Men's College World Series 2025 players talk toughest opponent, favorite venue and more
OMAHA, Neb. — Eight teams descended on Omaha for the 2025 College World Series. On Thursday, following a short workout at Charles Schwab Field, the players met with the media in an informal setting.
I grabbed a few from each team to ask them a series of questions about their toughest opponent, their favorite venue, their head coach and more.
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The sweeping takeaways: Everybody wants to play shortstop, most position players think they can pitch, but not all pitchers think they can hit. Also, everybody loves their coach (or at least says they do).
Let's get going.
Dalton Beck, P/OF, LSU: Probably Nate Snead at Tennessee. Either him or the sidearm guy from Alabama, Carson Ozmer.
Logan de Groot, OF, UCLA: The lefty reliever from ASU, Cole Carlon.
Daniel Dickinson, 2B, LSU: Jared Spencer from Texas.
Kasen Khansarinia, UTL, UCLA: Jason Reitz from Oregon. He's like 6-11. Their Sunday guy.
Matt Klein, C, Louisville: Jared Spencer for Texas, the Friday guy.
Dustin Mercer, OF, Murray State: The guy we faced last at Duke, (James) Tallon. He was pretty dang good. And Mason Morris from Ole Miss was up there as well.
Steven Milam, SS, LSU: Liam Doyle (Tennessee).
Zion Rose, OF, Louisville: I'd give it to Jamie Arnold (Florida State).
Tommy Splaine, 1B, Arizona: Ryan Prager at (Texas) A&M.
Chris Stanfield, OF, LSU: I'd say Liam Doyle.
Easton Talt, OF, Oregon State: Jamie Arnold was really tough for FSU.
Justin Thomas Jr., OF, Arkansas: That's tough. Kade Anderson (LSU).
Gavin Turley, OF, Oregon State: Off recent memory, I'd have to say Jamie Arnold. He was pretty nasty.
Aaron Walton, OF, Arizona: Ryan Prager, from A&M. And the Mississippi State bullpen was incredible. I don't remember their names, but they were all lights out.
Josh Alger, RHP, UCLA: Leadoff hitter for Michigan (Benjamin Casillas).
Jaxon Appelman, RHP, Coastal Carolina: The kid from Wake Forest, the shortstop, Marek Houston.
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Arkansas: Slate Alford from Georgia. He's a tough at-bat.
Wyatt Danilowicz, LHP, Louisville: Brendan Summerhill of Arizona.
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Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville: Max Belyeu from Texas. He was a tough guy to get out. That was our first game of the year. He had a few hits off me.
Jacob Hustedde, RHP, Murray State: Probably Judd Utermark at Ole Miss.
Luke Jones, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Cam Cannarella, from Clemson.
Nelson Keljo, LHP, Oregon State: Alex Lodise (Florida State).
Matthew Potok, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Probably Ike Irish (Auburn).
Mason Russell, LHP, Arizona: Zion Rose at Louisville.
Josh Alger, RHP, UCLA: I was very impressed by Maryland early in the year. Very impressed.
Jaxon Appleman, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Definitely Wake Forest. They are always a fight for us.
Dalton Beck, P/OF, LSU: Honestly, Little Rock. You can go back and look at our game — it was a dogfight. We have a lot of respect for Little Rock. They made us earn all 27 outs.
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Arkansas: Probably Vanderbilt. Very well coached.
Phoenix Call, 2B, UCLA: Oregon was pretty good. I thought UCI was really good. Cal Irvine, very good team.
Chase Clatur, RHP, Murray State: Definitely Georgia Tech.
Wyatt Danilowicz, LHP, Louisville: Probably Florida State or Miami.
Logan de Groot, OF, UCLA: Probably Oregon.
Daniel Dickinson, 2B, LSU: Probably Tennessee.
Kane Elmy, RHP, Murray State: Ole Miss. They were a tough squad.
Max Fraser, LHP, Oregon State: Oklahoma.
Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville: Florida State.
Kingsley Guthrie, C, Murray State: Georgia Tech.
Jacob Hustedde, RHP, Murray State: Probably Kentucky.
Aiden Jimenez, RHP, Arkansas: Florida was very solid. Tennessee was very good, too.
Luke Jones, RHP, Coastal Carolina: I thought Southern Miss was really good, just a hard lineup. Really good, one through nine.
Nelson Keljo, LHP, Oregon State: Florida State.
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Kasen Khansarinia, UTL, UCLA: Either Vanderbilt or Oregon. Both very good teams. Complete teams.
Matt Klein, C, Louisville: Hard not to say Texas, but we also played Florida State and North Carolina. All three of them were pretty good.
Roman Martin, 3B, UCLA: I'd say Oregon.
Dustin Mercer, OF, Murray State: I think Georgia Tech was a relly good squad.
Steven Milam, SS, LSU: Tennessee.
Elliott Peterson, C, Arkansas: Vanderbilt.
Matthew Potok, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Auburn.
Danny Rollins, C, Murray State: Georgia Tech, for sure.
Zion Rose, OF, Louisville: Wake Forest.
Mason Russell, LHP, Arizona: Tennessee.
