Congratulations
to all eight teams for making the 2015 College World Series. There
aren't any surprises in this year's field as all eight teams were
initially ranked in Perfect Game's preseason Top 25 team rankings, including each of the
top four teams and six of the top 10.
Preseason Rankings:
Vanderbilt
(1)
Virginia
(2)
Texas
Christian (3)
Florida
(4)
Louisiana
State (7)
Miami
(10)
Arkansas
(16)
Cal
State Fullerton (19)
Listed
below are detailed synopsis' of each of the eight teams, including a
brief comment from the preseason Top 25 team-by-team capsules, how
they got to Omaha and what gives them the best chance to win it all.
Saturday
Bracket
Arkansas
vs. Virginia
Saturday,
June 13, 2:00 p.m. CT
Florida
vs. Miami
Saturday,
June 13, 2:00 p.m. CT
The
winners of each game and the losers of each game will play one
another on Monday, June 15.
Arkansas
Razorbacks – 40-23
Preseason
Prognostication:
If
recent history has taught us anything it’s that Arkansas is not a
team to underestimate. They have a tendency to buck expectations, get
contributions from unexpected places and make adjustments as the
season moves along. In other words, they are as well coached and
prepared under Head Coach Dave Van Horn as any team in the nation.
Zach Jackson (Photo: Walt Beazley - Arkansas Communications)
How
they got to Omaha:
Won
Stillwater Regional (3-0)
Won
Fayetteville Super Regional (2-1)
Why
they got to Omaha:
In
Dave Van Horn we trust. Van Horn has now taken a team to the CWS for
the sixth time since 2001 which leads all active SEC coaches. This
team features an older position player group with sketchy pitching
which is diametrically opposed to the Arkansas program formula of
late. Ever since starting the season 11-12, the Razorbacks have been
one of the country's hottest teams. This is a team that has won games
in many different ways and its Super Regional offensive output ranged
from 18 runs one day to merely one hit the next. This group simply
finds a way to win and this may be Dave Van Horn's best coaching job
to date.
Who's
Hot:
Tyler
Spoon may have saved his best for last. Spoon has nine hits in the
NCAA tournament including two doubles and a home run. The redshirt
junior outfielder also tallied six runs scored and eight RBI in those
six games. Closer Zach Jackson is the unquestioned postseason MVP for
Arkansas. Jackson has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings with a
ridiculous 17 strikeouts. He earned two saves in the Stillwater
Regional and then pitched the final 3 2/3 innings of game three of
the Super Regional to clinch Omaha for the Razorbacks.
Concerns:
Starting
pitching has been a concern for the Razorbacks the entire year and it
remains as such. Trey Killian admirably takes the ball in every game
one but his stuff is not nearly as dominant as it was in his freshman
season two years ago. Freshman Keaton McKinney has seemingly run out
of gas as he has averaged just 3 2/3 innings per start over his last
five outings and James Teague is out for the rest of the year. Dominic Taccolini hasn't pitched since the SEC
Tournament as he recovers from tendonitis. Arkansas will continue to
depend on the contributions of unsung hero Jackson
Lowery.
Marquee
Matchup:
Arkansas
facing Virginia in the first game will feature two of America's best
closers, Zach Jackson and Josh Sborz, as it will be crucial for
either team to secure a lead in the first six innings of the game as
both closers can go six outs or more. While both throw hard their
overall profiles are different, as Jackson comes more over-the-top in
his delivery with a true downer curveball. On the season he is 5-0
with nine saves and a 1.91 ERA, working 56 2/3 innings in 25
appearances, all but three coming in relief. His 87 strikeouts and
.185 opponent's batting average may speak best to his dominance.
Draft
Impact:
Players
taken in the 2015 MLB Draft (round, team)
• Andrew
Benintendi (1, Red Sox)
• Trey
Killian (9, Rockies)
• Bobby
Wernes (30, Astros)
• Tyler
Spoon (35, Red Sox)
Florida
Gators – 49-16
Preseason
prognostication:
If
there’s a team out there that had to be classified as having the
roster with the most potential, Florida may very well be that team …
While it’s true that
some of Florida’s most relied upon talent may not have long track
records, the pieces are clearly in place for them to be a dangerous
national championship contender.
