IU picked 3rd in D1Baseball's 2025 B1G preseason prediction...

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2025 B1G preseason prediction:

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

IU preseason summary:

Strengths​

Returning six everyday starters from a team that finished atop the Big Ten in runs (482) and total bases (1030) last season, the Hoosiers have a lineup that could once again pace the conference offensively. Three of those carryovers have been starters on two regional teams, establishing a winning culture to pass along to yet another strong recruiting class in Bloomington.

Question Marks​

Not unlike recent roster iterations, this Hoosiers team enters the spring with an established lineup core and uncertainty on who’s going to get the outs on the mound. Luke Sinnard and Connor Foley emerged to answer those questions in recent years, and someone needs to do the same this season for Indiana to be successful. Battle tested transfers Gavin Seebold (Southern Indiana) and Cole Gilley (Indiana State) are two such candidates.

Star Power​

The odds-on favorite for conference player of the year, Devin 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.

Glue Guys​

A two-year starter up the middle, Tyler Cerny has reached double digit home runs in each of his first two seasons and led the conference in doubles last season (24) while flashing highlight reel defensively ability at shortstop. A starter since arriving in Bloomington, senior third baseman Josh Pyne has slashed .304/.365/.453 for his career and his 58 doubles are good for fifth in program history. First baseman Joey Brenczewski’s smooth lefthanded stroke and bat-to-ball skills make him a dangerous run producer. A veteran presence behind the plate, Jake Stadler walked (25) more than he struck out (20) last season and stands out for his ability to manage a pitching staff.

Indiana’s Tyler Cerny (Shotgun Spratling)

Picks to Click​

One of the top arms on Indiana’s 2023 regional final team (when he went 6-1, 2.48 as an All-Big Ten reliever), Ryan Kraft struggled to replicate that success last spring. He may have righted the ship with a tremendous summer, going 6-2, 1.44 with 81 walks and just 10 walks over 56.1 innings as the Pitcher of the Year in the Northwoods League. Second basemen Jasen Oliver hit .285/.362/.529 with 10 home runs while earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, despite not cracking the lineup until a month into the season. Andrew Wiggins has a chance to be a dynamic player for the Hoosiers after posting a 1.011 OPS in part time action last spring.

Top Newcomer​

Mercer has never shied away from playing freshmen, and there are a couple who could make an immediate splash this spring. A highly touted prep product from just outside of Bloomington, Hogan Denny is a natural hitter with an innate ability to barrel the baseball. Another blue-chip recruit, 6-foot-6, 225-pound Jake Hanley, is a big target at first base and looks like a future middle-of-the-order run producer. Louisville transfer Korbyn Dickerson added good weight to his frame and impressed this fall with his reads and instincts in center field.

2025 Outlook​

After leading the Hoosiers to three regionals in five tries, Mercer and company have set the program up for sustained success by stacking one strong recruiting class on top of another. Expect the Hoosiers to be in the mix atop the conference and compete for a regional once again this spring.