Tommy Splaine, 1B, Arizona: North Carolina.
Chris Stanfield, OF, LSU: Tennessee.
Easton Talt, OF, Oregon State: FSU was really good. Virginia was good. I'll say Oklahoma. They had two really good starting pitchers. That is my answer.
Justin Thomas Jr., OF, Arkansas: Tennessee.
Gavin Turley, OF, Oregon State: I'd say Florida State.
Aaron Walton, OF, Arizona: Tennessee.
Josh Alger, RHP, UCLA: Purdue's field was super nice. I liked that.
Jaxon Appelman, RHP, Coastal Carolina: I'm a freshman. I just got here. I really like ODU's new stadium. I thought it was very nice. Nice little area.
Dalton Beck, P/OF, LSU: I'll say Texas A&M. It's funny with their student section being on top of you. You can hear everything.
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Arkansas: I liked Florida a lot.
Phoenix Call, 2B, UCLA: I loved Purdue. Really nice surface.
Chase Clatur, RHP, Murray State: Ole Miss for sure. The atmosphere was electric.
Wyatt Danilowicz, LHP, Louisville: Clemson was a really cool environment.
Logan de Groot, OF, UCLA: Oregon.
Daniel Dickinson, 2B, LSU: Auburn.
Kane Elmy, RHP, Murray State: Let's go with Indiana State.
Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville: I liked Clemson's field a lot.
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Max Fraser, LHP, Oregon State: Cal Poly. That was really fun.
Kingsley Guthrie, C, Murray State: Ole Miss.
Jacob Hustedde, RHP, Murray State: Ole Miss. That was pretty cool.
Aiden Jimenez, RHP, Arkansas: LSU was pretty cool.
Luke Jones, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Auburn. It was really nice.
Nelson Keljo, LHP, Oregon State: Arizona.
Kasen Khansarinia, UTL, UCLA: I might say Oregon again. Playing Nebraska here (at Charles Schwab Field at the Big Ten tournament) might not count, but that was a great environment.
Matt Klein, C, Louisville: I'd say Florida State from last year.
Roman Martin, 3B, UCLA: Probably have to be Oregon. I like playing at Oregon.
Dustin Mercer, OF, Murray State: Swayze (at Ole Miss). No doubt about it. It was incredible.
Steven Milam, SS, LSU: Mississippi State.
Elliott Peterson, C, Arkansas: LSU.
Matthew Potok, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Auburn or UNC. I like UNC's field a lot.
Danny Rollins, C, Murray State: Ole Miss. That place gets loud.
Zion Rose, OF, Louisville: I like Clemson. And FSU.
Tommy Splaine, 1B, Arizona: West Virginia.
Chris Stanfield, OF, LSU: Mississippi State.
Easton Talt, OF, Oregon State: UCLA was really cool. I had never been there. I was injured when we went there my freshman year.
Justin Thomas Jr., OF, Arkansas: Definitely LSU.
Gavin Turley, OF, Oregon State: I really liked playing at Nebraska..
Aaron Walton, OF, Arizona: West Virginia was a cool atmosphere. They had a lot of fans there.
Josh Alger, RHP, UCLA: I'd be an outfielder.
Jaxon Appelman, RHP, Coastal Carolina: I would definitely say center field. I like to run out there and catch fly balls and make some diving plays.
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Arkansas: Shortstop, no doubt.
Phoenix Call, 2B, UCLA: I play center field, too. That is where my heart is.
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Chase Clatur, RHP, Murray State: I played left field in high school, so left field.
Wyatt Danilowicz, LHP, Louisville: Center field.
Logan de Groot, OF, UCLA: Probably third base.
Daniel Dickinson, 2B, LSU: Shortstop.
Kane Elmy, RHP, Murray State: Third base. That's where I played in high school.
Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville: I was an outfielder my freshman year and then I switched over to pitcher last year. So I'd say outfield. It's pretty fun.
Max Fraser, LHP, Oregon State: First base.
Kingsley Guthrie, C, Murray State: Pitcher.
Jacob Hustedde, RHP, Murray State: Probably center field. I played the outfield in high school.
Aiden Jimenez, RHP, Arkansas: Shortstop.
Luke Jones, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Probably shortstop. That's where I played in high school.
Nelson Keljo, LHP, Oregon State: Left field.
Kasen Khansarinia, UTL, UCLA: I'd be a pitcher.
Matt Klein, C, Louisville: First base.
Roman Martin, 3B, UCLA: Shortstop.
Dustin Mercer, OF, Murray State: I would like to think I would be a pitcher.
Steven Milam, SS, LSU: Center field.
Elliott Peterson, C, Arkansas: Shortstop.
Matthew Potok, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Probably third base. I like to think I could field a little bit.
Zion Rose, OF, Louisville: Catcher.
Mason Russell, LHP, Arizona: Outfield, for sure.
Tommy Splaine, 1B, Arizona: Pitcher.
Chris Stanfield, OF, LSU: Shortstop.
Easton Talt, OF, Oregon State: I was a catcher my freshman year. I'd say shortstop so I could do something different.
Justin Thomas Jr., OF, Arkansas: Definitely shortstop.
