5 men’s NCAA baseball tournament players to watch
The Mongomery Advertiser’s Adam Cole and The Tennesseean’s Aria Gerson break down the top players to watch in the men’s NCAA baseball tournament.
Liam Doyle is one of the top arms in college baseball and the upcoming MLB draft.
He’s also been given the nickname of college baseball’s “baddest madman” by the famous pitching account Pitching Ninja for his performance (and behavior on the mound) in Tennessee’s Knoxville Regional-clinching win against Wake Forest.
Entering in the seventh inning, Doyle, who was named a finalist for the Golden Spike Award on Wednesday, shoved on the mound in relief against the Demon Deacons as he struck out five hitters in the final 2 1/3 innings of the game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
“I wanted the ball,” Doyle said after the game. “I knew I could win for my team and I put it all on the line out there tonight.”
After splitting the first two years of his collegiate career at Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss, where he showed some struggles at times, Doyle has had a breakout season on Rocky Top with the Vols. A recipient of the SEC Pitcher of the Year, the 6-foot-2 southpaw broke the Tennessee single-season record (158) for most strikeouts in a season during the Knoxville Regional with his powerful fastball and off-speed pitches.
Tennessee is set to begin the Fayetteville Super Regional vs. No. 3 Arkansas on June 7 at 5 p.m. ET at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. A series win would send the Vols back to the College World Series, where they look to become the first back-to-back champions since South Carolina in the early 2010s.
Here’s what you need to know about Doyle’s stats this season at Tennessee and more:
Liam Doyle baseball stats
Doyle heads into the Fayetteville Super Regional vs. Arkansas with a 10-3 record in 16 starts while posting a career-best 2.84 ERA in 92 innings of work with a career-high 158 strikeouts.
As noted by a USA Baseball news release for the Golden Spike Award finalists, the junior southpaw was virtually unhittable in April, as he posted a 3-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 28 innings of work. In four starts in April, Doyle held his opposition to a .087 batting average.
Doyle’s 10 victories are tied for first in the SEC and ninth in the country among Division I pitchers. He ranks first in the country in strikeouts per nine innings (15.46) and total strikeouts (158).
Here’s a breakdown of Doyle’s stats in the NCAA baseball tournament this year from the Knoxville Regional:
vs. Miami (OH): 6 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts while allowing four hits and a run (earned run)vs. Wake Forest: 2 1/3 innings with five strikeouts while recording zero hits and zero runs
Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of Doyle’s collegiate stats:
2023 (Coastal Carolina): 3-1 record with 4.15 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings of work while allowing 43 hits, 28 runs (26 earned runs) and 20 walks2024 (Ole Miss): 2-4 record with a 6.35 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings of work while allowing 42 hits, 35 runs (32 earned runs) and 18 walks2025 (Tennessee): 10-3 record and one save with a 2.84 ERA, 158 strikeouts and a save in 92 innings of work while allowing 58 hits, 32 runs (29 earned runs) and 30 walksLiam Doyle MLB draft projections
Doyle is considered a consensus first-round draft pick in the upcoming MLB draft by draft experts. Here’s a look at where experts have Doyle going in the first round:
Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY (as of May 6): No. 9 overall to the Cincinnati Reds
“The parade of SEC talent continues. Doyle is second in the nation with 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings, thanks to an “invisiball” four-seamer that has helped him punch out 115 in 67 ⅔ innings. The former Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss hurler will need to refine his secondary offerings at the next level, but his fastball is a rare weapon, especially coming from the left hand.”
Kiley McDaniel, ESPN (as of May 28): No. 2 overall to the Los Angeles Angels
“I’m not ruling out a high school player going here as a possibility (as referenced above), but I’m also not taking it that seriously. The Angels’ history is to take quick-moving college players early and promote them quickly through their system, then overpay some high school players later.
“Doyle had one of the most incredible regular seasons in years, but did get hit around in the SEC tournament. You could justify Kade Anderson or Jamie Arnold as the top college prospect here, but Doyle fits their interests better. Aiva Arquette is mentioned, and I think he’s in their mix, but I’d assume a pitcher is where the Angels land.”
Jim Callis, MLB Pipeline: No. 2 overall to the Angels
“The Angels appear to be targeting college pitchers who could move quickly, and most clubs believe they’d like to do a discount deal to spread money to other choices. Doyle is the best option that fits both categories, while Anderson would be the pick based purely on talent.”