Last week, we released our preseason top 25. On Monday, it was the All-America teams. Today, it’s time for some lists.

Who are the top candidates for the Golden Spikes Award? Who are the best pitchers in the country? Which players are poised to break out in 2025?

Golden Spikes Award favorites

1. Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA: Cholowsky won a few of the major national player of the year awards in 2025 — but not the Golden Spikes. Coming off a sensational sophomore season, he’s the favorite to take home the award this year.

2. Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech: Burress is arguably the best power hitter in the country and the anchor of the lineup for Georgia Tech, which begins the season as the ACC favorite. He’ll have every chance to be the latest Yellow Jacket slugger to make a run at the award.

CF Drew Burress displays a quick & compact swing & is direct w/ his hands. He’s displayed + power, slugging 44 HR in just 118 games while walking more than striking out. Low effort, constantly gets barrel IZ for Pull-Air contact, & a mature approach.pic.twitter.com/Qu9Ka9unTp

— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) December 31, 2025

3. Derek Curiel, OF, LSU: Curiel played a key role on LSU’s national championship team last season as a freshman and has taken further strides in his development since the season ended.

4. Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State: Reese transferred from Houston to Mississippi State after his freshman year and was named the 2025 SEC Newcomer of the Year. His offensive skills make him one of the most dangerous hitters in the nation.

5. Daniel Cuvet, 3B, Miami: Cuvet again will anchor Miami’s lineup after two impressive years with the Hurricanes.

6. Hunter Elliott, SP, Ole Miss: Elliott earned All-America honors last year in his return from Tommy John surgery. His combination of experience and talent makes him unique in college baseball in 2026.

7. Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama: Lebron has exciting all-around tools and can do everything on the diamond, from highlight reel defense to hitting for power to stealing bases.

8. Carson Tinney, C, Texas: Tinney was one of the best players in the transfer portal, and he brings an impressive all-around skill set to Austin after a breakout sophomore season at Notre Dame.

9. Cameron Flukey, SP, Coastal Carolina: Flukey last year helped Coastal reach the College World Series finals. Now, he’ll anchor the Chanticleers rotation.

10. Jack Ohman, SP/OF, Yale: What can Ohman do for an encore after leading the nation in ERA as a freshman? After exclusively pitching last spring, he mixed in some hitting in summer ball. If he can become a two-way threat, he’s a real dark horse for the award.

10 Best position payers

1. Roch Cholowsky, SS, UCLA: Cholowsky was a blue-chip recruit in the class of 2023 and has lived up to that promise. Last year, he established himself as the best player in the country, hitting .353/.480/.710 with 23 home runs and leading UCLA to Omaha.

2. Drew Burress, OF, Georgia Tech: Burress has been one of the most prolific hitters over the last two years and last season hit .333/.469/.693 with 19 home runs.

3. Derek Curiel, OF, LSU: Curiel hit the ground running as a freshman, hitting .345/.470/.519 with 20 doubles as helping LSU win its national championship in three seasons.

4. Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State: Reese last year was named SEC Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Houston and hitting .352/.422/.718 with 21 home runs.

5. Daniel Cuvet, 3B, Miami: Cuvet has anchored the Miami lineup for the last two years and is coming off a season that saw him hit .372/.450/.708 with 18 home runs.

6. Justin Lebron, SS, Alabama: One of the most well-rounded players in the country, Lebron is a smooth defender at shortstop and last year hit .316/.421/.636 with 18 home runs and 17 stolen bases.

7. Carson Tinney, C, Texas: Tinney broke out for Notre Dame in 2025, hitting .348/.498/.753 with 17 home runs before transferring to Texas.

8. Sawyer Strosnider, OF, TCU: Strosnider made an immediate impact as a freshman, hitting .350/.420/.650 with 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases.

9. Ryder Helfrick, C, Arkansas: Helfrick last year took over as Arkansas’ starting catcher and hit .305/.420/.616 with 15 home runs to go with strong defense behind the plate.

10. AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia: Gracia has a dynamic offensive profile and last year hit .293/.449/.558 with 15 home runs for Duke before transferring to Virginia.

10 best pitchers

1. Hunter Elliott, LHP, Ole Miss: After missing most of 2023 and 2024 due to injury, Elliott starred in his return to the mound in 2025, going 10-3 with a 2.94 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings.

2. Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Flukey last year helped the Chanticleers to a runner-up finish at the College World Series and is back to lead the rotation after going 7-2 with a 3.19 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings.

3. Dax Whitney, RHP, Oregon State: Whitney starred last season as a freshman, going 6-3 with a 3.40 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings.

