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Time of India
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Report: Wake Forest's Marek Houston could be Braves' game-changing first-round pick
Report: Wake Forest's Marek Houston could be Braves' game-changing first-round pick (Image via Getty) The 2025 MLB Draft is just around the corner and teams are now finalizing their plans. One of the surprising shifts comes from the Atlanta Braves. A new MLB Pipeline mock draft by expert Jim Callis suggests that the Braves might finally turn their attention to hitting, after years of focusing mostly on pitching talent. Braves may focus on offense after years of pitching picks On Monday, June 3, 2025, Jim Callis released a full mock draft on MLB Pipeline. In this list, he predicted that the Atlanta Braves will pick shortstop Marek Houston from Wake Forest University with the 22nd overall pick. This is big news because the Braves have not picked a position player in the first round since 2019, when they took Shea Langeliers and Braden Shewmake. Since then, Atlanta has mostly gone for pitchers. In the last five years, their top picks were all arms — Jared Shuster in 2020, Ryan Cusick in 2021, Owen Murphy and JR Ritchie in 2022, Hurston Waldrep in 2023, and Cam Caminiti in 2024. Report: Wake Forest's Marek Houston could be Braves' game-changing first-round pick While Shuster was traded to the Chicago White Sox in the Aaron Bummer deal and Cusick went to Oakland Athletics in the Matt Olson trade, the rest are still developing in the Braves' minor league system. This possible move toward offense shows a clear shift in strategy for Atlanta in 2025. Also Read: Tensions Boil As Wake Forest Coach Appears To Yell At Tennessee Star Andrew Fischer Before Home Run Marek Houston's profile stands out as a top college hitter Marek Houston, a shortstop for Wake Forest, had a strong season in 2025. He played 61 games and hit .354 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 66 RBIs, and 46 walks. His ability to hit for contact and show more power this season makes him an attractive pick. Houston played well during Wake Forest's run in the NCAA Regionals, adding important hits in key moments. He is known more for his glove, though. According to he has great defensive tools, with a 60 grade fielding score and 55 grade arm. 'He's a smooth shortstop with great instincts and range,' Callis wrote in the mock draft. 'He fits the Braves' model of strong up-the-middle defense.' If Houston is picked before the Braves can draft him, Jim Callis said they might go for Wehiwa Aloy, a powerful shortstop from Arkansas, or high school pitcher Kruz Schoolcraft. The Braves are clearly in need of a good shortstop, and for the first time in years, they may be ready to draft one in the first round.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Big fan': Braves legend Chipper Jones lauds Coastal Carolina baseball coach
The Coastal Carolina University baseball team, and its current run toward the College World Series, has caught the eye of an Atlanta Braves legend. Chipper Jones, the switch-hitting third baseman who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, praised the team and its coach Tuesday in a social media post that was critical of other teams vying for playoff spots. Advertisement 'Spent quite a bit of time watching college baseball this weekend,' Jones wrote on 'I will only watch a select few teams from here on out. Reason? They have coaches that respect the game and their opponents and demand the same of their players. Any team that doesn't wear the uni correctly, taunts the other team, and has a coach that condones this behavior, is a disgrace to the game. 'Big fan of coach Schnall at Coastal Carolina! Him and his team represent what college baseball should be like. Well done, sir! U stand for proper behavior.' Kevin Schnall, in his first year as CCU head coach, made headlines this week criticizing the actions of University of Florida baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan, who was caught on video berating staff at the NCAA Regionals in Conway this past weekend. Advertisement 'I have to say this, and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to or not, but I believe in standing up to for what's right, and what transpired this morning on our field, another coach disrespected our associate AD, who works as hard as anybody in our entire program, he disrespected our field crew, who are the salt of the earth, these guys would do anything for our program, it's not okay,' Schnall said. 'And this needs to be brought up. Absolutely disrespectful.' O'Sullivan has since issued a statement apologizing for his behavior. CCU advanced out of the region that included Florida, East Carolina University and Fairfield University. They will play Auburn University beginning Friday in a best-of-three series to determine which team advances to the College World Series.