Gavin Turley, OF, Oregon State: I wish I played shortstop.
Aaron Walton, OF, Arizona: I'd want to play shortstop.
Phoenix Call, 2B, UCLA: Definitely. For sure. No doubt. I have faith in myself.
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Logan de Groot, OF, UCLA: Yeah, I think I could. I could throw strikes and maybe get a few guys out.
Daniel Dickinson, 2B, LSU: Absolutely.
Kingsley Guthrie, C, Murray State: Yes. 100 percent.
Kasen Khansarinia, UTL, UCLA: Absolutely. I pitched in high school. I think I could.
Matt Klein, C, Louisville: I could go out there and throw strikes. It just depends on when they pull me. I'd give up runs, but I'd throw strikes
Roman Martin, 3B, UCLA: Yes. Easy.
Dustin Mercer, OF, Murray State: Yes. I have thrown two innings this year. So, yes!
Steven Milam, SS, LSU: Yes.
Elliott Peterson, C, Arkansas: Not at this level, no.
Danny Rollins, C, Murray State: I think I could get through an inning. I'm pretty crafty.
Zion Rose, OF, Louisville: No, not at all.
Tommy Splaine, 1B, Arizona: I'd say no. These guys work way too hard. It's not that easy.
Chris Stanfield, OF, LSU: Yes. I believe.
Easton Talt, OF, Oregon State: Oh, for sure. I've been telling my pitching coach all year to let me on the mound.
Justin Thomas Jr., OF, Arkansas: Easily. I definitely could.
Aaron Walton, OF, Arizona: No, no shot. Absolutely not.
Josh Alger, RHP, UCLA: I think so. For sure. I think I could do it.
Jaxon Appelman, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Yeah, I would say so. I was a decent hitter in high school. I could go out there and get some hits.
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Arkansas: I was a pretty good hitter in high school, so I think I could.
Chase Clatur, RHP, Murray State: Probably not.
Wyatt Danilowicz, LHP, Louisville: No. But I hit a little bit in high school. If you gave me a little bit of time, I'd like to think I could figure something out.
Kane Elmy, RHP, Murray State: I feel like I could handle the position on defense, but I don't think I could hit .200.
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Luke Jones, RHP, Coastal Carolina: I could hit .300.
Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville: Yes, I could. I did my freshman year.
Max Fraser, LHP, Oregon State: I don't know about against Omaha pitching. But put me in some midweeks and I've got a chance for sure.
Jacob Hustedde, RHP, Murray State: Oh no way. Not a chance. I wish.
Aiden Jimenez, RHP, Arkansas: Do I have to hit in the SEC? I could pull out .200 I think.
Nelson Keljo, LHP, Oregon State: Yes.
Matthew Potok, RHP, Coastal Carolina: Probably not. I think I would hit a home run, but probably wouldn't hit .200.
Josh Alger, RHP, UCLA: He's actually funny. He might come off as very serious, but he's actually very funny.
Jaxon Appelman, RHP, Coastal Carolina: He's a really funny guy. People don't know this, but Kevin Schnall is a very funny guy.
Dalton Beck, P/OF, LSU: He lives, breathes, eats baseball. He is always thinking about the next pitch, the next play, what he can do to help us prepare. He basically lives in his office.
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Arkansas: He's got triplet grandkids. They were born just about the time I was being recruited here, so he had to miss part of my visit for that.
Phoenix Call, 2B, UCLA: He's funny. He's serious. But he's funny.
Logan de Groot, OF, UCLA: The guy is the hardest worker I've ever seen. Scouting reports. I don't think he ever sleeps.
Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville: The competitiveness is something that everyone sees in the program, but he has a nice side. He's a really good guy.
Jacob Hustedde, RHP, Murray State: He's a really lovable guy. On the outside, he has a hard shell, but he's really a nice guy on the inside.
Aiden Jimenez, RHP, Arkansas: He's funny.
Luke Jones, RHP, Coastal Carolina: He gets emotional. He shows himself as a hard guy, but he loves us and he gets emotional from time to time.
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Nelson Keljo, LHP, Oregon State: He's a good golfer.
Matt Klein, C, Louisville: He has a soft side for his dogs.
Roman Martin, 3B, UCLA: He has zero hobbies. He just does baseball.
Dustin Mercer, OF, Murray State: People have started to catch on, but just how good of a guy he is. He loves us. The connections we build with him, not a lot of players have that. I love that.
Steven Milam, SS, LSU: His jokes are really funny.
Elliott Peterson, C, Arkansas: He's a stud.
Matthew Potok, RHP, Coastal Carolina: He's a Jersey guy. People think he's from (the South), but he's a Jersey guy. A lot of us are Jersey guys, so we have a connection.
Zion Rose, OF, Louisville: He's actually a really funny guy. He has good comedic timing.
Mason Russell, LHP, Arizona: I think he's very superstitious.
Tommy Splaine, 1B, Arizona: He's definitely the best husband and family man out there.
Chris Stanfield, OF, LSU: He loves Fleming's (the restaurant).
Aaron Walton, OF, Arizona: He's funny. He is a great guy to be around. We like hanging out with him. He's awesome.
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