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Cam Cannarella (10) Clemson Tigers vs Oklahoma State Cowboys in game 1 of the 2025 Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas on Friday, February 14, 2025 (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)
From Top 25 upsets to explosive offensive performances and elite pitching, Opening Day 2025 lived up to expectations.
Teams that garnered preseason rankings went 24-7 on Friday, with six of those seven defeats coming against unranked squads. Additionally, 2025 marked the second time in three seasons that a preseason top-five team was defeated on Opening Day.
Here are 12 takeaways from an action-packed first day of the college baseball season.
Six Top 25 Teams Drop Opening Day Matchups
The Top 25 largely fared well on Friday, but the day wasn’t without some rather significant upsets. No. 4 Virginia lost to unranked Michigan, No. 10 Duke dropped its matchup to Cincinnati, No. 14 Texas was beaten by Louisville, No. 20 Kentucky fell to Lipscomb in the second end of a doubleheader, No. 22 Arizona lost to Ole Miss and No. 25 Indiana was bested by UNLV.
You can read more about those upsets here.
Exit Velocities Continue To Soar In College Baseball
Oklahoma State first baseman Colin Brueggemann didn’t have time to think about how best to play the screaming line drive hit directly in his direction in the fourth inning of the Cowboys’ neutral-site meeting with No. 8 Clemson.
Instinctively, and perhaps even in an act of self preservation, Brueggemann lifted his glove and snared a 115.7 mph rocket off the bat of Clemson designated hitter Tristan Bissetta, recording an out on what would have been the 27th hardest-hit ball in the entire 2024 campaign.
Even in the college ranks, where searing exit velocities have become somewhat common, Bissetta’s line drive was eye-catching, as it was easily the quickest of the day at the Shriners College Showdown at Globe Life Field and one of the hardest throughout the entire country.
Still, though, the smash was hardly alone. It was simply the leader in a jaw-dropping group.
In just the contest between the Tigers and Cowboys, seven different players—Bissetta, Brueggemann, Clemson catcher Jacob Jarrell, Oklahoma State left fielder Donovan LaSalle, Clemson shortstop Andrew Ciufo, Clemson first baseman Luke Gaffney and Oklahoma State designated hitter Jayson Jones—generated nine instances of peak exit velocities of at least 105 mph.
It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but no major-league team in 2024 managed to put nine or more balls in play at 105 mph or faster in the same game. In other words, college players on Friday combined to do something major leaguers couldn’t.
Exit velocities like those on display in Arlington play a significant role in the NCAA’s decision not to consider banning the defensive shift. Simply put, the tactic is viewed less as a defensive advantage as it is a safety measure.
“I do not understand why they’re trying to tell you how to play on the dirt,” UCLA head coach John Savage told Baseball America in December, “especially when we have kids swinging aluminum bats.”
While Friday’s contest served to propel the notion that college exit velocities are steadily increasing, it also highlighted the growing skill level of amateur players.
For example, Clemson center fielder Cam Cannarella in the third inning managed to track down a ball hit 103.3 mph off the bat and a 21-degree launch angle to straight-away center, metrics that produced a .625 batting average in the major leagues in 2024.
Additionally, Bissetta’s fourth-inning laser to first was produced by an 87.9 mph bat speed. Only eight MLB players recorded bat speeds of 87.9-88.0 mph last year: Seiya Suzuki, Pedro Leon, Aaron Judge, Yordan Alvarez, Ryan Mountcastle, Marcel Ozuna, Edwin Rios and Hunter Renfroe.
So while exit velocities are increasing at a rate that has some college coaches concerned, it’s also noteworthy that the game’s players seem to be adjusting to it just as fast.
No. 1 Texas A&M Avoids Opening Day Stunner Against Unranked Elon
Texas A&M entered the 2025 season facing pressure like no other.
The Aggies were the consensus preseason No. 1 team among major polls and widely picked as the preseason favorite to win the national championship. They’re also led by first-year head coach Michael Earley, who has no prior head coaching experience.
To make matters even more challenging, Texas A&M on Friday had to perform at a level that validated all of the aforementioned expectations in front of the largest reported Opening Day attendance at Blue Bell Park in College Station (8,013).
On paper, it seemed like that would be a reasonably easy task. The Aggies were starting ace lefthanded Ryan Prager, a 2024 third-round draft pick, and facing an Elon team that finished the previous season 11 games below .500, including a 10-17 mark in the CAA.