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Meet the 10 finalists for the 2025 Haskins Award, men's college golf's Player of the Year
Meet the 10 finalists for the 2025 Haskins Award, men's college golf's Player of the Year And then there were 10. After NCAA Regionals concluded Wednesday, the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship field is set for May 23-28 at Omni La Costa's North Course in Carlsbad, California. With one tournament left in the 2024-25 men's college golf season, the best players across the country have separated themselves from the rest, but only one can win the Haskins Award. The Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel honors the Player of the Year in men's college golf, as selected by college golfers, coaches and members of the college golf media. Finalists for the Haskins Award were selected by a panel of Golfweek and Golf Channel reporters. They are listed alphabetically. If you fit one of the listed criteria above, here's a link to cast your vote: More: Meet the teams, individuals who advanced to the 2025 NCAA Div. I Men's Golf Championship Meet the 10 finalists for the 2025 Haskins Award: Josele Ballester, Arizona State Class: Senior Wins: 1 (Fighting Illini) Top-10 finishes: 5 Stroke play events: 8 Ranking: No. 9 Luke Clanton, Florida State Class: Junior Wins: 4 (Watersound, Seminole Intercollegiate, Lewis Chitengwa, NCAA Tallahassee Regional) Top-10 finishes: 7 Stroke play events: 10 Ranking: No. 3 David Ford, North Carolina Class: Senior Wins: 5 (Ben Hogan, Williams Cup, Valspar, Augusta Haskins, Tar Heel) Top-10 finishes: 9 Stroke play events: 13 Ranking: No. 1 Ben James, Virginia Class: Junior Wins: 1 (Valero) Top-10 finishes: 7 Stroke play events: 10 Ranking: No. 12 Jackson Koivun, Auburn Class: Sophomore Wins: 3 (Inverness, SEC Championship, NCAA Auburn Regional) Top-10 finishes: 9 Stroke play events: 12 Ranking: No. 2 Michael La Sasso, Ole Miss Class: Junior Wins: 2 (Hamptons, Old Waverly) Top-10 finishes: 6 Stroke play events: 11 Ranking: No. 4 Christiaan Maas, Texas Class: Junior Wins: 1 (Pauma Valley) Top-10 finishes: 8 Stroke play events: 12 Ranking: No. 8 Phichaksn Maichon, Texas A&M Class: Senior Wins: 2 (SeaBest, Aggie Invitational) Top-10 finishes: 9 Stroke play events: 13 Ranking: No. 20 Preston Stout, Oklahoma State Class: Sophomore Wins: 2 (Cabo, Big 12 Championship) Top-10 finishes: 7 Stroke play events: 12 Ranking: No. 7 Brendan Valdes, Auburn Class: Senior Wins: 1 (General James Hackler) Top-10 finishes: 7 Stroke play events: 12 Ranking: No. 6
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
D1Baseball examines Auburn's postseason picture ahead of Ole Miss series
D1Baseball examines Auburn's postseason picture ahead of Ole Miss series Will a series win at Ole Miss solidify Auburn as a regional host? The final series of the regular season is on the horizon, and the postseason picture for the Auburn Tigers is becoming clearer. The No. 6 Tigers, who have won five straight games and eight of their last 10, head to No. 25 Ole Miss this weekend for a crucial series not only for SEC Tournament seeding, but for the right to nail down a host spot in the NCAA Regionals. Heading into the series, D1Baseball projects Auburn to take the No. 7 overall seed, putting them in a great place to host regional, as well as its first-ever super regional before making its way to Omaha for the College World Series. D1Baseball's Field of 64 gives Auburn a solid field, with Duke, Troy, and Fairfield projected to flock to Plainsman Park for the regional round beginning in two weeks. Duke and Troy are ranked in the top 40 of the latest RPI from D1Baseball, while Fairfield, the expected automatic qualifier from the MAAC, ranks No. 88. Although tough, the projected field benefits Auburn. The Tigers are 5-1 against quad-2 teams this season, which fits Duke and Troy, and boast a 10-1 record against quad-3 teams such as Fairfield. Duke is 9-9 against quad-1 teams, while Troy is 3-5. One of Troy's five quad-1 losses came to Auburn on Feb. 18 at Plainsman Park, 7-6. Fairfield has not played against a team from quad-1 this season. Auburn will look to boost its postseason stock this weekend when it travels to Ole Miss for a three-game SEC set. Game one is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UNC baseball dominates Campbell as 2025 regular season wraps up
As the UNC baseball team wraps up the regular season portion of its 2025 schedule, the race for a top seed in NCAA Regionals heats up. North Carolina, currently third in a loaded ACC, welcomed in-state rival Campbell University to Boshamer Stadium on Tuesday night. The Camels are in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for a second-consecutive year, but still posed a solid challenge to the Diamond Heels. Advertisement Only leading Campbell 3-1 after the fifth inning, UNC distanced itself with seven runs in the succeeding two innings, winning 10-1 for its fourth-straight victory. Though Jason DeCaro enjoyed another strong outing for North Carolina (36-10, 15-9 ACC), earning the win with six strikeouts and one run through five innings, the Diamond Heels' bullpen was perfect. Ryan Lynch relieved DeCaro with two perfect innings, Camron Seagraves struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth, then Cale Bolton tossed a perfect ninth. Every UNC batter had either a hit, run or RBI, with designated hitter Rom Kellis leading the charge. Kellis mashed three hits in four plate appearances, driving in three runs and scoring twice more. Kellis' 2-run, sixth-inning extended North Carolina's advantage to 5-1, he drove in Alex Madera on a seventh-inning, then later scored on a wild pitch. Advertisement Madera opened the Diamond Heels' scoring barrage in the third inning, scoring on a throwing error by Campbell second baseman Jonah Oster. UNC capitalized on its opportunities at the dish, scoring 10 runs on nine hits. North Carolina now enters its toughest stretch to close out its regular season, playing its final two series against NC State (May 8, 9, 11) and Florida State (May 15, 16, 17), the lone two teams ahead of North Carolina in the ACC standings. In between both series, the Diamond Heels will face UNC-Wilmington May 13, in their final home game. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC baseball beats Campbell, 10-1, bullpen and bats emerge late
