SEC Baseball: Ranking the Top 10 players in 2023 NCAA Tournament

Ahead of the start of the NCAA Tournament later this week, let’s take a look at, and rank, the Top 10 SEC baseball players who are set to take the field this June, beginning with a few honorable mentions.

HM: Arkansas LHP Hagen Smith, Florida RHP Brandon Sproat, Florida SS Josh Rivera, Alabama OF Andrew Pinckney 

Ranking SEC Baseball’s Top 10 players in the 2023 NCAA Tournament

10. RHP Hurston Waldrep – Florida Gators

We begin here at No. 10 with Waldrep, as the right-hander is one of multiple Florida players on this list. Across 78.1 IP this season, Waldrep owns a 7-3 record with a 4.83 ERA and 117:44 K:BB ratio, holding opponents to a combined .231 AVG against.

9. OF Bryson Ware – Auburn Tigers

Auburn’s lone player on this list is Ware, who comes in at No. 9. The Tigers outfielder is currently slashing .356/.440/.750 with 24 HR, 63 RBI, and six SB, leading Auburn in multiple statistical categories.

8. INF Ethan Petry – South Carolina Gamecocks

Coming in at No. 8 is Petry, who is the lone player from South Carolina on this list. The freshman has enjoyed a phenomenal 2023 season with the Gamecocks, slashing .376/.468/.748 with 22 HR, 72 RBI, and four SB.

7. RHP Chase Dollander – Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee’s lone player on this list is Dollander at No. 7, who is one of the SEC’s top pitchers. The right-hander currently owns a 6-6 record with a 4.28 ERA and 107:25 K:BB ratio across 73.2 IP for the Volunteers this season, while also holding opponents to a .232 AVG against.

6. OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. – Vanderbilt Commodores

Falling just short of the top five at No. 6 is Bradfield, who is the lone player on this list from SEC Tournament champion Vanderbilt. One of the nation’s fastest players, the outfielder is currently slashing .286/.423/.441 offensively with six HR, 33 RBI, and 37 SB.

5. OF Wyatt Langford – Florida Gators

The top five begins here with Langford, who is the first of two Florida Gators to land in the No. 5-1 spots. One of the SEC’s top outfielders, Langford is currently slashing .398/.521/.823 this season with 17 HR, 43 RBI, and six SB.

4. 3B Tommy White – LSU Tigers

LSU lands the most players in the top five of any SEC baseball team, the first of which is White at No. 4. One of the SEC’s top run producers, White is currently slashing .387/.447/.774 offensively with 20 HR and 91 RBI.

3. LHP/1B Jac Caglianone – Florida Gators

Caglianone, who is SEC baseball’s top two-way player, as well as one of the nation’s top home run hitters, comes in here at No. 3. Offensively, Caglianone is currently slashing .349/.409/.790 for the Gators with 28 HR, 76 RBI, and four SB, while also owning a 6-3 record with a 4.14 ERA and 74:46 K:BB ratio across 63 IP on the mound, holding opponents to a combined .184 AVG against.

2. RHP Paul Skenes – LSU Tigers

Coming in at No. 2 is Skenes, who is the highest-ranked pitcher on this list. Named the SEC Pitcher of the Year, the LSU right-hander has made a total of 15 starts for the Tigers this season, owning a 10-2 record with a 1.89 ERA and 167:17 K:BB ratio across 90.1 IP, while also holding opponents to a combined .166 AVG against.

1. OF Dylan Crews – LSU Tigers

Holding the No. 1 ranking on this list, as well as concluding the all-LSU top two, is Crews, the 2023 SEC Baseball Player of the Year. An outfielder, Crews has simply had a stellar 2023 season for the Tigers, slashing .420/.567/.710 with 15 HR, 59 RBI, and six SB.