Division I NCAA baseball is a sport unlike any other. The highest level of college baseball showcases the talents of student-athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom, embodying the true essence of collegiate athletics.
With its rich history and storied rivalries, D1 baseball creates an atmosphere of passion and pride that unites communities and alumni for generations. The tides can shift minute by minute from the plate and mound.
These are five stars in 2024 who rise up to the occasion and five who may not be who we think they are.
Which NCAA baseball college stars will be studs, and which will fail to meet expectations?
LEGIT: Chase Burns, Wake Forest University
As a junior, Burns has established himself as one of college baseball’s best arms from the mound. Burns arrived at Wake Forest after transferring from Tennessee as one of the top prospects in the 2024 Draft. The right-handed pitcher had just finished third in the nation in strikeout rate (14.6 per nine innings) and was on the 2023 Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list. He was named to the Preseason Second Team All-American by D1 Baseball, Preseason Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game and Preseason First Team All-American by Perfect Game this year ahead of the season. On March 9, he put up a career-high 14 strikeouts against No. 12 Duke University. In less than a year with the Demon Deacons, Burns has made adjustments to his delivery that have helped accentuate his already-electric stuff and allowed him to pitch better than ever.
BUST: Alec Makarewicz, North Carolina State University
The graduate transfer from East Carolina University was met with much fanfare as one of D1 baseball’s best hitters. Makarewicz is a multi-time ACC Player of the Week for his work on offense, but where he falls short is at the third base bag. Makarewicz hit the transfer portal after his starting job in Greenville was taken by hometown hero sophomore Dixon Williams. With the season about halfway over, Makarewicz has been hitting lights out, creating 13 home runs and 46 RBIs. Still, he would’ve found much more success sticking with the Pirates as a designated hitter.
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LEGIT: Trey Yesavage, East Carolina University
Speaking of ECU, the Pirates’ ace is on notice as a future first-round pick in this year’s MLB draft. Yesavage and his teammate Zach Root are on the Golden Spikes watchlist in 2024. D1Baseball named him as the third-best pitcher in all of college baseball coming into this season and has yet to find a loss next to his name on the year. Yesavage was named Preseason First Team All-America Selection by Perfect Game, D1Baseball and NCBWA as well as Preseason Second Team All-America Selection by Baseball America.
He was a consensus selection as the 2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year and 2024 Preseason All-AAC Team. The two-time National Collegiate Team member is not only one of the best pitchers in his conference but the nation as a whole. Against UNC Charlotte, Yesavage threw a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts in six innings, the first no-hitter in school history since… three days earlier.
BUST: Payton Tolle, Texas Christian University
Former Wichita State Shocker Payton Tolle left middle America in search of a higher level of competition. The 6’6 pitcher received much praise in 2023 but hardly heard his name called for accolades after moving on to the Horned Frogs. Tolle’s fall from grace from the mound in 2024 was a disappointment for the former Frisco Classic MVP and All-American. With a season ERA of 3.91, Tolle has a 3-3 record on the year through 50 innings pitched.
LEGIT: Hagan Smith, University of Arkansas
The Razorback junior emerged as the team’s second arm as a true freshman from the mound. As a sophomore in 2023, Smith earned all the accolades a young talent could ask for, including consensus All-American honors, All-SEC First Team, All-SEC Defensive Team, the Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist and the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award Semifinalist. Smith has only built on that legacy, going undefeated so far on the season with an ERA of 1.76. At 42 innings pitched and only 20 hits allowed, Smith is likely to hear his name called early in this year’s MLB draft.
BUST: Jackson Van De Brake, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill’s senior played at JUCO before joining the Tar Heels. As a second-year man for UNC, the infielder has been lackluster so far compared to his 2022 season. In 79 plate appearances, Van De Brake only has eight hits and three RBIs. Compared to last season’s stats, he’s on pace to produce 42 fewer RBIs than he did as a junior with only a .133 batting average. It’s difficult to see how this could be spun into a positive for the young man who’s fought so hard to get to where he is.
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LEGIT: Carter Cunningham, East Carolina University
The second legit Pirate is the face of the school’s 2024 team. Cunningham is having a breakout season to what was already a stellar career. In 58 fewer at-bats, Cunningham is one RBI shorter of his total in 2023, eight hits short of his total in 2023, tied in home runs for the best season of his career and has a season batting average of .398. Coming into the season, the college baseball player was named to the Preseason All-Conference team and was listed as one of the top 50 first basemen in NCAA baseball. Since then, his stock has skyrocketed.
BUST: Jason DeCaro, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
If you can’t tell, I’m not very high on the Tar Heels product in 2024. DeCaro is a true freshman, and while that may not be fair for this list, anyone is eligible for criticism. The young buck on the mound has started all nine of his appearances and has a 2-1 record in mid-week games. Coming out of high school, DeCaro was the fifth-ranked prospect in the state of New York before committing to UNC. The 6’5 18-year-old is posting an ERA of 3.66 in the big leagues, allowing 38 hits and 21 runs in 46 innings pitched. While he still has time to develop, DeCaro’s not off to a hot start.
LEGIT: Jac Caglianone, University of Florida
A true Italian American success story, Caglianone does it all. From first base, to designated hitter to starting pitcher, Caglianone is maybe my favorite player in college baseball. While the team as a whole has faced underwhelming success, Caglianone has been electric offensively and defensively. He is 3-0 as a starter for the Gators, starting all seven games he’s pitched. In half his total at-bats from last season, Caglianone is on pace to break every hitting stat record in his career. With a .396 ERA, Caglianone is a stud to keep an eye on not just in college, but at the next level too.
BUST: Tyler Corbitt, Clemson University
Corbitt spent three years with the Citadel before coming to the big orange of South Carolina. After starting in 2023, Corbitt has taken a back seat on the Clemson roster. Batting an alarming career low of .148, Corbitt has only one RBI on the year. It looks like the team’s ready to move on from him in the wake of a stellar season, leaving Corbitt in the dust with numbers that are a sore sight for the once-good D1 player.
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