Editor’s note: The following article was published first on d1baseball.com. Right now, you can get 25% off any subscription at D1 with code: PREVIEW25.
D1Baseball.com previewed the 2025 Big Ten baseball season, breaking down all things in the 17-team conference that added four teams from the Pac-12. They project the Big Ten’s final standings, regional teams, Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Freshman of the Year and more.
Projected order of finish/Projected Regional Teams
*Teams are listed in order of projected finish. Bold indicates projected 2025 regional teams.
| Team | 2024 Conference | 2024 Overall |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 19-11 (Pac-12) | 40-20 |
| Nebraska | 16-8 | 40-22 |
| Indiana | 15-9 | 33-26 |
| Penn State | 12-12 | 29-24 |
| Michigan | 14-10 | 32-28 |
| Maryland | 10-14 | 34-22 |
| UCLA | 9-21 (Pac-12) | 19-33 |
| Illinois | 18-6 | 35-21 |
| Iowa | 14-10 | 31-23 |
| USC | 17-12 (Pac-12) | 31-28 |
| Ohio State | 12-12 | 29-26 |
| Minnesota | 11-13 | 25-23 |
| Purdue | 13-11 | 33-24 |
| Rutgers | 6-18 | 28-25 |
| Michigan State | 11-13 | 24-27 |
| Northwestern | 4-20 | 18-34 |
| Washington | 10-20 (Pac-12) | 19-31-1 |
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Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Devin Taylor, OF, Indiana
The odds-on favorite for conference player of the year, Taylor is one of the best hitters in college baseball with an uncommon ability to make pitch-to-pitch adjustments. The first player in program history to earn first-team all-conference honors in each of his first two seasons, Taylor enters the spring with the potential to be the first Hoosier to go in the first round since Kyle Schwarber in 2014.
Returning six everyday starters from a team that finished atop the Big Ten in runs (482) and total bases (1030) last season, Taylor and the Hoosiers have a lineup that could once again pace the conference offensively.
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Pitcher of the Year: Grayson Grinsell, LHP, Oregon
With an offense loaded with premium bats, let’s start with a look at the star power from a pitching standpoint. That label belongs to left hander Grayson Grinsell. Grinsell finished last season with 99 strikeouts in 79.2 innings of work, and possesses quality overall stuff, sitting anywhere from 86-91 mph with his fastball, while his ability to command and manipulate the breaking ball and changeup is what sets him apart.
Oregon has a bonafide ace and glue guy in Grinsell for an obvious reason — he’s a front-line arm who sets the tone for the weekend.
Freshman of the Year: Grant Bradley, RHP, Michigan
Bradley was a bright spot in the fall, potentially carving out a high leverage bullpen role after showing the ability to command a dynamic arsenal. The freshman right hander could be a huge help to a rotation anchored by Dylan Vigue and workhorse Kurt Barr.
Read D1Baseball.com’s full 2025 Big Ten preview here.
