SEC baseball 2023 preseason power rankings
It’s finally game week on the diamond, with SEC baseball looking as loaded as ever. Last year, nine SEC teams made a regional while four advanced to Omaha to play in the College World Series. That looks to be another achievable feat in 2023.
Last year’s CWS champions also came from the SEC, as Ole Miss went from a No. 3 seed in the Coral Gables regional to winning a super regional and going on to become the last team standing in Omaha.
The SEC’s strength has been on display throughout the offseason, as seven teams from the conference cracked D1Baseball’s preseason top 25. Two more just missed out on the rankings.
The transfer portal loomed large for many teams in the offseason, as some impressive bats and high-end arms have joined teams throughout the conference. Those additions have played a major role in On3’s preseason SEC baseball power rankings, with little to no separation for many squads in the top half of the conference.
Here’s a full look at On3’s 2023 SEC baseball preseason power rankings.
SEC baseball preseason power rankings
1. LSU
2022 record: 40-22 (17-13 in SEC play)
2022 finish: Lost in Hattiesburg Regional
Going from a No. 3 seed in regionals to the top team in the SEC might be a big jump for LSU, but the Tigers’ offseason haul is that impressive. LSU lost a couple of pieces in the MLB Draft after last season, but Jay Johnson was hart at work in the portal. In addition to bringing in D1Baseball’s No. 1 rated freshman class, the Tigers also brought in the top-rated transfer class.
LSU added a power bat in Tommy White, who transferred in from NC State. But the Tigers also added multiple arms through the portal, all of which could pitch on weekends. RHP Paul Skenes, formerly of Air Force, was an All-American last season. RHPs Christian Little (Vanderbilt) and Thatcher Hurd (UCLA) also figure to play into LSU’s rotation.
2. Tennessee
2022 record: 57-9 (25-5)
2022 finish: Lost in Super Regional
Tennessee’s dominant run through the 2022 regular season was eye-opening, but the Vols weren’t able to make it to Omaha, rather losing to Notre Dame in super regionals. Tennessee was the NCAA Tournament’s No. 1 overall seed after going on to win the SEC Tournament, but the season didn’t end in the way Tony Vitello’s team wanted it to.
Tennessee lost some significant talent to the MLB Draft, but some impressive talent is also coming in. The Vols bring in the No. 24 freshman class and the No. 2 transfer class. That transfer class is headlined by a trio of instant impact bats – shortstop Maui Ahuna (Kansas), outfielder Griffin Merritt (Cincinnati) and third baseman Zane Denton (Alabama). If Tennessee can offset the losses from last season, they will likely sit right at the top of the SEC for a second consecutive season.
3. Ole Miss
2022 record: 42-23 (14-16)
2022 finish: College World Series champions
What a run last season was for Ole Miss. The Rebels went on an improbable run all year long, and got hot just at the right time. Even after losing in the first round of the SEC Tournament, Ole Miss entered regional play and made it through as a No. 3 seed, later going on to win a super regional to make it to Omaha. From there, the Rebels just kept winning.
Ole Miss also lost a lot of talent to the MLB, though plenty returns and more is coming in. The Rebels put together the No. 8 freshman class and the No. 11 transfer class. Former Tulane outfielder Ethan Groff should have a major impact right away, as should power corner bats Anthony Calarco (Northwestern) and Ethan Lege (JUCO).
4. Texas A&M
2022 record: 44-20 (19-11)
2022 finish: Lost in College World Series
It ended up being an impressive year for the Aggies in 2022, as they were the No. 5 overall seed in the postseason. Texas A&M made it to the semifinal round of the SEC Tournament, won the College Station Regional and went on to win their super regional as well, advancing to the CWS. The Aggies didn’t advance to the CWS final, though.
Texas A&M lost a couple of pieces in the offseason, but for the most part, a large chunk of the Aggies’ talent returns to the diamond in 2023. With the No. 12 freshman class and the No. 9 transfer class coming in, another trip to Omaha is a serious possibility.
5. Florida
2022 record: 42-24 (15-15)
2022 finish: Lost in Gainesville Regional
Last season was impressive for Florida, as the Gators won 42 games, finished as the SEC Tournament runner-up, and hosted the Gainesville Regional as the No. 13 overall seed. Unfortunately for the Gators, they couldn’t make it to super regionals, with Oklahoma instead advancing and going on to make it to the CWS final.
After losing some notable pieces to the MLB, including but not limited to shortstop Sterlin Thompson and outfielder Jud Fabian, Florida needed to attack the offseason aggressively. That’s exactly what they did. The No. 5 freshman class is coming in, right next to the No. 7 transfer class. Former Southern Miss RHP Hurston Waldrep will make an instant impact, as will third baseman Dale Thomas (Coastal Carolina) and outfielder Richie Schiekofer (Rutgers).
