out 12 present large leaguers, and whereas Alex Bregman and Aaron Nola have actually had the higher careers to date, Skenes is the person of the second, maybe on his technique to the Cy Younger Award in his first full season within the majors. The most effective Tiger ever is an effective argument between Bregman, Albert Belle and Nola, with Bregman holding the slight edge over Belle in profession WAR. Contemplating he ought to have many good years nonetheless forward, let’s go together with him, although Belle was one of the feared sluggers of the Nineties. — Schoenfield
Fayetteville Tremendous Regional (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
No. 14 Tennessee at No. 3 Arkansas
No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers
Prime prospect: Liam Doyle, LHP
Doyle is a lock to go someplace within the high 5 to seven picks due to his plus stuff and otherworldly numbers this season. He may be capable to pitch his approach into the highest two picks with a robust end to the season. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Garrett Crochet, Boston Pink Sox
Primarily a reliever for the Vols, the White Sox drafted Crochet No. 11 in 2020 and promoted him on to the large leagues that summer season. Tommy John surgical procedure interrupted his profession, however the White Sox turned him right into a starter final season, and Crochet turned one of many high aces within the majors, persevering with to dominate in 2025 after a commerce to the Pink Sox. Best Vol ever? Simple: Corridor of Famer Todd Helton. — Schoenfield
No. 3 Arkansas Razorbacks
Prime prospect: Gage Wooden, RHP
I have been saying for a couple of month that Wooden might be this yr’s Cade Horton, making a late season transfer into the primary spherical. He struck out 13 in six innings in regionals, sitting 95-97 and hitting 98 mph. — McDaniel
Finest present main leaguer: Andrew Benintendi, Chicago White Sox
Benintendi nonetheless will get the nod right here, although his greatest seasons got here in his first two full seasons with the Pink Sox again in 2017 and ’18. Finest in Arkansas historical past goes to Cliff Lee, one of many high starters within the majors from 2008 by 2013 (together with a Cy Younger Award in 2008), earlier than accidents shortened his profession. — Schoenfield