J.J. Schwarz (Photo: Tim Casey)
How
they got to Omaha:
Won
Gainesville Regional (3-0)
Won
Gainesville Super Regional (2-0)
Why
they got to Omaha:
At
one point earlier in the season Florida was ranked the No. 1 team in
the nation, and while they've slipped down a couple of times, they've
managed to right the ship each time. It's hard to single out any of
the other seven teams that are playing better, as a unit from top to
bottom, than the Gators, who seemingly cruised through their
postseason opponents, kicking things off with a 19-0 thumping over
Florida A&M in Regional play. Any player in the lineup can hurt
you, they have two of the more dangerous starters and a ridiculously
deep bullpen full of arms that throw in the low- to mid-90s.
Who's
Hot:
The
way J.J. Schwarz is hitting the ball we may have to find a much more
complimentary word than “hot.” He clubbed two home runs against
Florida State to help push the Gators to Omaha, and overall is
12-for-20 (.600) with two doubles, four home runs, four walks, 10
runs scored and 11 RBI in five postseason games. The number of potent
bats both ahead and behind him in the lineup makes it very difficult
for teams to pitch around the dynamic young freshman.
Concerns:
Although
sophomore starter A.J. Puk was very sharp down the stretch, he was
fairly inconsistent leading up to the final weeks of the season, and
wasn't as sharp last week giving up four runs (three earned) in only
four innings of work. Getting Puk back on track will be crucial for
the Gators to remain on the winning end of the bracket, although
their offense is dangerous enough to stay in any game.
Marquee
Matchup:
Miami
has somewhat of a one-horse starting staff to go along with arguably
the hottest bullpen of the teams in Omaha, so the quicker the Gators
can jump on Hurricanes ace Andrew Suarez in their first game of the
College World Series could create a ripple effect for the rest of
bracket play.
Draft
Impact:
Players
taken in the 2015 MLB Draft (round, team)
•
Richie Martin (1,
Athletics)
•
Harrison Bader (3,
Cardinals)
•
Eric Hanhold (6,
Brewers)
•
Daniel Young (8, Blue
Jays)
•
Taylor Lewis (9,
Braves)
•
Josh Tobias (10,
Phillies)
•
Bobby Poyner (14, Red
Sox)
•
Michael Vinson (24,
Tigers)
• Aaron
Rhodes (28, Angels)
Miami
Hurricanes – 49-15
Preseason
prognostication:
The
top of the Miami order may be as dangerous as any in the country with
a couple different players that can change the outcome of a game with
a single swing of the bat.
Willie Abreu (Photo: Richard Lewis / Miami Athletics)
How
they got to Omaha:
Won
Coral Gables Regional (3-1)
Won
Coral Gables Super Regional (2-0)
Why
they got to Omaha:
Miami
had one of the more surprising losses in Regional play, as Columbia
beat them 3-0, only to have the Hurricanes storm back in the next
game with a 21-3 beat down to move onto the Super Regionals. Beat
downs are something Miami made commonplace this year, thanks to an
incredibly powerful lineup led by their middle-of-the-order thumpers
in David Thompson and Zack Collins. They very well may be college
baseball's version of the 'Bash Brothers,' as Thompson hit 19 home
runs (tied for the national lead) and 87 RBI (leads the nation), and
Collins wasn't far behind with 15 and 70 respectively.
Who's
Hot:
Abreu
has had three huge games in the postseason, two in Regional play
against Columbia and another in the Supers against VCU. Although his
overall numbers aren't as gaudy as Thompson's and Collins', he's just
as dangerous of a hitter in the Miami lineup. More crucial however has been the success of Miami's bullpen, which has only allowed two runs in 24 1/3
postseason innings. Sidearmer Cooper Hammond, Michael Mediavilla and
Sam Abrams have been particularly dominant leading up to sophomore
closer Bryan Garcia.
Concerns:
Although
Andrew Suarez, who has won both of his postseason starts to move to
9-1 on the year, has been quite good this season after a slow start,
there's a lot of uncertainty after him among Miami's starters. Thomas
Woodrey lasted only two innings in his last start, although Head Coach
Jim Morris does have the luxury of turning to that talented bullpen
earlier than most teams might be able to.