6. Arkansas
2022 record: 46-21 (18-12)
2022 finish: Lost in College World Series
The Razorbacks put together quite the 2022 campaign, winning 46 games and making the Stillwater Regional. Arkansas wasn’t done there, though, moving on to the Chapel Hill Super Regional and eventually the CWS in Omaha. That would mark the end of the run for Arkansas, though.
The MLB Draft was not kind to the Razorbacks, with ten players being selected. Arkansas should still be in a good position, though, with the No. 22 freshman class incoming. The Razorbacks also bring in a top ten transfer class, led by a pair of outfielders in Jared Wegner (Creighton) and Tavian Josenberger (Kansas), and LHP Hunter Hollan (JUCO).
7. Vanderbilt
2022 record: 39-23 (14-16)
2022 finish: Lost in Corvallis Regional
Vanderbilt took a little bit of a step back in 2022, though they still had a solid season. The Commodores were not able to make it back to Omaha, instead losing in the Corvallis Regional. The offseason was tough for Vanderbilt, at least from the MLB Draft standpoint.
In addition to losing Spencer Jones in the first round, Dominic Keegan in the fourth round and a few others, the Commodores saw their freshman class raided in the MLB Draft. Even with that, Vanderbilt was able to get parts of the No. 11 freshman class to campus, and there will be plenty of talent to work with in 2023.
2022 record: 27-28 (13-17)
2022 finish: Did not make a regional
South Carolina’s 2022 season came to an end after losing in the first round of the SEC Tournament, as the Gamecocks were not selected to participate in the postseason. Despite that, South Carolina could be poised for a big leap in 2023. The Gamecocks add the No. 18 freshman class, and also bring in the No. 16 transfer class, which is full of talented and impact bats.
9. Alabama
2022 record: 31-27 (12-17)
2022 finish: Did not make a regional
Like South Carolina, Alabama’s season also came to an end in the SEC Tournament. The Crimson Tide actually won a pair of games and made it to the fourth round, but were left out of the NCAA Tournament field. Alabama only had two players from last year’s team selected in the MLB Draft, one of which was LHP Connor Prielipp, who did not pitch last season due to injury.
In addition to returning the majority of last year’s production, Alabama also brings in a solid transfer class, coming in at No. 25. The Crimson Tide added a pair of Tennessee Tech bats in second baseman Ed Johnson and outfielder Ryan Guardino, in addition to catcher Mac Guscette from Florida. Alabama should take a step forward in 2023, with the potential for a rise in these rankings throughout the year.
10. Auburn
2022 record: 43-22 (17-13)
2022 finish: Lost in College World Series
No. 10 in the conference might seem low for a team that made it to the College World Series a year ago, but the Tigers have a lot of questions to answer. In 2022, Auburn was the No. 14 overall seed and hosted a regional, later winning the Corvallis Super Regional and advancing to Omaha.
Auburn had eight players selected in the MLB Draft, and that production is going to be missed. Butch Thompson’s squad was able to bring in the No. 10 freshman class, which brings in some talented arms, among others. Auburn has talent, but replicating last year’s success could be tough with so many holes to fill.
2022 record: 26-30 (9-21)
2022 finish: Did not make a regional
Mississippi State won the College World Series in 2021, but last season was a major letdown. The defending national champions struggled to a 9-21 record in SEC play, and were not able to even qualify for the SEC Tournament.
This season should be much better for the Bulldogs. In addition to bringing in the No. 2 freshman class, which includes switch pitcher (yes, switch pitcher) Jurrangelo Cijntje, Mississippi State added the No. 4 transfer class, with a ton of talent coming to the lineup and the pitching staff. The Bulldogs could be poised for a return to prominence in 2023, though they’ll need to prove it after a lackluster 2022 campaign.
2022 record: 36-23 (15-15)
12. Georgia
2022 finish: Lost in Chapel Hill Regional
Georgia had a solid season in 2022, but weren’t able to make it out of the Chapel Hill Regional with their season ending there. After losing six players to the MLB Draft, the Bulldogs will have to replace some talent in 2023. With the No. 9 freshman class coming in, led by two-way players Leighton Finley and Matthew Hoskins, the Bulldogs have the talent to do so. But in a conference that’s loaded from top to bottom, Georgia has a lot to prove as the season gets underway.
13. Kentucky
2022 record: 33-26 (12-18)
2022 finish: Did not make a regional
Kentucky won 33 games last season and won three games in the SEC Tournament, losing in the semifinals. The Wildcats weren’t able to sneak into the postseason, though, as they weren’t picked to play in a regional. Kentucky also lost six pieces to the draft, though they hit the transfer portal hard and brought in a plethora of transfers, coming in as the No. 14 class.
14. Missouri
2022 record: 28-23 (10-20)
2022 finish: Did not make a regional
Missouri finished last season above .500 overall, but went just 10-20 in SEC play. The Tigers struggled immensley against conference opponents, and did not qualify for the SEC Tournament or the postseason. Missouri lost five players to the MLB Draft, but were able to bring in the No. 17 transfer class, which brings in quite a few arms that could have a major impact on the team’s pitching staff right away.