Winthrop University Eagles Predicted to Finish Second in Big South D1 Baseball Season
Strong players to watch this season
The Winthrop University Eagles are gearing up for an impressive season as they have been selected to finish second in the Big South Conference, as forecasted by D1 Baseball. This follows the strong performance the Eagles displayed last season. In particular, infielder Jaylen Hernandez is chosen to win Freshman of the Year in the Big South Conference, and sophomore catcher Nicholas Badillo, a standout in the Big South Conference Preseason All-Conference Team just a few weeks ago, is expected to become a top prospect in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Jaylen Hernandez: A rising star
Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Jaylen Hernandez has proven to be a much-watched player since his prep playing days at the highly rated P27 Academy in Lexington, SC. He consistently finished among the top hitters in the state and was lauded for his performance in the Blue Chip Collegiate Baseball League in the summer of 2023.
Nicholas Badillo: A promising catcher
Badillo had a breakthrough freshman campaign in 2023, partaking in 29 games and starting in 26 of them. He led the team in several categories, including a batting average of .360, slugging percentage of .540, and an on-base percentage of .453. Badillo’s stellar performance earned him a spot on the Big South All-Freshman Team, and he was named the Big South Freshman of the Week on March 27th.
Big name MLB prospects
Redshirt junior right-handed pitchers Alex Logusch and Reese Lumpkin are also predicted to be top contenders in this year’s MLB draft. Logusch led the team in pitching with an inning total of 58.1, strikes amounting to 76, and he started 14 games. Logusch’s impressive streak included taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Charlotte on April 25th, 2023, skyrocketing his performance.
Season predictions
Lumpkin, on the other hand, played five games last season. His best performance was a season-high of 1.2 innings pitched with one strikeout at The Citadel on April 4th. With these strong players and the positive predictions for the season, expectations for the Eagles are high. Winthrop accumulated an even 28-28 overall and a more favorable 15-12 in the Big South Conference last season. Fans and players alike are optimistic about the upcoming season.