Marquee
Matchup:
Again,
it's the bullpen, and they may be called upon early and often once again
in Omaha facing a very tough opponent in their first game against
in-state rivals Florida. Of course getting a quality start, or
better, from ace Andrew Suarez could help save the staff for a day,
as keeping this unit fresh will be key for a deep CWS run.
Draft
Impact:
Players
taken in the 2015 MLB Draft (round, team)
• Andrew
Suarez (2, Giants)
• David
Thompson (4, Mets)
• George
Iskenderian (7, Brewers)
• Garrett
Kennedy (14, Dodgers)
• Rickky
Eusebio (16, Mariners)
Virginia
Cavaliers – 39-22
Preseason
Prognostication:
After
reaching the College World Series finals last year, Coach Brian
O’Connor and his staff return their entire starting rotation,
though a piece or two has been shuffled around … Nearly half of the
roster is composed of freshman, but with several key pieces
returning and a freshman class that could make an impact immediately,
look for Virginia to go on another run this spring.
Josh Sborz (Photo: Virginia Athletics)
How
they got to Omaha:
Won
Lake Elsinore Regional (3-0)
Won
Charlottesville Super Regional (2-0)
Why
they got to Omaha:
Virginia
has been on an incredible roller coaster ride in 2015. The Cavaliers
were a preseason Top 10 team but they were soon decimated by
injuries. Virginia bottomed out at 10-14 in the ACC with two weeks to
play in the regular season. Their dramatic season found its apex in
the Super Regional as the Cavs scored five runs in the eighth inning
to win game one (overcame a 3-0 deficit) and then scored three runs
in the bottom of the ninth (overcame a 4-2 deficit) to earn a bid to
Omaha with the walkoff win.
Who's
Hot:
Matt
Thaiss is the best hitter in this lineup and he has enjoyed a very
productive NCAA Tournament, hitting .421 in Virginia's five games.
Josh Sborz has been dominant over the last two weekends and he has
been a major factor for Virginia. Sborz has appeared in four of the
Cavaliers' five games and he has yet to allow an earned run through
six innings.
Concerns:
Virginia's
lack of pitching depth is a major concern. This is basically a
four-and-a-half man pitching staff. Connor Jones has been outstanding
but typically struggles with pitch count management. Alex Bettinger
is the wildcard; he has had an excellent year but could not get out
of the first inning of his Regional start. Josh Sborz could be used
as a starter or reliever and the extra days of rest in the CWS format
should help Virginia to maximize him.
Marquee
Matchup:
As
noted above, both the Cavaliers and the Razorbacks have two of the
best closers in the nation, which may create somewhat of a race to
the seventh inning. Sborz, like Jackson, did make three starts this
year, and there's a chance Virginia could turn to him to start one of
their games in Omaha given their aforementioned lack of depth.
However, he can go more than one inning at a time, and has recorded
14 saves this year while allowing only 34 hits in 60 innings of work.
Draft
Impact:
Players
taken in the 2015 MLB Draft (round, team)
• Nathan
Kirby (1s, Brewers)
• Josh
Sborz (2s, Dodgers)
• Joe
McCarthy (5, Rays)
• Brandon
Waddell (5, Pirates)
• John
La Prise (19, Blue Jays)
• Kenny
Towns (20, Angels)
• Daniel
Pinero (36, Tigers)
Sunday
Bracket
Louisiana
State vs. Texas Christian
Sunday,
June 14, 2:00 p.m. CT
Cal
State Fullerton vs. Vanderbilt
Sunday,
June 14, 7:00 p.m. CT
The
winners of each game and the losers of each game will play one
another on Tuesday, June 16.
Cal
State Fullerton Titans – 39-23
Preseason
prognostication:
The
Titans had a difficult 2014 by their standards but they recovered
late in the year and advanced their streak of consecutive NCAA
Regional appearances to 23 straight … If Head Coach Rick Vanderhook
can work his usual magic with this unproven lineup then the Titans
could be a force in the postseason riding the strength of their two
big arms.
