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The Freshman of the Year race is defined less by résumé and more by immediate impact, projection and how quickly a player asserts himself at the college level.
The players listed below represent early standouts entering their first Division I seasons, offering a snapshot of freshmen positioned to make an immediate mark while also carrying long-term upside. As with any preseason list, contenders are not limited to those included, and additional freshmen will emerge as the season unfolds.
Amateur track record served as the primary evaluation factor for preseason inclusion, with tools, role opportunity and feedback from professional evaluators also considered.
Baseball America Preseason Freshman of the Year, Mississippi State lefthander Jack Bauer, is listed first, with the remaining players presented in alphabetical order.
College Preseason Awards
College Preseason Freshman Of The Year Watch List
Jack Bauer, LHP, Mississippi State
Bauer arrived at Mississippi State as the highest-ranked player on the final Baseball America 500 to make it to campus and brings a rare foundation of power and projection. The lefty has already shown triple-digit velocity with a historic fastball that has touched 102 mph, pairing it with high-spin breaking balls and a developing changeup that give him one of the most explosive arsenals in college baseball entering his freshman season.
Cameron Appenzeller, LHP, Tennessee
Appenzeller headlined the Volunteers’ freshman class after drawing legitimate top two-round draft interest and choosing to honor his commitment. A 6-foot-5 lefty with a projectable frame, feel for a fastball that’s already touched the mid 90s and two promising secondaries, he’s positioned to handle meaningful innings early while his stuff continues to take shape.
Alec Blair, OF, Oklahoma
Blair arrives as one of the most gifted athletes in the freshman class, bringing rare size, speed and power potential after being a multi-sport standout with legitimate basketball recruiting interest. His combination of physical projection, plus running ability and range in center field gives him one of the highest offensive ceilings among first-year players if the bat comes together.
Carson Brumbaugh, INF/RHP, Arkansas
Brumbaugh immediately impressed in the fall with impact tools on both sides of the ball. His bat speed, improving contact quality and defensive profile at shortstop give him a clear path to early playing time, while his arm strength and mid-90s fastball on the mound add another layer of upside to an already loud freshman résumé.
Dominic Cadiz, INF, UCLA
Selected by the Brewers in the 15th round of the 2025 draft, Cadiz enters his freshman season after one of the loudest summers of any incoming player, hitting .345/.454/.628 in the West Coast League. His advanced bat, all-fields power and plate discipline give him a real chance to carve out a role early on a deep UCLA roster.
Angel Cervantes, RHP, UCLA
Cervantes arrived at UCLA as one of the most advanced arms in the freshman class after choosing to head to school despite the Pirates selecting him 50th overall in the 2025 draft. Just 18, he already shows standout pitchability with plus control and a four-pitch mix led by one of the best changeups in the class, putting him squarely in the mix for weekend innings right away on the No. 1 team in the country.
Brett Crossland, RHP, Texas
Crossland brings one of the most imposing frames in the freshman class and pairs it with a starter’s arsenal headlined by a fastball that has reached the upper 90s. With two distinct breaking balls that have flashed above-average to plus and the look of a workhorse, he enters the spring as a power arm whose upside is tied to tightening his command.
Uli Fernsler, LHP, TCU
Fernsler was a major recruiting win for TCU after drawing top-two-round draft interest, bringing an advanced feel for pitching that stands out among freshmen. His deception, strike-throwing and three-pitch mix allow his stuff to play above its raw velocity, giving him a real chance to impact games early while his upside continues to surface.
Linkin Garcia, SS, Texas Tech
Garcia emerged as one of the breakout freshmen of the fall, flashing immediate impact with the bat and positioning himself as a potential Opening Day shortstop for Texas Tech. His combination of size, easy bat speed and growing power has shown up in game settings, giving him a chance to force his way into a prominent role right away.
Gabe Graulau, OF, South Florida
Graulau owns one of the most explosive tool sets in the freshman class, bringing premium speed, power potential and center-field athleticism to the mid-major level. His combination of exit velocities approaching 110 mph, true top-end running ability and physical projection gives him a chance to make immediate noise while refining the hit tool that will ultimately determine how far the profile goes.
Brayden Jaksa, C, Oregon
Jaksa headlines Oregon’s incoming class and brings a rare blend of size, patience and power potential for a freshman catcher. His above-average arm strength and disciplined offensive approach give him multiple paths to early impact, whether behind the plate or as his bat forces its way into the lineup.
Brock Ketelsen, OF/LHP, Stanford
Ketelsen announced himself as one of the most dynamic incoming freshmen with a standout summer in the West Coast League, pairing on-base ability, speed and emerging power while also contributing on the mound. His blend of athleticism, bat-to-ball skill and physical projection gives him a real chance to impact Stanford’s lineup immediately and puts him firmly in the Freshman of the Year conversation.
Jack Lafflam, RHP, Arizona
Lafflam brings one of the more intriguing power profiles in the freshman class, pairing a fastball that has reached 97 mph with a high-spin, sweeping slider that already flashes above-average. While his impact will hinge on strike-throwing consistency, his size, arm strength and bat-missing traits give him clear Freshman of the Year upside if it clicks.
Nico Partida, INF/RHP, Texas A&M
Partida forced his way into the Opening Day conversation at Texas A&M after a loud fall, showing polish at the plate and the ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Whether it’s his advanced feel for contact offensively or a fastball that has reached 98 mph on the mound, Partida looks poised to be an immediate factor for the Aggies as a true freshman.
Marcos Paz, RHP, LSU
Paz quickly reemerged as a high-upside arm following Tommy John surgery, flashing mid-90s velocity and the ease of operation that once put him in first-round conversations. His power slider, which spins in the upper-2,000s rpm and projects as a plus pitch, gives him breakout potential in a program known for turning elite raw arms into impact starters.
Mason Pike, INF/RHP, Oregon State
Pike was one of the most coveted freshmen in the country and ranked 68th in Baseball America’s final draft rankings, with impact potential on both sides of the ball. His mid-to-upper-90s fastball, multiple shapes and bat-missing sweeper give him a chance to influence games early from the mound, while his switch-hitting ability adds another avenue for immediate contribution.
Brock Sell, OF, Stanford
Sell is one of the more polished position players in the freshman class after ranking 55th on Baseball America’s Top 500 draft prospects and turning down draft interest. His advanced bat-to-ball skills, disciplined approach and plus speed give him a chance to impact games immediately as a table-setter who can stay in center field.
John Stuetzer, INF, Florida State
Stuetzer brings standout speed and athleticism to Florida State after starring as a multi-sport standout, with the versatility to impact the game in the outfield or up the middle. His ability to create pressure on the bases and flash quality contact has already put him on the Opening Day radar.
Myles Upchurch, RHP, Alabama
Upchurch brings one of the more intriguing blends of size, arm strength and athleticism among incoming freshmen after flashing a mid-90s fastball and a four-pitch mix as an amateur. He showed significant upside this fall and enters the spring as a high-ceiling arm whose development against SEC competition will be closely watched.
Michael Winter, RHP, Texas
Winter brings a pro frame and clean delivery, pairing a low-90s fastball that has reached 95 mph with a high-spin slider that flashes sharp two-plane action. His blend of present stuff and upside stood out in the fall and gave him a clear path to meaningful innings for Texas.