10 College Baseball Recruiting Classes That Just Missed The Top 25 For 2025

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story included UC Santa Barbara instead of West Virginia.

It is always difficult to trim the list of every recruiting class in college baseball down to a top 25 ranking. In what is the case every year, a number of schools end up having a valid argument to make the list but end up just missing out. 

Below, you can find the 10 schools that just missed out on cracking our final top 25 recruiting class ranking for 2025. The list includes some blue blood programs, but also a handful of other schools that could be in store for an exciting 2026 season due in part to their impact newcomers. Itâ€s important to keep in mind that the teams below are listed alphabetically, and that this is not a ranking.

Central Florida

Following a tournament appearance in 2024—its first since 2017—UCF took a bit of a step back in 2025 and finished with a more modest record of 29-26. However, it was the Golden Knights†first year in the Big 12, and they showed plenty of positive flashes that bode well for the 2026 season. In addition to his quality transfer portal class, coach Rich Wallace and his staff have a few freshmen who could make an impact sooner rather than later.

Starting on the mound, lefthander Alan Soler presents an exciting blend of athleticism and remaining projection. Soler moves well on the mound and attacks from a three-quarters slot with a clean arm stroke. His fastball has been up to 92 mph with more velocity likely on the way, while his low-80s changeup has plus potential, and his upper-70s-to-low-80s slider is a solid third pitch. Soler fits into a number of appealing buckets, and getting him on campus is a major win for the Golden Knights.

The standout of the position player group is catcher Dallas Brooks. Brooks†defense is currently ahead of his offense, and heâ€s a good athlete behind the dish with advanced catch-and-throw skills. His swing is a little stiff and can get long at times, but Brooks†defensive ability is loud enough to be his carrying tool. Fellow backstop Sebastian Hurtado was a member of the Braves†East Coast Pro Showcase team, and he flashed solid bat-to-ball skills on the summer circuit.

Clemson

Clemson won 40-plus games for the third-straight year in 2025, but its season again came to an end on its home field. While there is lost production to make up for—especially as it pertains to the irreplaceable hole left by star centerfielder Cam Cannarella—the Tigers boast both an exciting group of newcomers and returning talent. Clemson hasnâ€t made the College World Series since 2010, but it will again have Omaha upside in 2026.

Projection lefthander Nicholas Frusco is the headliner of Clemsonâ€s recruiting class. Standing at 6-foot-5, Frusco features a fastball that sits in the high 80s/low 90s to go along with a low-80s slider for which heâ€s shown feel to spin. Fruscoâ€s heater was up to 93 mph this spring, and he should add a few ticks of velocity as he continues to mature physically. He rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup, though at this point itâ€s a distant third offering. Itâ€s rather easy to dream on what Frusco will look like when heâ€s next eligible for the draft in 2028. 

Speaking of lefthanders, Daniel Margolies is another Tigers arm to follow. He doesnâ€t quite have the upside of Frusco, but his fastball has been up to 93 mph to go along with a mid-to-upper-70s curveball that proved to be effective on the 2024 travel circuit. Margolies relies heavily on his heater, and he lacks a distinct third pitch, but he has a chance to log a handful of innings this spring.

Indiana

Indiana coach Jeff Mercer has done a fantastic job since taking the reins of the program ahead of the 2019 season. While the Hoosiers took a slight step back in 2025 after back-to-back tournament appearances, they won 30-plus games for the third-straight season, and their 16 conference victories were tied for the most since 2021.

Indiana is no stranger to having freshmen make a considerable impact. Two of the last three Big Ten freshmen of the year—Devin Taylor in 2023 and Jake Hanley in 2025—were both Hoosiers. In whatâ€s become the standard in Bloomington, Mercer and his staff have put together another strong recruiting class.

Six-foot-three righthander Xavier Carrera has plenty of pure talent, though heâ€s more of a thrower than he is a pitcher at this point. Carrera has no shortage of arm speed, and last spring his high-spin heater was up to 97 mph. The pitch has plus potential, and he pairs it with a slurvy breaking ball that sits in the upper 70s. Carrera rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup thatâ€s emerged as a serviceable third pitch against lefthanded hitters. In addition to taking a sizable step forward in the strike-throwing department, Carrera will need to improve the quality of his breaker to help diminish his reliever risk.