David Olmedo-Barrera (Photo: Tim Porco)
How
they got to Omaha:
Won
Fullerton Regional (3-0)
Won
Louisville Super Regional (2-1)
Why
they got to Omaha:
For
a team that was expected to have difficulty finding ways to score
runs this season the red-hot Titans scored 38 runs in their six
postseason games. Not surprisingly they have held their opponents to
only 14 runs during that time. At midseason it looked as though the
Titans may miss the postseason entirely for the first time since
1991, but they quickly regrouped and were dominant through Big West
play, going 19-5 in conference games on their way to knocking off a
very talented Louisville team in Kentucky.
Who's
Hot:
Although
he hasn't factored into the decision in either of his two postseason
starts, Thomas Eshelman has continued his dominance at the college
level, striking out 14 batters in nine innings in an extra-innings
win over Arizona State in Regional play and delivering another seven
strong innings opposite Louisville's Kyle Funkhouser in yet another
extra-innings win, although he did record the save and secure the
victory on Monday to advance to Omaha. Closer Tyler Peitzmeier
picked up the win in all three of those contests, allowing just two
runs in 13 innings of quality relief. At the plate designated hitter
Davi Olmedo-Barrera has gone 9-for-13 in his last four games, which
includes the two home runs he hit in their CWS-clinching win.
Concerns:
Although
it hasn't affected them yet, losing three-year weekend starter Justin
Garza could prove to be a big blow to the Titans. Freshman lefthander
John Gavin has performed admirably all season, although he has only
lasted 2 1/3 and 3 2/3 innings in his two postseason starts. Connor
Seabold has picked up the slack, with six shutout innings to advance
past Pepperdine in Regional play and another solid five innings of
work in their final game against Louisville to advance, but
uncertainty remains past ace Thomas Eshelman, especially if they're
forced into the losers' bracket early in Omaha.
Marquee
Matchup:
Fullerton's
first game in the College World Series will be a fun one to watch as
Eshelman will undoubtedly be handed the ball facing Vanderbilt ace
Carson Fulmer. Eshelman has been particularly dominant down the
stretch. His 8-5 record may not truly indicate that dominance, as he
has gone the distance five times this year while allowing just seven
walks, striking out 131 in 131 1/3 innings of work with a 1.58
ERA.
Draft
Impact:
Players
taken in the 2015 MLB Draft (round, team)
• Thomas
Eshelman (2, Astros)
• Justin
Garza (8, Indians)
• Tyler
Peitzmeier (9, Cubs)
• David
Olmedo-Barrera (12, Rays)
• A.J.
Kennedy (30, Padres)
• Jake
Jefferies (39, Nationals)
Louisiana
State Tigers – 53-10
Preseason
prognostication:
No
team can lose a pitcher of the caliber of Aaron Nola and enter the
next season without feeling at least a slight sting. But LSU is as
well built as any team in the country to withstand such a hit. Armed
with an outstanding crop of freshman pitching, LSU may not be able to
immediately replace Nola but can certainly go a long way to
rebuilding his production in the aggregate … While a pitching staff
populated with so many freshman may be a wildcard, there is no
questioning LSU’s lineup, which should be among the most potent in
the nation.
Jake Fraley (Photo: LSU Athletics)
How
they got to Omaha:
Won
Baton Rouge Regional (3-0)
Won
Baton Rouge Super Regional (2-0)
Why
they got to Omaha:
LSU
has made quick work of their opponents in postseason play as the No.
1 team in the nation continues to roll. They shut out UNC Wilmington
twice to advance to the Supers, and although the scores may not
reflect it, they handled Louisiana fairly easily with a 4-3 win in
their first game and a 6-3 win in their second. Eight of the nine
hitters in their regular starting lineup are hitting above .300, and
four of those have more than 20 stolen bases, allowing them to score
early and often. Freshman Alex Lange and sophomore Jared Poche have
stabilized the starting staff by collectively going 20-1 this season
with ERAs of 1.89 and 2.91 respectively.
