Top Division I College Baseball Players Ranked Ahead of 2025 Season

ARLINGTON, Texas — The 2025 Division I college baseball season is set to kick off at 10 a.m. ET on Friday, with Baseball America unveiling its rankings of the top players from each state.

These rankings were constructed considering players’ collegiate production, projected impact, and draft potential, with a careful evaluation of advanced metrics from 64Analytics.com such as Weighted Run Allowed Efficiency (wRAE) and Weighted Run Created Efficiency (wRCE). Notably, five states—Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Vermont, and Wyoming—do not have Division I baseball, so selections included top players from high school or other alternatives for those states.

Auburn’s catcher Ike Irish is highlighted as Illinois‘ top talent, bringing an impressive .319/.403/.627 batting line in 2024 with 14 home runs and 59 RBIs, earning All-SEC honors. This year, Irish is also recognized as a Baseball America Preseason Second-Team All-American.

In Alaska, the attention goes to Owen Niclai, a former standout at Service High School in Anchorage, who earned Gatorade Player of the Year accolades twice and was drafted by the Miami Marlins. However, he chose to play for the Oregon Ducks.

Arizona’s top player, outfielder Chase Davis, has been recognized as a preseason First Team All-American after an impressive summer in the Cape Cod League. Arkansas pitcher Gabe Gaeckle, opening the season as the team’s ace, has the potential to significantly impact the mound with his upper-90s fastball.

UC Santa Barbara‘s Tyler Bremner enters the season as a dominant ace, having pitched with a 2.54 ERA and racking up 104 strikeouts in 88.2 innings last year.

North Carolina catcher Kelly Tappe made headlines with a solid .284 batting average and defensively proficient skills during his freshman year. He is considered among the best receivers in the league.

The list of top players also features Massachusetts‘ Kyle McCausland from Middlebury College, who shone in Division III with a .327 batting average and 12 home runs in 2024.

Ohio‘s top player, outfielder Nolan Schubart of Oklahoma State, is projected as a first-round pick after his dominating performances last season. Meanwhile, Texas talent Evan Bouldin from Delaware State adds valuable depth and versatility with his combined abilities as a pitcher and infielder.

As the season nears, fans can expect to see some electrifying performances from these top prospects as they aim to elevate their teams and improve their draft prospects.