On the other side of the baseball, outfielder Trey Meyers was one of the most athletic prepsters in the 2025 class. While heâ€s listed at an impressive 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, Meyers has managed to turn in plus run times and was a standout physical tester. As someone with long levers, Meyers†swing can get disconnected at times, which leads to swing-and-miss. And while there are hit tool questions, Meyers has no-doubt plus power upside and moves well enough to potentially stick in the outfield.

Kentucky

The Wildcats in 2025 couldnâ€t quite replicate the success of back-to-back super regional appearances, but they did make the tournament for the third-straight year for the first time in program history. Coach Nick Mingione has turned the Wildcats into a perennial contender and, after breaking down the door to Omaha for the first time in program history in 2024, the “Bat Cats†are hungry for more.

While Kentucky has a knack for faring well in the transfer portal, it also recruits at a high level. Lefthanded hitting outfielder Braxton Van Cleave has an exciting toolset. He fits into the “tools over performance†bucket right now, but he has big-time bat speed to go along with present strength and projection remaining. He also consistently turns in above-average run times. A torn UCL and subsequent Tommy John surgery robbed Van Cleave of his senior high school season, but he still has a chance to earn meaningful at-bats this spring.

While weâ€re on the subject of tools, catcher Owen Jenkins shows the ability to impact the game in a number of different ways. He has thunderous bat speed and above-average raw power, though his hit tool needs a coat or two of polish. Behind the plate, he has a plus arm, and his throws consistently carry through the base. As a cherry on top, Jenkins has also turned in above-average run times.

NC State

Following a run to the College World Series in 2024, NC State last spring made a regional for the third consecutive year. The Wolfpack have won at least 35 games in each of the last 10 full seasons, and itâ€s a streak that seems destined to continue in 2026.

NC State brought in a handful of quality additions via the portal, but the freshman duo of Everett Johnson and Vincent DeCarlo are a pair of standouts. Johnson is an undersized outfielder who fits the mold of a slash-and-dash hitter at the top of the order. He boasts advanced bat-to-ball skills and a patient approach while consistently turning in plus run times. Johnson has the potential to stick in center field, though he could also slide over to left.

DeCarloâ€s defense is ahead of his bat right now, and he was one of the more highly-regarded defensive catchers in the 2025 high school class. He has a prototypical catcherâ€s build, and he moves well behind the dish with reliable hands. On top of his catch-and-throw skills, DeCarlo has demonstrated the ability to block at a high level. He has an above-average arm, regularly gets off quick transfers and his footwork is compact and clean. DeCarloâ€s approach and contact skills serve as a solid foundation to his offensive profile.

Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish are still searching for their first tournament berth since their run to the College World Series in 2022, but 2025 was a major step in the right direction. Notre Dame coach Shawn Stiffler and his staff have the program trending in the right direction, and their 32 wins last season were the program’s third-most since 2015.

When it comes to sheer athleticism, it will be hard for any freshman to top Brandon Logan. A four-star safety with multiple Power Four football offers, Logan committed to Notre Dame for both baseball and football. On the diamond, he’s a double-plus runner whose speed and athleticism give him a chance to be an impact defender in center field. Loganâ€s offensive ability is a bit more crude, but he has above-average bat speed and intriguing power upside.

The son of former major leaguer Jim Crowell, Caden Crowell is a 6-foot-4 southpaw with a solid three-pitch mix featuring a fastball that has been up to 94 mph. His command of the pitch can get scattered at times, but he demonstrated a solid feel for both his upper-70s-to-low-80s slider and low-80s changeup. As Crowell continues to fill out, expect both his velocity and pure stuff to tick up across the board.

Oregon State

The Beavers are a perennial College World Series contender, and last season was their first trip to Omaha since 2018. While they fell short of their ultimate goal, it was still a mighty successful 2025 season for coach Mitch Canhamâ€s crew.

Mason Pike ranked No. 68 on the final iteration of the BA 500, and he heads into 2026 as one of the most prized freshmen in the country. Pike has a chance to make an immediate impact on both sides of the baseball, but his ability on the mound is slightly more appealing. His fastball has been up to 97 mph, and itâ€s a high-spin pitch for which he deploys two different shapes. In addition to his four-seamer, Pikeâ€s sinker this fall has proven to be effective with upwards of 18 inches of run. His go-to secondary offering is a low-to-mid-80s sweeper that routinely flashes above-average, while his mid-80s changeup is a clear third pitch. Pikeâ€s strike-throwing can be inconsistent, but his pitchability took a step in the right direction last spring. In the box, Pike is a switch-hitter with quick hands who has shown he can drive the baseball into either gap.

