OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Ten players to watch in college baseball in 2024, listed in alphabetical order:
The second baseman from Australia rides momentum into the season. He was named Cape Cod League MVP after winning the prestigious summer league’s batting title. Last season he batted .374 for the Beavers with 20 doubles, 11 homers and 55 RBIs and a second-record 36 steals in 39 attempts.
The two-way star returns after hitting an NCAA-leading and program-record 33 homers. His 90 RBIs also were most in program history. The lefty also went 7-4 record with a 4.34 ERA, .190 opponent batting average and 87 strikeouts in 74 2/3 frames.
One of the top prospects for the 2025 draft, the converted shortstop was the Tigers’ everyday center fielder after having never played outfield before last season. He made just one error. The leadoff man batted .388, best among Power Five freshmen, and had a .462 on-base percentage.
Hartle is neck-and-neck with Florida’s Jac Caglianone for top left-hander in the nation and combines with Tennessee transfer Chase Burns for one of the nation’s best 1-2 starting punch. Hartle finished 11-2 with a 2.81 ERA. His 140 strikeouts were fifth nationally, with 29 coming over 16 2/3 postseason innings.
Hurd is coming off a terrific postseason and goes into the season as the Tigers’ Friday night starter. He was the winner in three of four NCAA Tournament appearances, including the national championship-clinching win over Florida. He was 8-3 with three saves and 84 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings.
Kurtz starred at the plate and in the field. He batted .353 with 24 homers, and 34 of his 67 hits went for extra bases. He was in the top 10 nationally in walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He started 56 games at first base and made just one error in 411 chances.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-hander raised eyebrows when he uncorked a 104 mph fastball last March. Brecht tends to struggle with his control, and a rough patch caused him to lose his spot atop the rotation last year. He struck out 109 in 77 innings last season but also walked 61.
The Gamecocks got a commitment from Petry in June 2020, and he was worth the wait. He started most of his games in right field but also played some at third. Batting mostly out of the 3-hole, he broke school freshman records with 23 homers and 75 RBIs and batted a team-best .376.
The Big 12 player of the year led the nation with a .449 batting average, and he led the Mountaineers with 16 home runs, 60 RBIs, 67 runs, 24 doubles and 36 stolen bases. He’ll be playing his third position in three years. He moved to shortstop after having played third base as a freshman and second last year.
The third baseman is the Division I active career leader in home runs with 51 in two seasons, none bigger than his two-run walk-off shot in the 11th inning to beat Wake Forest and send the Tigers to the College World Series finals. He batted .374 with 24 homers last season, and his 105 RBIs led the nation.
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