Dax Whitney is a Freshman throwing 98mph and played high school baseball in Idaho last year 😂

Went 10-0 with a 0.27ERA and had 130k’s in 52IP as a Senior in HS pic.twitter.com/Rdws5xvt3t

— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) February 15, 2025

4. Jackson Flora, RHP, UCSB: Flora last season moved into the Gauchos rotation and went 6-3 with a 3.60 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 75 innings.

5. Jack Ohman, RHP, Yale: Ohman burst onto the scene as a freshman and led the nation with a 1.34 ERA, going 8-1 with 87 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings.

6. Aidan Knaak, RHP, Clemson: Knaak has been one of the most consistent starters in the country over the last two years, with a 14-2 record, a 3.78 ERA and 100-plus strikeouts in each season.

7. Casan Evans, RHP, LSU: Evans mostly worked out of the bullpen last year as a freshman and went 5-1 with a 2.05 ERA and seven saves in 19 appearances and will now transition to the rotation for the reigning national champions.

8. Dylan Volantis, LHP, Texas: Volantis was named SEC Freshman of the Year after going 4-1 with a 1.94 ERA and 12 saves in 23 appearances. He will now move from the bullpen to the rotation for the Longhorns.

9. Ethan Norby, LHP, ECU: Norby last year emerged as the Pirates’ ace and went 8-5 with a 3.80 ERA, 119 strikeouts and 22 walks in 90 innings.

10. Ricky Ojeda, LHP, UC Irvine: Ojeda went 13-1 with a 3.55 ERA and was named the 2025 Big West Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first reliever ever to win the award. He will move to the front of the Anteaters rotation this season.

10 breakout candidates

A breakout means something slightly different for each of the players on this list, but all of them have a good chance to make a jump this spring.

1. Joey Volchko, RHP, Georgia: Volchko was a blue-chip recruit for Stanford in the 2023 prep class, but he wasn’t able to put it all together with the Cardinal. He transferred to Georgia over the summer and could be the latest pitcher to blossom under coach Wes Johnson.

2. Chase Meyer, RHP, West Virginia: Meyer will move to the front of the Mountaineers rotation after going 9-2 with a 3.94 ERA and 63 strikeouts (but also 38 walks) in 48 innings, mostly out of the bullpen. He has an excellent fastball-slider combination and could really take off if he can control it as he did in the fall.

3. Charlie Bates, SS, Stanford: A thumb injury last year slowed Bates as a freshman, but he could be due for a big step forward after hitting .270/.320/.416 in 25 games.

4. Ethan Surowiec, 1B, Florida: Surowiec’s breakout began over the summer in the Northwoods League, where he was named MVP after hitting .387/.475/.779 with 17 home runs and 15 stolen bases. He transferred to Florida and will look to show he can carry that momentum into SEC play.

5. Ty Head, OF, NC State: Head last year turned in a solid freshman season, hitting .274/.433/.402 to go with excellent center field defense. He’s gotten stronger over the offseason, and that could lead his already advanced bat to take off.

6. Jack Lausch, OF, Northwestern: Lausch was a talented baseball player in high school but went to college as a quarterback and didn’t play baseball for his first two years in Evanston. Last year, he returned to the diamond and hit .268/.345/.450 with six home runs. He stepped away from football over the summer and is fully focused on baseball.

7. Maika Niu, OF, Arkansas: Niu is coming off an MVP summer in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .280/.364/.508, led the league with eight home runs and stole 15 bases. Now, after transferring from Marshall, he’ll bring that pop to the Arkansas lineup.

8. Andrew Wertz, RHP, Northeastern: Wertz transferred to Northeastern from Division III Salve Regina after a sterling summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, posting a 0.41 ERA with six saves. His fastball gets into the upper 90s, and he figures to slot into a key spot in the bullpen.

9. Kam Durnin, SS, Missouri: Durnin’s breakout started over the summer in the Appalachian League, where he hit .407/.519/.662 with six home runs. After transferring from Wichita State to Mizzou, he will look to build on that success.

10. Jonah Williams, OF, Texas: Williams was slowed by hamstring injuries as a freshman but still hit .327/.383/.382. He also plays defensive back for the football team and brings elite athleticism to the diamond. Managing both sports isn’t easy, but he has serious upside.

10 impact freshmen

1. Carson Brumbaugh, SS, Arkansas: Brumbaugh is an excellent athlete with two-way potential, but look for him to make his biggest impact at shortstop, where his all-around tools play well.

