Year after year, the SEC recruits the best high school talent in all of college baseball. That talent spans far and wide from all over the United States and beyond.
From the colleges and programs themselves, the rich history and traditions that each hold closely to their hearts, to the recent successes and national championships, the SEC just means more and the best players want to play here. National championships start with the coaching staff and who they recruit.
I rank and dive into the top SEC freshman classes stepping on campus and highlight some of the headline prospects in each of their classes entering the 2024 season.
1. Arkansas
Dave Van Horn and the Razorbacks enter the 2024 season with the best incoming freshman class in the country, even after losing some absolute studs in the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft last summer. Good news for Van Horn, he’s got a loaded group coming in featuring 3 of the top 100 players, headlined by a top 10 righty and a top 15 lefty in the nation.
LHP Hunter Dietz
(PG 10, #2 LHP in FL and #7 nationally — #12 overall in FL and #57 nationally) 90-96mph FB (2420rpm) 82mph SL (2431rpm) 83mph CH (2052rpm) Easy, low effort delivery. The top prospect in this group. He’s a 6ft 6in, 230 pound bull with a heater reaching 96mph in the fall. To pair with it is an excellent splitter and good slider. Expect him to be a main piece of the Razorback rotation over his time here with a fantastic opportunity to leave Fayetteville as a first rounder.
RHP Gave Gaeckle
20th round pick by Reds: PG 10, #2 RHP in CA and #14 nationally — #9 overall in CA and #51 nationally. Gaeckle made a solid name for himself in the fall with an excellent four-pitch mix and knows how to really pitch, not just throw. His fastball this fall was electric, 94-97mph (2514rpm), paired with a 12-6 hammer curve at 77-80mph (3004rpm), mixed with a tight 82-84mph slider (2866rpm), and a strong developing changeup at 85mph (1909rpm). Gaeckle has all the talent to be a key piece for this Razorback staff for the next few years with a chance to do so immediately.
C Ryder Helfrick
PG 10, #2 C in CA and #3 nationally — #8 in CA and #46 nationally. A barrel finder who drives the ball in the gaps with power. Excellent catch and throw skills and the tools defensively to support it. Clocked in at 83mph from behind the dish with a 1.83sec pop time to second at the PG Showcase in the October 2021 and 91mph across the infield. His exit velo registered at 96 in the summer of 2022 and can imagine it’s only gone up from there. Don’t be surprised if he works his way into the starting role behind the dish over some veterans.
RHP Tate McGuire
PG 9.5, #2 RHP in MO and #131 nationally – #7 overall in MO and #414 nationally. McGuire brings a fastball ranging from 89-96mph, paired with a 76-78mph breaking ball, and a 79mph changeup to complete his arsenal. Coaches are excited about McGuire and what he brings on the mound, especially his filthy changeup. McGuire was the 2022-23 Missouri baseball Gatorade Player of the Year after posting an insane 10-0 record with a 0.13ERA in 53.2IP with 98K and 14BB giving up just 23H. He also batted .360 with 2HR and 39RBI. It’s easy to see why Dave Van Horn and his staff are excited about this freshman.
LHP Adam Hachman
PG 10, #1 LHP in MO and #8 nationally – #1 overall in MO and #58 nationally. Hatchman spent the summer and fall recovering and working his way back from an internal brace surgery that he had in high school and he should be 100% by the start of the season. His fastball is a heater and runs it up to 99 (2065rpm) and even triple digits at times in high school. In his arsenal he’s also got a 77mph curve (2144rpm) and an really good 86mph changeup that he spins well (2165rpm). His fastball was ran up to 23-24 inches of Induced Vertical Break that will make it tough to square up, generating a lot of swing-and-miss. His fastball graded as one of the best quality fastballs in the class. If he can control it a bit more, it’s going to be tough to catch up with.
LHP Colin Fisher
No PG grade but it would probably be a 9 or 9.5. #2 LHP in OK and #58 nationally – #5 overall in OK and #409 nationally. 89-93mph fastball with a unique and plus slurve at 75-76mph, to go with a solid 80mph changeup last summer. The steep angles Fisher generates should be difficult to pick up for hitters, especially with him being able to pitch into righties.
4. Texas A&M
The Aggies have a lot to be excited about with a preseason ranking of #8 by D1 Baseball and the #4 freshman recruiting class in the nation.
OF Gavin Grahovac
A PG grade 10, the #2 OF in CA and #10 in the nation – #12 player in CA and #55 in the nation. Grahovac is one of the most exciting incoming freshmen in the country that can play all over. He is the 2022-23 California State Player of the Year and a high school All-American in 2023. In his 4 years he tallied up a .374ABG/.670SLG/1.136OPS line with 134H, 71RBI, 18HR, 48:53 K:B ratio. Grahovac played on the 2017 USA Baseball 12U national team where they won a gold medal in Taiwan and the 2022 18U Team USA national team where he batted .185 with a HR, 8RBI, and 4R in 9 games. Gavin Grahovac has all the tools and juice to be SEC Freshman of the Year in my eyes after following him his senior year and clearly others, as D1 Baseball has named him Preseason SEC Freshman of the Year.