But as Friday’s season-opener wore on, it became clear that the relative ease the Aggies should have felt against the Phoenix wouldn’t be afforded to them.
Elon righty Justin Mitrovich, BA’s No. 199 prospect in the 2025 draft class, held Texas A&M’s star-studded lineup to just one hit in five scoreless innings. The Phoenix offense also posted two runs in the sixth, giving them a thoroughly-shocking lead as the game entered its later stages after Prager allowed just one hit and no runs with eight strikeouts in five innings.
It was largely because of Elon blunders—two bases loaded walks and a run-plating wild pitch in the home half of the sixth—that the Aggies managed to escape with a victory.
To be sure, it would be quite foolish to draw grand conclusions from the first game in a long season. However, it’s safe to say that Friday’s outcome was a wakeup call for the Aggies that even they are vulnerable in a highly-competitive Division I landscape.
Washington righty Max Banks Shines In D-I debut, Huskies Offense Explodes
After an offseason of significant changes, including a new head coach, several key players entering the NCAA transfer portal and a move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, it wasn’t quite clear what kind of product Washington would be able to put together on the diamond.
But, early returns were awfully encouraging for first-year Huskies head coach Eddie Smith, whose team pummeled 2024 NCAA Tournament squad Kansas State, 9-2, in Conway, SC.
The Huskies benefited from one of the more well-rounded team performances in a contest between Power 4 programs. Division III Chapman transfer righty Max Banks was magnificent with six shutout innings and nine strikeouts on 81 pitches.
The Huskies’ offense was similarly impressive with seven hits, including home runs from third baseman Trevor Kole and right fielder Malakhi Knight.
If Banks proves to be a quality Friday night arm and Washington’s lineup can continue to produce, the Huskies could make noise in a Big Ten Conference that is relatively wide open with just two preseason Top 25 teams and none in the top 15.
Jamie Arnold Dazzles in Draft Season Debut
Florida State head coach Link Jarrett said before the season that there were few words to adequately describe the impact of having a starting pitcher like southpaw Jamie Arnold in the fold.
“Program-changing” was the description the third-year Seminole skipper ultimately settled on, and on Friday night, it couldn’t have been more apparent as to why.
Arnold, while facing a very solid James Madison lineup, effortlessly cruised through six shutout innings in which he allowed just one base runner on a fifth-inning single while striking out eight.
Still, the Seminoles’ ace walked away with self critiques.
“I felt good,” Arnold told reporters after the game. “It’s always good to get out there for the first time and just work through it. I think it’s always the toughest, you have some nerves pregame, but I worked through all that and felt good. I felt like I had all my pitches. I’d like to use my changeup more, but I think it worked well just using the heater today.”
Arnold entered the season as arguably the most decorated player in the nation as he was the only unanimous selection to BA’s Preseason Collegiate All-American teams, picked as BA’s Preseason Pitcher of the Year and named to the Golden Spikes Award watch list.
He’s also BA’s No. 1 pitching prospect in the 2025 draft.
Gaeckle Dominates In Debut As Starting Pitcher
Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn didn’t mince words when talking about his ace, righty Gabe Gaeckle, in the preseason.
“His stuff is as good as anyone we’ve had here,” the longtime Razorback coach said in January. “The sky is the limit for him.”
Gaeckle certainly looked the part in his first collegiate start, as he tossed five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and just one hit allowed while throwing 78 pitches and 51 strikes.
A Preseason First-Team All-American as selected by MLB scouting departments, Gaeckle made the transition from the Razorbacks’ bullpen to the front of its starting rotation this offseason, a move that was highly anticipated after he pitched to a 2.32 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 42.2 innings last year.
The sophomore righty offers an explosive fastball and backs it up with a sharp slider and hammer curveball, which can touch 3,000 rpm.
A candidate to be the top starting pitcher in the 2026 class, Gaeckle certainly made a strong first impression as a member of one of the most talented rotations in the country.
Georgia Ace Kolten Smith Scratched From Opening Day Start, Zach Harris Performs In His Place
No. 11 Georgia was unable to start the pitcher it planned to against Quinnipiac on Friday after All-American Kolten Smith was slowed by back tightness and scratched from his scheduled appearance.
However, the Bulldogs didn’t skip a beat after making the late change thanks to junior righty Zach Harris, who stepped in and offered four innings of one-run ball before giving way to redshirt freshman righty Paul Farley, who closed out the game with five scoreless innings of relief.