Who's
Hot:
Poche
has only allowed one run to score in his two postseason starts
spanning 16 1/3 innings, while Lange has double-digit strikeouts (12
and 11) in his two starts, one of which being a complete game shutout
over UNC Wilmington in Regional play. And although left fielder Jake
Fraley went 0-for-4 in his last game, he had multi-hit games in each
of his four other postseason games, going 9-for-20 (.450) overall,
which included a big two-run home run in LSU's 4-3 win over
Louisiana.
Concerns:
After
Poche and Lange the Tigers use a committee approach in games one of
those two don't start. While they have plenty of depth in their
bullpen to effectively handle this, there is some uncertainty should
LSU lose one of their first two games and be forced to survive out of
the losers' bracket.
Marquee
Matchup:
The
Tigers will be facing a tough matchup in their first College World
Series game, facing TCU and their deep and talented pitching staff.
Advancing to the winners' bracket will be key for the Tigers, who
could cruise if they can avoid a game early in which they have to use
a Johnny Wholestaff approach.
Draft
Impact:
Players
taken in the 2015 MLB Draft (round, team)
• Alex
Bregman (1, Astros)
• Andrew
Stevenson (2, Nationals)
• Kade
Scivicque (4, Tigers)
• Jared
Foster (5, Angels)
• Zac
Person (9, Astros)
• Conner
Hale (9, Mariners)
• Chris
Chinea (17, Cardinals)
Texas
Christian Horned Frogs – 49-13
Preseason
prognostication:
Even
with the departure of CWS and MLB World Series standout Brandon
Finnegan, TCU has incredible pitching depth, and are the one team in
the nation that could match up with Vanderbilt and Virginia
arm-for-arm. Senior ace and the reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Year
Preston Morrison is back to lead the staff, and while he may not
throw hard, he regularly carves up opposing hitters with impeccable
command and one of college baseball's best changeups.
Cody Jones (Photo: TCU Athletics)
How
they got to Omaha:
Won
Fort Worth Regional (4-1)
Won
Fort Worth Super Regional (2-1)
Why
they got to Omaha:
The
Frogs had their backs up against the wall twice in the NCAA
Tournament, losing to N.C. State in Regional play early only to
bounce back and win their final three games, the last of which
occurred in dramatic fashion after they were down by seven runs
heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. They advanced to Omaha
in walkoff fashion in 16 innings on an error by Texas A&M third
baseman Ronnie Gideon. So while their wins haven't been pretty, they
have proven to have the mental fortitude and overall discipline to
stay in games and capitalize on the opportunities presented to them.
Who's
Hot:
Leadoff
hitting center fielder Cody Jones has gone 12-for-35 (.343) in
Regional and Super Regional play and has set the tone for the rest of
the offense, getting on base an additional eight times via base on
balls with nine runs scored and five stolen bases. The offense
overall has scored 60 runs in those eight postseason games, holding
their opponents to just 26. Mitchell Traver has yet to be scored
upon, with seven shutout innings over Sacred Heart to open Regional
play and four scoreless innings in relief against Texas A&M to
close out Super Regional play.
Concerns:
Although
both Preston Morrison and Alex Young finished the Super Regionals
strong, despite Morrison being the hard-luck loser in TCU's loss to
A&M, both haven't been quite as sharp down the stretch as they
were for most of the season. And while the team has made the most of
their opportunities, they nearly were elminated in Regional play by
N.C. State and it took 16 innings to knock off the Aggies to advance
to Omaha.
Marquee
Matchup:
TCU's
stellar pitching staff (cumulative 2.38 ERA) is going to be put to
the test in their first CWS game on Sunday when they face one of the
nation's most lethal lineups one through nine as they square off
against LSU. The Tigers are hitting .316 as a team, with all but one
regular hitting over .300 this season. LSU hits for power (50 home
runs) and are aggressive on the basepaths once they reach (126 stolen
bases) which will also force TCU's steady team defense to remain
focused. The Horned Frogs did limit a similarly powerful Texas A&M
offense to just 10 runs in three games in Super Regional play.