RHP Isaac Morton
A PG grade 9, #2 RHP in MN and #186 nationally – #3 overall in MN and #500 nationally. A 19-round pick this past summer by the Brewers but elected to head to College Station possibly in part to an injury last season. Morton is very projectable. He’s got a heater in the mid 90s up to 96mph this fall, a mid-80s slider and a developing low 80s changeup. He should be an instant impact for the Aggies on the hill.
RHP Kaiden Wilson
A PG grade 9.5, #3 LHP in MO and #43 nationally – #4 overall in MO and #314 nationally. Wilson slings a 96-97mph, with a deep mid 70s curveball, and a mid 80s changeup to pair with it. He’s got a lot of talent, especially with the heater, and the ability to get a good amount of innings this season for sure.
6. Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is one of the elites of the elite programs in the country and Tim Corbin and staff just keep on bringing in top prospects every year. The Commodores come into the season with the #6 ranked freshman class in the country.
LHP Ethan McElvain
A PG grade 10, #1 LHP and player in TN – #5 LHP and #49 overall in the nation. McElvain is an absolute unit and stud. A huge 6’4” 210lb frame coming in with a low effort, electric delivery and plus command. McElvain comes to Vandy just like his older brother, RHP Chris McElvain. Ethan has everything you want and need to be one of the best SEC pitchers and he just left high school. He proved that in a fall exhibition vs the #1 team in the nation, Wake Forest, with his 94-97mph heater, an 81-84mph slider, and an 88-89mph changeup in two innings recording 4 strikeouts. Tim Corbin has been known for freshman stepping into big roles and expect McElvain to do that and succeed.
INF Braden Holcomb
Another PG grade 10, the #5 SS in FL and #18 in the nation – #10 overall in FL and #38 nationally. Holcomb is an ox at 6’4” 215lb and has all the raw power you want to see paired with it. He recorded an exit velo of 99mph, infield velo of 95mph, and a 6.68sec 60 yard dash back in June of 2021. He’s got a ton of physicality and athleticism. In the box he’s got excellent bat speed and contact quality to go with the immense power that’s one of the best in the class.
1B Matt Ossenfort
A PG grade 9.5, the #2 1B in FL and #10 nationally – #48 overall in FL and #332 nationally. Another big bat for Tim Cojakerbin and staff with a massive amount of power. Ossenfort reached 100mph of exit velo back in 2022. He tore it up last summer in the Cal Ripken League slashing .376/.480/.693. If he can connect constantly, the power that comes with it will definitely play in the SEC.
7. LSU
The defending national champion LSU Tigers waste ZERO time after winning it all, bringing onto campus the #7 freshman class in the country. Talk about reloading a national championship team after losing a ton of key pieces and the #1 & #2 overall drafted players in the 2023 MLB Draft.
LHP Cam Johnson
A PG grade 10, #1 LHP in FL and #2 nationally – #3 overall in FL and #11 nationally. A 20th round pick by the Cardinals but turned down millions and decided to come to Baton Rouge. Jay Johnson, recruiting coordinator Josh Jordan, and pitching coach Nate Yeski are definitely stoked. He was the MVP of the 2023 PG High School Showdown of the best players in the country. His fastball runs up to 97-98mph (2453rpm) from a ¾ arm slot on the left side that has a deadly sink (up to 20+ inches of horizontal movement. Off of that, he’s got a low 80s breaking ball (2854rpm) that shapes well and bites, and a mid 80s changeup (2121rpm) to mix in. Johnson will be one of the most exciting freshman lefties in the SEC and country to watch I believe.
OF/LHP Jake Brown
No PG grade but would definitely be a 10. The #1 LHP and player in LA – #18 LHP and #116 overall in the nation. Brown has the potential to be the next two way guy for the Tigers. He seems to primarily be an outfielder and the offensive headline of this class. Brown’s got incredible athleticism and speed on the bases and in the outfield. The potential for more power is there but there’s no lack of it that’s for sure. On the mound, his fastball runs 87-90mph from the left side with a phesolid 82mph slider and changeup to go with it last summer. Jake played con the 2022 18U National Team and made 2 starts, posting a 3.50ERA with 9Ks (2nd on team) and with 4 of his 6 innings hitless. If you want a “sleeper” freshman to watch (if you can call him that) this is a great player to keep up with this season and how he develops on BOTH sides of the ball while at LSU.
