2025 College Baseball Ace Rankings: Meet the Top Starting Pitchers

Exploring the Top College Baseball Starting Pitchers of 2025

When it comes to college baseball, the excitement and anticipation surrounding the Men’s College World Series is palpable. The stakes are high, and the pressure is immense. So, who are the starting pitchers you’d want on the mound when everything is on the line? As an ESPN MLB Insider, I usually dive into this question from a scouting perspective, consulting with scouts to focus on who will be the best players in the future. However, today, we’re taking a different approach. We’re ranking college starting pitchers based on who I’d want starting a game in Omaha against the best lineups, with the highest stakes.

This isn’t your typical prospect list. While there’s some overlap, I’m leaning more on current ability rather than future potential. And it’s not purely about statistics either. Otherwise, we’d see St. Joseph’s lefty Colton Book, with his 85-89 mph fastball, 1.70 ERA, and 87 strikeouts, making the cut. Instead, we’re focusing on the 20 collegiate starting pitchers I’d trust in a do-or-die game against one of the top lineups in the country. Thanks to the portal and other factors, this list is heavy on SEC talent, with seven of the top 10 players hailing from the conference. Most of these pitchers are draft-eligible for the first time this year, but there are some intriguing exceptions. Let’s dive in.

1. Liam Doyle, LHP, Tennessee

Junior, 20 years old, 51.0 IP, 2.47 ERA

Liam Doyle has been a dominating presence in the SEC this season. His 94-97 mph heater, peaking at 99 mph, is used 71% of the time, and it’s been working wonders. While there are some long-term questions about the consistency of his secondary stuff, his command, and how he performs deeper in games, his direct approach is proving effective in college.

2. Kade Anderson, LHP, LSU

Sophomore, 20 years old, 57.1 IP, 3.92 ERA

Kade Anderson is a classic crafty lefty with four pitches and a knack for throwing strikes. His stuff is above average by pro standards, making him a top prospect for the upcoming draft. While he’s susceptible to a bad start due to his fastball working at the top of the zone, he’s arguably the best bet in college baseball when the stakes are highest.

3. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP, Oklahoma

Junior, 20 years old, 52.0 IP, 2.08 ERA

Continuing the SEC flavor at the top, Kyson Witherspoon brings the most velocity, sitting at 95-98 mph and peaking at 99 mph. There’s a hint of Dylan Cease in his delivery and arsenal, which includes three different breaking balls and the occasional changeup.

4. Jaime Arnold, LHP, Florida State

Junior, 21 years old, 41.1 IP, 2.40 ERA

Jaime Arnold is the top prospect for the 2025 draft and has performed well this year. However, he hasn’t quite dominated like some of the top college prospect arms of the past. His lower slot creates so much horizontal movement with both his sinker and sweeper that he struggles to hit his spots reliably and stay in the zone.

5. Pico Kohn, LHP, Mississippi State

Senior, 22 years old, 49.2 IP, 3.26 ERA

Pico Kohn is our first pitcher who isn’t a projected first-rounder. He was eligible for last year’s draft but was still recovering from Tommy John surgery. This is his first full healthy season since 2022. Kohn has solid stuff, with a 91-93 mph fastball and an 80-84 mph bullet slider, relying mostly on these two pitches.

6. Cade Obermueller, LHP, Iowa

Junior, 21 years old, 53.2 IP, 2.18 ERA

Cade Obermueller, the son of former big league righty Wes Obermueller, was also eligible for last year’s draft due to his age. After some command issues last year, he’s righted the ship this season and should be an early pick. Like Arnold, he’s a lower slot lefty who gets into the mid-90s and has a knockout sweeper.

7. Liam Peterson, RHP, Florida

Sophomore, 19 years old, 39.2 IP, 3.63 ERA

Liam Peterson isn’t eligible until the 2026 draft, but he was one of the top prep arms in the 2023 draft to get to campus. After a solid freshman year, his numbers now match his big stuff, which has improved since high school. His 94-97 mph heater has hit 99 mph, and his 83-87 mph slider is his best secondary pitch.

8. Joey Volini, LHP, Florida State

Junior, 22 years old, 52.2 IP, 2.39 ERA

Joey Volini attended the same high school as fellow Noles rotation mate Arnold, Jesuit High School in Tampa, which has produced talents like Lance McCullers. Volini was a draft-eligible sophomore last year at USF, but he pitched mostly in relief with middling numbers. This year, he’s thriving as a starter despite similar 88-92 mph velocity.

9. Zach Root, LHP, Arkansas

Junior, 21 years old, 49.2 IP, 3.62 ERA

Zach Root was a high-profile transfer from East Carolina and one of the best prospects to hit the portal. He’s performed as expected this season and should land in the back half of Round 1 of the MLB draft. Root has lively stuff, with a 92-94 mph fastball touching 97 mph, along with a solid slider, curveball, and changeup.

10. Anthony Eyanson, RHP, LSU

Junior, 20 years old, 47.2 IP, 3.78 ERA

Anthony Eyanson was another high-profile transfer, coming from UC San Diego after a solid summer showing where his stuff was livelier in short stints. There’s still plenty of raw talent here, with a 92-94 mph fastball peaking at 96 mph, and strong miss rates on his slider, curveball, and splitter. He’s the clear second-best starter on a loaded LSU pitching staff behind Anderson.

The Next 10

• 11. Trey Beard, LHP, Florida Atlantic
• 12. Joseph Dzierwa, LHP, Michigan State
• 13. Dax Whitney, RHP, Oregon State
• 14. Aidan Knaak, RHP, Clemson
• 15. Marcus Phillips, RHP, Tennessee
• 16. Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville
• 17. Cole Gilley, RHP, Indiana
• 18. Ethan Norby, LHP, East Carolina
• 19. Logan Lunceford, RHP, Wake Forest
• 20. Tyler Bremner, RHP, UC Santa Barbara