Texas A&M baseball opens 2025 at No. 1 in D1Baseball preseason poll

A No. 1 ranking for a new era.

Indeed, Michael Earley’s tenure as the head baseball coach at Texas A&M begins with the Aggies atop the D1Baseball preseason poll.

Last week, A&M was also ranked No. 1 by Perfect Game ahead of the highly-anticipated 2025 campaign.

A year ago, the Maroon & White came one win away from winning the program’s first national title, falling to Tennessee in a hard-fought three-game championship series in Omaha. The reigning national champs will open at No. 4, and the Ags and Vols will meet in Knoxville in early April.

Last year’s runners-up, the Aggies endured a tumultuous offseason that featured a highly-publicized coaching change, with Earley emerging as the 21st head coach of A&M baseball. The stability gained by his hire led to solidifying one of the top rosters in the nation.

In 2025, A&M will be led by generational slugger Jace LaViolette. The third member of A&M’s 50-homer club, the outfielder from Katy enters his junior campaign as the No. 2 draft-eligible prospect, according to MLB.com.

Other familiar stars at the plate include Hayden Schott, Gavin Grahovac, Caden Sorrell and Kaeden Kent. After missing the fall with a knee injury, Schott is the second-oldest player in college baseball and hit .335 last season in his SEC debut. With 23 homers, Grahovac broke LaViolette’s rookie record and returns at the hot corner.

A frequent inclusion on SportsCenter’s Top 10, Sorrell enjoyed a breakout fall and will take over right field following the departure of first-rounder Braden Montgomery. And after providing one of the most memorable moments in Olsen Field history, Kent is expected to take over the shortstop position this spring.

On the mound, Friday night ace Ryan Prager spurned the Los Angeles Angels to continue his collegiate career. The preseason All-American posted a 9-1 record with a 2.95 ERA in 2024. Fellow southpaw Justin Lamkin is back after his Omaha emergence.

Key additions from the transfer portal include outfielder Gavin Kash, infielders Wyatt Henseler and Matthew Bergevin, utility man Jamal George and pitchers Myles Patton and Clayton Freshcorn.

The nation’s best college baseball league, the 16-team SEC has nine clubs ranked in D1Baseball’s initial poll: No. 1 Texas A&M, No. 3 Louisiana State, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Arkansas, No. 8 Georgia, No. 10 Florida, No. 16 Vanderbilt, No. 18 Mississippi State and No. 19 Texas.

The 12th Man’s first look at Earley’s Aggies is just 32 days away, as Opening Day vs. Elon is set for Feb. 14.

D1Baseball Preseason Poll

1. Texas A&M
2. Virginia
3. Louisiana State
4. Tennessee
5. Arkansas
6. North Carolina
7. Oregon State
8. Georgia
9. Florida State
10. Florida
11. Duke
12. Oregon
13. NC State
14. Wake Forest
15. Clemson
16. Vanderbilt
17. Oklahoma State
18. Mississippi State
19. Texas
20. Dallas Baptist
21. Arizona
22. UC Santa Barbara
23. TCU
24. Nebraska
25. Troy

Note: Southeastern Conference programs are italicized.