INF Steven Milam
A PG grade 9.5, #1 SS and player in NM – #32 SS and #119 overall in the nation. Milam is a really good switch hitter (mainly lefty with better bat speed and strength) that’s still getting better. Contact hitter primarily can power it into the gaps. He’s a 6.78sec 60yard runner with tools to play the middle infield. Milam is a toolsy guy that should develop quite well and can turn into an every day player later in his career at LSU.
9. Mississippi State
Mississippi State is doing everything that they can to get back to their recent winning ways after a horrible 2023 season. The best way to do that is by bringing in a top 10 freshman class. The Bulldogs are hoping this 2024 season is nothing like last year and more so like 2021.
SS Dylan Cupp
A PG grade 10, #4 SS in GA and #21 in the nation – #7 overall in GA and #66 nationally. Cupp headlines this Mississippi State freshman class playing for one of the best travel ball teams in the country in the East Cobb Astros. He can be an immediate impact player for the Bulldogs with his defensive standout ability as a stellar shortstop and great footwork. He's a 7sec flat 60 yard runner and is outstanding fundamentally. Cupp could take over the starting role at short. His offensive ability translating to the SEC will dictate that and how much/well he does.
RHP Mikhai Grant
A PG grade 9.5, #4 RHP in GA and #34 in the nation – #12 overall in GA and #122 nationally. Grant has a deadly arsenal that he showed this past fall with all the looks of a standout weekend ace in the making. His fastball ranges 95-97mph and has a wipeout slider to throw off of it. Unfortunately, Makhai will have to wait until 2025 after undergoing season ending Tommy John surgery at the end of the fall. Keep Grant’s name in your back pocket for next season because he will be a phenomenal ball player.
LHP/OF Luke Dotson
A PG grade 9.5, the#1 LHP in GA and #23 nationally – #16 overall in GA and #157 nationally. One of two, big two-way recruits coming out of high school for Mississippi State. Dotson is another East Cobb Astros player. The lefty’s fastball sits 88-91mph and he’s got a mid 70s (2143rpm) curveball as well as a 80mph (1520rpm) changeup that is solid. Dotson has the projectable frame and a deep long arm action to go with his deceptive mechanics. Hitting wise, he’s athletic and handles the bat well with good bat speed. He’s also got some wheels clocking a 6.74sec 60 yard dash. It’ll be interesting to see which side of the ball he develops more and better in.
10. Florida
The Gators reload with another top 10 freshman class loaded with some high powered arms. After losing in the College World Series Finals, Kevin O’Sullivan and staff are looking to load up even more and get back to the championship and win it again.
RHP Liam Peterson
A PG grade 10, #3 RHP in FL and #8 in the nation – #8 overall in FL and #34 nationally. A highly regarded prospect coming to campus that lived up to the hype in the fall so far for the Gators. He topped 98mph with his fastball (2405rpm) with some sink to it and a mid 80s sharp curve (2582rpm) and a nasty changeup (1937rpm) to pair with it. Peterson has set himself up for a weekend rotation role this spring and a big piece of the program for Florida for the next 3-4 years.
RHP Luke McNeilie
A PG grade 10, #2 RHP in FL and #23 in the nation – #10 overall in FL and #89 in the nation. McNeile is another big-time prospect for the Gators that enters the collegiate level with a heater up to 97mph in the fall as well. To go with that, he’s got a high-80s change and mid-80s slider to complete a strong three-pitch mix. McNeilie has everything you could ask for in an incoming freshman on the mound and can play his way into a big role and player for the Gators this season and beyond.
LHP Frank Menéndez
A PG grade 9.5, #4 LHP in FL and #26 nationally – #24 overall in FL and #181 in the nation. Menéndez has an electric fastball as well up to 97mph but from the left side, sitting in the lower 90s with tons of arm side run however. His changeup is his best pitch with a 44% whiff rate this past fall that’s in the low-80s. He hides the ball well and creates a lot of deception. Menéndez is the best lefty that recruiting coordinator Chuck Jeroloman brings in with this class and has a bright future. Jeroloman and head coach Kevin O’Sullivan did a great job bringing some fireapower arms to campus.
The SEC has been by far the best conference in college baseball over the last decade and the talent continues to pour in year after year for each of the teams. Out of 314 players drafted in the 2023 MLB Draft, 49 came from the SEC. Many more were committed to play for SEC baseball programs out of high school. LSU and Vanderbilt were the top programs through the first 10 rounds with 6 players drafted each. Florida and Arkansas follow them with 5 each. Keep an eye out for these players stepping on campuses as they look to make a name for themselves in the SEC this season and beyond. We will see if any of them play a key role on their respective squads en route to Omaha this summer and hopefully one day, Major League Baseball.