The Bulldogs scored nine runs despite recording just four total hits. Second baseman Robbie Burnett walked three times, stole four bases and scored three times. Left fielder Devin Obee, who transferred to Georgia from Duke, hit his first home run as a Bulldog and tied first baseman Ryland Zaborowski for the team lead with three RBIs.
Georgia’s success on both sides of the ball was notable after its offense lost Charlie Condon, the single-season BBCOR-era home run record holder, and Corey Collins, who was selected as a Second-Team All-American, and its pitching needed to establish more consistency after a shaky season in the category last year.
UC Santa Barbara Wins, But Tyler Bremner Offers Just Three Innings
No. 23 UC Santa Barbara easily took care of business in its season opener against Campbell as it cruised to a 6-1 victory in which it never trailed.
But the contest was hardly stress free for Gaucho fans and draft enthusiasts, as UCSB ace righthander Tyler Bremner was pulled after just three perfect innings, a development that caused alarm bells to sound across the country.
It seems the panic was all for nothing, though.
Gauchos head coach Andrew Checketts told Baseball America after the game that Bremner was removed as a precaution after he experienced some tightness due to cooler temperatures. Checketts added that his prized pitcher was “begging to stay in the game.”
It will still be worth monitoring what Bremner does in his next start but concern levels are quite low.
Tar Heels Sweep Doubleheader Against Texas Tech With Well-Rounded Performances
One of just seven Top 25 teams that took on a Power 4 opponent on Opening Day, No. 12 North Carolina handled its competition, Texas Tech, with ease as it swept a doubleheader and outscored the Red Raiders 13-4.
The Tar Heels managed to offer a little bit of everything in their victories.
In game one, sophomore righty Jason DeCaro threw five shutout innings with six strikeouts before handing the ball off to senior righty Jake Knapp, who made his return to the mound for the first time in over 600 days after arm injuries dragged his career to a halt.
DeCaro, Knapp and junior righty Matthew Matthijs combined to allow just one run on five hits while striking out 10.
The first game of the twin bill also featured a spectacular home-run robbery by Liberty transfer center fielder Kane Kepley and at least one hit from all but two starters.
The second contest brought more of the same, as six Tar Heels batters recorded hits, and their pitchers struck out 13 while allowing three runs on eight hits.
With two wins already in the bank, North Carolina looks like a team that could move up in Baseball America’s first in-season Top 25.
The First Homer Of 2025 Belongs To…
It’s always fun to track who hit the first home run of the college season and this year that title belongs to Stetson first baseman Jayden Hylton, who has actually become somewhat of an Opening Day icon.
Hylton’s two-run blast in the third inning of the Hatters’ 10-6 win over UConn in Puerto Rico marked the third time in as many years that he managed to leave the yard on Opening Day.
The 6-foot-5 corner infielder is 5-for-8 with three home runs, seven RBIs, six runs scored and double in three season openers.
UNCW Star Tanner Thach Inches Closer to History
UNC Wilmington first baseman Tanner Thach’s name already appeared in the record books prior to the start of this season. The slugger is the all-time home run leader at his school and blasted more homers last year (27) than any other player in the history of the CAA.
This year, Thach has his sights realistically set on an even bigger milestone: the CAA career home run record.
Needing at least 29 bombs this year to surpass Winfred Johnson (70), who set the record in the late 1980s, Thach inched closer to the mark on Friday when he obliterated a pitch for a three-run shot in the second inning against Quinnipiac and propelled his team to an eventual 12-1 run-rule victory.
Thach is a top 70 draft prospect this year with the talent to rise if the results continue to trend positively.
Florida Ace Liam Peterson Dominates Opening Day
Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan put it quite plainly: For the Gators to achieve their goals in 2025, they would need sophomore righty Liam Peterson to take the form of an ace and lead their staff to significantly better results after ranking last in the SEC in ERA a year ago.
While it came against a greatly outmatched Air Force team, Peterson certainly delivered on Friday night when he pitched six shutout innings, allowed just two hits and a walk and struck out 11.
It marked the most strikeouts by a Florida pitcher in a season opener since Hunter Barco in 2022 and also positioned the Gators to throw their first Opening Day shutout since 2014.
“Hopefully, starts like this continue for him. Hopefully shows the maturation and the hard work he’s put in,” Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Liam certainly set the tone.”
Peterson was also pleased with his performance.
“I felt pretty good,” he told reporters after the game. “I just wanted to pound the zone. Usually when you do that, good stuff happens.”