Josh Proctor boasts some of the most impressive raw power of any freshman in the country. While he stands in at a massive 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Proctor does a nice job keeping his swing rather compact for someone of his stature. He has a knack for generating quality contact and could develop into plus game power. Proctor is not a standout athlete by any means, but his arm translates well over at third base. If he is unable to stick on the dirt, Proctor could man a corner outfield spot.

Southern California

For the first time since 2015, USC returned to the tournament last spring. It was a long time coming for the Trojans, and coach Andy Stankiewicz has done an excellent job since taking over ahead of the 2023 season. Rather than an anomaly, it’s not unreasonable to expect 2025 to become the new normal for the Trojans.

The big fish of this yearâ€s group of incoming freshmen for USC is undoubtedly Diego Velazquez. While he was just 17 years old on draft day, Velazquez boasts an impressive blend of bat speed and physicality. He has a loose, easy swing from the left side and regularly works the middle of the field. Velazquez has a chance to possess an enticing hit-power combination when all is said and done, and heâ€s performed well this fall. Defensively, his actions and smooth hands give him a chance to stick at shortstop, but his above-average arm also profiles nicely at third base if he needs to move off the position.

On the bump, Gavin Lauridsen is an intriguing ball of clay that Southern Californiaâ€s staff will get the chance to mold. Lauridsen measures 6-foot-5, 200 pounds with ample room to add strength and physicality. His delivery is accompanied by a head whack, but he has present arm speed, and his effort figures to diminish as he matures physically. Lauridsenâ€s fastball has been up to 95 mph with real carry through the zone, and it’s a pitch he supplements with a mid-70s curveball that has solid depth, a distinct upper-70s-to-low-80s slider and a low-80s changeup.

Virginia Tech

After hosting a super regional in 2022, Virginia Tech has failed to make the tournament in each of the last three seasons. With returning production and a group of newcomers hungry to leave their mark on the program, the Hokies will look to return to form in 2026.

Headlining the group of newcomers is righthander Ethan Grim. Grim had tons of draft buzz last spring, but opted to honor his commitment to Virginia Tech. His performance on the summer circuit was particularly impressive, and between East Coast Pro and the Area Code Games he struck out 11 of the 19 batters faced. Grimâ€s fastball has been up to 96 mph with life through the zone, and it consistently gets over the barrel of opposing hitters. He has a feel for both his upper-70s-to-low-80s slider and mid-70s curveball. Grim rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup—another pitch for which he has an advanced feel. He is perpetually in “attack mode,†and he consistently competes in and around the strike zone. With an appealing blend of strikes and stuff, Grim is a safe bet to start long term.

Infielder Ethan Ball has a clean stroke from the left side with more impact than his 6-foot, 185-pound frame might suggest. Thereâ€s some swing-and-miss to his game, but Ball is a plus runner whose actions on the dirt give him a strong chance to stick up the middle.

West Virginia

The Steve Sabins Era got off to a roaring start in Morgantown last season, as the first-year coach led West Virginia to its second-straight super regional. Thereâ€s plenty of veteran production to replace on both sides of the baseball, but Sabins has a solid group of returners to build around in addition to an impressive crop of newcomers.

On the dirt, shortstop David Perez has intriguing tools on both sides of the baseball. Perez has strength packed into his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame, and he doesnâ€t get cheated in the box. In addition to his impressive bat speed, Perez has flashed particular impact to the pull side. His approach, however, will need a coat or two of polish. Perez has a no-doubt plus arm on the dirt and he likely fits best over at the hot corner. On the hill, heâ€s flashed a fastball thatâ€s been up to 95 mph in addition to a low-80s breaking ball.

While he missed the 2024 summer circuit recovering from Tommy John Surgery, 6-foot-6 righthander Hudson Cavallo is an arm on which to keep close tabs. He deploys two different fastball shapes—a four-seamer thatâ€s been up to 95 mph with carry through the zone and a two-seamer with distinct armside run—as well as a slider and changeup. With plenty of projection remaining, Cavallo has a chance to blossom during his time in Morgantown.

Source link