Standout Sophomores to Watch in College Baseball
With October nearing, college baseball teams are hitting the batting cage and bullpen to prepare for their fall scrimmages. For the freshman, this is their first taste of college ball, especially those who didn’t play in the summer leagues this past summer. For the others, however, they’re returning to college eager to improve. The returning sophomores know that feeling of excitement to start their first season of college ball all too well. While there are hundreds of athletes entering their second season, there are a few who had standout freshman seasons.
The reigning College World Series Champs lost some of the best members of their pitching staff to graduation and the 2025 MLB Draft. However, still in their arsenal sits sophomore Casan Evans. The right-handed Houston native recorded five total wins in his 19 appearances for the Tigers. He also recorded a total of 72 strikeouts in the 52.2 innings he pitched in 2025. With regular-season play and postseason experience under his belt, this young reliever should be expected to see a lot more than 52 innings in the 2026 season.
In the ACC, the Tar Heels of UNC also have an impressive Sophomore pitcher in their arsenal. Pitching has been a bit of a weak spot for the Heels in recent seasons, aside from their ace Jake Knapp, who was picked up in the MLB Draft this spring. Walker McDuffie proved to be an asset in the Tar Heel bullpen during his freshman season. The six-foot righty pitched just over 55 innings for the Heels and recorded three wins and seven saves. McDuffie was the first true freshman since 2020 to earn a save for the Heels, and the first in over a decade to earn more than one. All eyes will be on McDuffie come Opening Day when the Heels need a little relief.
Adrian Rodriguez of the Texas Longhorns started all 49 games of the regular season in 2025. It was almost impossible to tell he was a true freshman. The six-foot-two outfielder was the king of stealing bases out in Austin. This past season, he totaled a co-team-best 15 stolen bases. Offensively, there was just no stopping him. In 49 games, he registered a 0.410 on-base percentage and had 15 multi-hit games. Tough offense like this is what SEC baseball is all about. With more opportunities to succeed in the outfield and offseason growth at BP, there may be no stopping Rodriguez and the Longhorns this coming season.
