By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The Ohio Valley Conference officially released its preseason players to watch and predicted order of finish for the 2025 baseball season Thursday morning, with Tennessee Tech well represented on both accounts.
The purple and gold were selected to finish third in the league in a preseason vote of OVC head baseball coaches and communications directors, falling behind only defending tournament champion Southeast Missouri and defending regular-season champ Little Rock.
Backed by the league's top pitching staff last season, the Golden Eagles tied for fifth in the final regular season standings while finishing the year 29-26 overall and 13-14 in OVC action. The Golden Eagles return a plethora of arms from last season, led by junior righty Jaxson Pease and a trio of OVC All-Freshman Team members in right-handed sophomores Jack Brafa, Drew Mattox, and Juan Vargas.
With the bats, senior outfielder Nicho Jordan leads the group as Tech's OVC Preseason Player to Watch. The veteran slugger battled through some injury last season, but still enters the 2025 campaign as the team's returning leader in batting average, runs, hits, triples, RBI, slugging percentage, walks, and on-base percentage.
Jordan slashed .275/.418/.458 a year ago, primarily manning center field, but also serving as the team's first baseman during a stretch of injuries at the position. Last season, Jordan accumulated 42 hits and 42 runs while playing 46 of the team's 55 games, driving in 37 behind seven doubles, three triples, and six long balls.
Joining the slugging outfielder as key returners to the lineup include experienced infielders Eddie Garza and Preston Steele, speedy senior outfielder Jackson Green, and another OVC All-Freshman Team honoree in Mack Whitcomb.
The purple and gold boast a healthy crop of new faces for 2025 as well, led by the likes of a strong group of transfers and incoming freshmen. New arms such as Jared Herzog, Garrett Holpuch, Patrick Johnson, and Lucas Vega all expect to make immediate impacts on the mound after transferring to Cookeville, as do outfielder Jorsixt Jimenez and catcher Riley Black.
Rookie arms Carter Casabella, Logan Moller, and Jaxon Pridgen all highlight an impressive group ready to contribute immediately while the lineup will have plenty of options to choose from on the youth side. Redshirt freshmen Jackson Rooker, Luke Bragga, Owen Lee, and Greyson Madonia hope to build off a year of learning and contribute from opening day.
The Golden Eagles will officially kick off the 2025 campaign on Friday, Feb. 14 by opening a four-game series with Le Moyne at 3:00 p.m. CT at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. and wraps up Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. finale. Admission to all Tech home baseball games is free of charge and open to the public.
Photo by Jim Dillon