2. Angel Cervantes, RHP, UCLA: Cervantes is one of the younger players in the country (he won’t turn 19 until after the season), but his all-around solid stuff and advanced feel on the mound belie his age.

3. Jack Bauer, LHP, Mississippi State: Bauer is the hardest-throwing prep lefthander ever, and last spring his fastball reached 102 mph. Continuing to develop his consistency and control will be key, but his fastball-slider combination can play right away.

Premium Fuel ⛽️

2025 LHP Jack Bauer came out pumping this afternoon in sunny 70 degree weather.

FB: 97-101×6, T102 ‼️‼️‼️
SL: 81-84; Sharp, 2900+ RPM
CH: 85-88

Extremely loose and athletic delivery.#PBAAG23 alum and @UVABaseball commit. @PrepBaseballIL @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/T2Lxdq8a19

— Ian Smith (@IanSmittyGA) April 1, 2025

4. Marco Paz, RHP, LSU: Paz was sidelined by Tommy John surgery for much of the last two seasons, but prior to his injury, he was regarded as one of the best pitchers in the prep class. If he reclaims that form in Baton Rouge, LSU will have another premium arm.

5. Mason Pike, RHP, Oregon State: Pike has two-way talent, but his fastball-slider combination on the mound looks like it is ready to play right away in Corvallis.

6. Brock Ketelsen, OF/LHP, Stanford: Ketelsen has true two-way potential for the Cardinal, but his earliest impact may come on the mound, where he has good feel for his three-pitch mix.

7. Jack Lafflam, RHP, Arizona: Lafflam is tall and lean at a listed 6-foot-6, 180 pounds, and his exciting arsenal on the mound gives him front-of-the-rotation upside.

8. Brayden Jaksa, C, Oregon: Listed at 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, Jaksa is huge for a catcher, and that size comes with easy right-handed power that could make an early impact for the Ducks.

9. Cameron Appenzeller, LHP, Tennessee: Long and athletic at a listed 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, Appenzeller has a solid three-pitch mix and the moxie to pitch as a freshman for the Vols.

10. Mason Ligenza, OF, Pitt: Ligenza was drafted in the sixth round by the Dodgers but didn’t sign and instead brings his exciting combination of speed and power to Pitt.

10 impact transfers

1. Carson Tinney, C, Texas: Tinney is coming off a breakout season that saw him earn All-ACC honors at Notre Dame. Now, the junior will step into a key role for the Longhorns.

2. AJ Gracia, OF, Virginia: Gracia followed coach Chris Pollard from Duke to Virginia. He’s one of the most skilled outfielders in the country and gives the Cavaliers a middle-of-the-order bat.

3. Trey Beard, SP, Florida State: Beard last season went 7-1 with a 3.14 ERA, 118 strikeouts and 32 walks in 86 innings at FAU. He’s made 30 career starts and was the most accomplished pitcher to move over the summer.

4. Joey Volchko, SP, Georgia: A blue-chip recruit in the prep Class of 2023, Volchko has premium talent but never put it all together at Stanford. After going 3-4 with a 6.01 ERA in 70 1/3 innings last year, he’s coach Wes Johnson’s latest project with first-round upside.

5. Henry Ford, 3B, Tennessee: After two strong seasons at Virginia, Ford was expected to head to pro ball last summer. But after coach Brian O’Connor left Virginia for Mississippi State, Ford entered the transfer portal and opted to head for Knoxville.

6. Aiden Robbins, OF, Texas: Robbins last season starred for Seton Hall, hitting .422/.537/.652 with 20 stolen bases. He ranked fifth in the country in batting and now will move to the top of the Longhorns lineup.

7. Jarren Advincula, 2B, Georgia Tech: Following two strong seasons at Cal, Advincula transferred across the country to Georgia Tech, where he will slot right into a potent lineup.

8. Chris Hacopian, SS, Texas A&M: Hacopian put together two strong seasons at Maryland, starting every game and hitting 29 home runs in his time in College Park. Now, he joins a powerful lineup in College Station.

9. Ethan Surowiec, 1B, Florida: Surowiec was one of the breakout stars of the summer and was named MVP of the Northwoods League. He transferred from Ole Miss, where he played sparingly as a freshman, to Florida, where he looks ready to step into the middle of the lineup.

10. Tomas Valincius, SP, Mississippi State: Valincius followed Brian O’Connor from Virginia to Mississippi State after going 6-1 with a 4.59 ERA in 64 2/3 innings as a freshman. He’s set to jump into the Bulldogs rotation this spring.