Draft
Impact:
Players
taken in the 2015 MLB Draft (round, team)
• Alex
Young (2, Diamondbacks)
• Tyler
Alexander (2, Tigers)
• Riley
Ferrell (3, Astros)
• Cody
Jones (6, Royals)
• Preston
Morrison (8, Cubs)
• Trey
Teakell, (9, Tigers)
• Keaton
Jones (15, Tigers)
• Mitchell
Traver (28, Cardinals)
Vanderbilt
Commodores – 47-19
Preseason
prognostication:
As
scary as it may sound for Vanderbilt’s opposition, their College
World Series title run may have only been the first stage of what
looks like a potentially blossoming dynasty under Head Coach Tim
Corbin. Very few teams could lose a pitcher of the caliber of Tyler
Beede, 2014 starting shortstop Vince Conde as well as Omaha hero,
John Norwood, and still enter the 2015 season looking like an even
stronger team than they were before.
Rhett Wiseman (Photo: Vanderbilt Athletics
How
they got to Omaha:
Won
Nashville Regional (3-0)
Won
Champaign Super Regional (2-0)
Why
they got to Omaha:
The
offense has come alive for the Commodores during the postseason,
including two huges wins in both Regional and Super Regional play; a
21-0 thrasing of Radford in their Regional to advance and a 13-0 win
over Illinois in the first Super Regional game. Their wins included
knocking off electric lefthander Tyler Jay, the sixth overall pick
(Twins) on the first day of the draft, to punch their ticket to the
College World Series for the second consecutive year. The starting
trio of Carson Fulmer, Phlip Pfeifer and Walker Buehler have been
steady, and they have a bevy of power arms to turn to out of the
bullpen.
Who's
Hot:
The
team's Nos. 2 and 3 hitters, Rhett Wiseman and Dansby Swanson, are
seeing the ball incredibly well during the NCAA postseason, going
11-for-20 (.550) and 7-for-20 (.350) respectively. Swanson, who was
selected first overall by the Diamondbacks in Monday's draft, hit
both a double and a home run off of Jay in their CWS clinching win
over Illinois and is the heart and soul for the team's offense. Their
4-7 hitters – Zander Wiel, Will Toffey, Bryan Reynolds and Jeren
Kendall – are also performing at a high level late in the season.
Concerns:
It's
hard to identify a flaw on this team as the defending National
Champions appear to be clicking on all cylinders at the perfect time
of the year. Several of the team's pitchers, including Buehler, John
Kilichowski and Jordan Sheffield, haven't seen much time in the past
few weeks, so while their arms may be fresh, there also could be some
concern with how crisp they may be if turned upon in a high-pressure
situation.
Marquee
Matchup:
As
noted above, Carson Fulmer facing Cal State Fullerton ace Thomas
Eshelman in Vanderbilt's first CWS game will pit two of the most
accomplished college hurlers against one another. At 13-2 with a 1.82
ERA, Fulmer has struck out 152 batters in 114 innings this season.
His postseason experience from a year ago, to go along with his
competitive fire will lend themselves well in Suinday's highly
anticipated matchup.
Draft
Impact:
Players
taken in the 2015 MLB Draft (round, team)
• Dansby
Swanson (1, Diamondbacks)
• Carson
Fulmer (1, White Sox)
• Walker
Buehler (1, Dodgers)
• Philip
Pfeifer (3, Dodgers)
• Rhett
Wiseman (3, Nationals)
• Tyler
Ferguson (6, Rangers)
• Zander
Wiel (12, Twins)
• Xavier
Turner (19, Rangers)
• John
Kilichowski (39, Cubs)
College
World Series Prediction
As
noted above, Vanderbilt really is clicking on all cylinders right now
and it's just hard to see them slowing down. From top to bottom they
are as well-balanced as any of the other seven teams in Omaha, with a
potent offense that can hang a crooked number on any given day, as
well as a pitching staff that can just as easily shut down any
opponent.
Florida
can say pretty much the same thing, with no easy out 1-9 in their
lineup and a dominant 1-2 punch in their starting staff between Logan
Shore and A.J. Puk. Their bullpen is even deeper than Vanderbilt's
with an enviable wealth of options that can all come into a came and
pump low- to mid-90s heat.
In
the end it will be Florida beating Vanderbilt in a closely contested
best-of-three series, two games to one, to win the 2015 College World
Series.