The Stanford Cardinal reached Omaha in three straight seasons from 2021-2023 before a disappointing final season in the PAC-12 in 2024. Stanford finished their season 22-33 overall and 11-18 in the conference. They did make some noise in the final PAC-12 Tournament by winning their Pool with upsets over Oregon State and Arizona State, but fell to eventual champions Arizona in the semifinals. Highlights for the season include an upset series win over #16 Oregon and a weekend series win over archrival Cal.
This Stanford team loses just two key bats while returning 99% of their innings pitched from last year. Growing pains a season ago might end up being the reason the Cardinal end up competing for the ACC title in their first season. Young pitchers with elite stuff gained valuable experience while a veteran lineup will be bolstered by two phenomenal freshman bats. The pieces are there for Stanford, it’s just a matter of meeting expectations.
Catchers (Starter Rank: 11, Group Rank: 15)
Stanford lost their big power bat and one of their primary catchers from last season when Malcolm Moore was selected in the first round of last July’s MLB Draft. Senior Charlie Saum, who started 25 games for the Cardinal last year, will take over as the top backstop. Saum slashed .283/.355/.545 with a .900 OPS in 2024 and will be a key source of power in this year’s lineup.
Providing support behind Saum are two returners that could play other positions. Brett Blair will see time in the outfield and should serve as a key bench piece after hitting .357 in just 14 at-bats a year ago. Lavin is a sophomore who had 71 ABs over his first season in Palo Alto. He could see time at first base or as the designated hitter. The 6’3”, 217 pound lefty is another potential source for breakout power.
Infield (Starter Rank: 9, Group Rank: 5)
Japanese phenom Rintaro Sasaki has officially arrived and is expected to be the everyday first baseman while hitting in the middle-of-the-order. The prodigious slugger, who broke all of Shohei Ohtani’s high school records, is expected to be Stanford’s best hitter as a freshman. Sasaki struggled just a little in the MLB Draft League over the summer before lighting up the Appalachian League in late July and early August. In 109 combined summer at-bats, Rintaro hit four doubles, a triple, and seven home runs while walking 34 times. There is no freshman in the country with more hype or higher expectations– home or abroad.
Brandon Larson is also a first baseman by trade that will probably see more time as the everyday DH. The junior hit .266 in 2024 with six doubles and four home runs. At 6’6”, 240 pounds, Stanford will expect to see a little more power from his bat.
Aside from first base, the infield is littered with versatile players that can play anywhere along the infield. Jimmy Nati, who primarily played first last season, likely moves over to second this year. The Aussie infielder was third on the team with a .308 average while leading the Cardinal with 22 doubles. Penciling in Nati as the number two hitter provides head coach David Esquer with a really enticing top of the order.
Trevor Haskins returns as a glove first shortstop. The senior hit .278/.330/.459 in 53 starts last season while playing elite defense. At the plate, Haskins showcases an aggressive approach that results in a high strikeout rate and moderate gap-to-gap power.
Temo Becerra could also be the starting shortstop but is likely going to be at third. The light-hitting junior hit .298 in 2024 while playing in 54 games. He could be the one battling star freshman Charlie Bates for playing time, as Bates is expected to force his way into the lineup somewhere. The 6’0” hometown kid has an advanced approach at the plate and the confidence to contribute immediately.
Sebastian David is an intriguing infield option after missing all of his freshman year due to injury. The highly-touted recruit can play anywhere on the infield and possesses a solid hit tool. Freshmen JJ Moran and Nate Stiveson are depth pieces with bright futures that could push for playing time.
Outfield (Starter Rank: 14, Group Rank: 11)
The Cardinal outfield will be anchored by left fielder Cort MacDonald. The junior speedster led the team with a .325 average last year while swiping 12 bases. MacDonald is expected to be the lead-off hitter given his base running skills and ability to get on-base. He’ll be joined by fellow returning starter Ethan Hott in center field. Hott is a defensive first player, but does possess a mature approach at the plate. The senior hit .294 last season and could serve as a second lead-off man rolling the lineup over in the 9-hole.
