In 2022 we saw a plethora of freshmen make a huge difference in SEC baseball play. Tennessee pitcher Drew Beam was the 2022 Freshman of the Year going 8-1 with a 2.72 ERA. Ole Miss freshman Hunter Elliott might’ve had the pitching performance of the year starting the national championship and getting the win. Bottom line is, even with all the transfers and the incredible talent in SEC baseball, freshmen are still able to play a crucial role in the success of a team.
Five SEC Baseball Freshmen to Watch in 2023
1. Ike Irish – Auburn C
Irish emerged this fall as a premium left-handed bat for the Tigers. He looks to have added about 10 pounds to his ultra-athletic 6-foot-2, 200-pound build. The added weight appears to be translating to his hit tool as Irish was named MVP of the fall, tallying 23 hits and 5 home runs. Despite his offensive prowess, Irish was more known for his defense coming out of high school. He has an extremely strong arm and moves well behind the plate. Although Auburn returns senior catcher Nate LaRue, it is more than likely he and Irish will split time behind the plate with whoever is not catching as the DH. Even though Irish came into a situation where the position was not up for grabs, he proved himself to be a mainstay in the Tigers’ 2023 lineup.
2. Brady Neal – LSU C
Although Neal was drafted in the 17th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, he decided to attend LSU. Neal was the 2nd ranked catcher in his class coming out of high school despite being a true 2023 graduate who reclassified to 2022. He is a little small for a catcher at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, but Neal makes up for it with his seasoned defensive actions behind the plate. Similar to Irish, he is a left-handed bat with a smooth swing but does not quite have the same power potential. This is achievable as Neal will add strength, but for now, his power tool is not fully developed. The Tigers have an open competition at the catcher position as they graduated Tyler McManus. They return junior Hayden Travinski, who played in 33 games last year and has shown some concerns both offensively and defensively. I think this gives Neal a great opportunity to step in and establish himself as the main catcher during his first year.
3. Andrew Dukantych – Vanderbilt RHP
Dukantych was considered by most scouts to be a first-round pick in the 2022 MLB draft. Instead, he decided to withdraw his name as he was dead set on attending Vanderbilt. What made Dukantych so appealing to scouts was his athletic body and motions. He also has a very good distinction between his curveball and slider, which is unseen in most young pitchers. Dukantych also features a heavy fastball that has been up to 96 mph. He will have a chance to be an impact player for the Commodores this season as they saw the departure of Chris McElvain to the draft and Christian Little to LSU. This leaves one more weekend starter role and in my mind, it’s Dukantych’s to lose.
4. Chase Shores – LSU RHP
The first thing that stands out about Shores is his physicality. His 6-foot-8 and 250-pound frame fuel his power fastball that was up to 98 mph this past fall. Shores is only getting better too. He is a late bloomer that added 35 pounds to his build towards the end of his high school career. It could be tough for Shores to get a lot of starts as LSU returns three out of their four starters and added Vanderbilt transfer Christian Little to the rotation. Although he may see some mid-week starts, a bullpen role is most likely as the Tigers lost their two best bullpen arms in Paul Gervase and Eric Reyzelman who threw 39.0 and 42.1 innings, respectively. Whether it’s as a long reliever, closer, or mid-week starter, I think Shores is bound to make a big impact for a stacked LSU team.
5. R.J. Austin – Vanderbilt INF
Austin’s best tool is his speed and athleticism. He is a sub 6.5 runner as well as having a 90+ arm across the infield. This makes Austin a guy that can stick up the middle for the rest of his career. He is more of a contact hitter, but his frame allows for added strength at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds. It looks like Austin was playing a little first base for the Commodores this fall, meaning he has the ability to play all over the infield and potentially even the outfield. Vanderbilt does have some holes in its lineup giving Austin the chance to make a big impact. A combination of him and Enrique Bradfield on the base paths is a nightmare for SEC baseball catchers. We know Tim Corbin loves his speed guys, so Austin making himself available to play anywhere on the field gives him a great shot at being a difference-maker for the Vandyboys.