Sophomore Brady Reynolds is another breakout candidate after a strong summer performance in the Northwoods League where he carried an .866 OPS in 41 games. He was yet another youngster that gained crucial experience during last year’s down season. He struggled a bit at the plate but has been a force during the offseason and should get the nod to start in right field.
Saborn Campbell is an X-factor who could push Hott in center field. If the senior can fix his woes at the plate, he’ll provide elite defense while joining MacDonald as a key base stealing threat. The aforementioned Brett Blair and sophomore Champ Hampton will also be options while freshman Tatum Marsh is a depth option with future star upside.
Projected Lineup
Rotation (Rank: 1)
Stanford returns one of the nation’s best weekend rotations in three-headed monster Matt Scott, Christian Lim, and Joey Volchko. Scott struck out 103 batters over 80 innings last season before shining for Team USA over the summer. The 6’7” power righty is expected to go in the first round this July. Christian Lim is a lefty that was named a freshman All American in 2024 after boasting a 4.33 ERA with 86 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched. Volchko, who might have the best pure stuff on the staff, likely gets the nod on Sunday after striking out 53 over 42.2 innings as a freshman. The young righty also pitched for Team USA over the summer and dominated the Cape Cod League– going 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA and striking out 29 hitters in 5 appearances. Volchko could win up a Top-10 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Nick Dugan, who started 10 games for the Cardinal last season, could serve as the midweek starter or as a swingman out of the bullpen. With so many Monday matchups over the season, they could be looking for more length from their fourth starter.
Bullpen (Rank: 8)
Closer Toran O’Harran returns after throwing 39.1 innings and leading the team with 7 saves. The junior hurler throws a fastball in the mid-90s and should be Stanford’s bullpen ace once again. Former Duke transfer Kassius Thomas is another dynamic right-hander with a mid-90s heater that could be an asset at the backend. Thomas didn’t have a great first season in Palo Alto but could emerge as a quality bounce back candidate.
Trevor Moore, like so many others, didn’t have the best 2024 season after a 6.00 ERA in 57 innings. He turned the page on the season and went to the Cape Cod League, where dominated as the closer for the YD Red Sox. The veteran right-hander made 10 scoreless appearances, struck out 28 while walking 6, and picked up a league best 8 saves. If that success carries over into 2025, Moore will be a vital weapon in late game situations.
Ben Reimers and Ryan Speshyock. Reimers threw 34.2 innings as a freshman and struggled at times with his control. A good fall should go a long way towards his development and confidence. Speshyock is another Cardinal who enjoyed a dominant summer after a rocky spring. The rising sophomore went 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA in seven starts for Eau Claire in the Northwoods League, striking out an incredible 55 batters in just 33 innings.
Ty Uber and Sam Garewal return to the bullpen after both missed all of 2024 due to injury. Uber could be an option for middle innings relief but struggles with a high walk rate as evidenced by his 20 free passes in 21 innings during his last full season. Garewal, who started 8 games and threw 49 innings in 2023, is one of two southpaws in the bullpen. While he could get a look at the midweek starting role, he’ll likely be a key bullpen piece in matchup situations.
There’s a lot to like from Stanford’s group of six freshmen, but it’s hard to project which of the six will make an impact in 2025. Austin Steeves is likely the best bet, as the bullpen only carries one other lefty arm. Cohen Gomez, Sammy Petrocelli, and Dominic Petrocelli are all right-handers that were ranked among the Top 500 freshmen to make it to campus by Perfect Game.
Projected Staff
Outlook
The 2025 Stanford Cardinal carry high expectations in the spring despite a rocky 2024. The lineup will need to find power from somewhere other than Rintaro, while the bullpen will need to build off dominant summers to close out games. The rotation alone should help Stanford finish in the top half of the ACC but they’ll need a quality offense and a consistent bullpen to make a return to Omaha. Either way, the Cardinal will be worth the price of admission just to see Rintaro and this rotation.
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