by Matt Plante
Vice President

The NCAA Division 1 baseball season finally gets to start back up this upcoming weekend after a long layoff from the shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have 80 plus Top Tier Alumni that will have competing in the 2021 NCAA Division 1 baseball season, representing 50 different collegiate teams from across the country. Here is a little roundup on where those players are playing to start the 2021 NCAA Division 1 baseball season. Each week after this, we will be doing a weekly roundup of the top performers from this Top Tier Alumni Division 1 Collegiate List.

Arkansas

Nathan Rintz - Redshirt Freshman RHP for the Razorbacks this year.

Arizona State

Bryce Barnett - Redshirt Freshman RHP for the Sun Devils this year. He had 8 appearances which was the second most out of the bullpen in a shortened season for ASU last year. Barnett struck out 17 batters in only 8.1 innings of work and didn't allow a run in 7 of those 8 appearances.

Bradley

Keaton Rice - Junior catcher for the Braves this season. Rice has been a staple behind the dish for three years with the Braves catching almost every game. He was selected to All-MVC 2nd team in 2018 and 2019. His freshman season he hit .316 and led all catchers in the MVC in batting average. He is a lifetime .267 hitter for the Braves.

Ryan Hodgett - Senior RHP for the Braves this season. Hodgett has appeared in 26 games in his career at Bradley, where he has tossed a total of 48 innings, striking out 43 hitters and holding a 7.88 ERA.

Belmont

Austin Ehren - Redshirt Freshman outfielder for the Bruins this year.

Brown

Ray Sass - Sophomore infielder for the Brown this year. Sass started in 11 games last year as a freshman playing third base before the season was cut short due to COVID-19.

Bellarmine

Jacob Nagel - Graduate Student RHP for the Knights this season. Nagel is a mainstay for the Knights on the mound as he has logged 151.1 innings in his career at Bellarmine, with a 8-7 record and a 4.33 ERA.

Clemson

Blake Wright - Freshman infielder for the Tigers this season.

Creighton

Ryan Manikowski - Freshman RHP for the Blue Jays this season.

Dayton

Andrew Zapka - Senior RHP for the Flyers this season. Zapka was a JUCO transfer for Heartland CC last year and made three relief appearances for the Flyers finishing with a 3.86 ERA in a shortened season last year.

Eastern Illinois

Nick Laxner - Junior RHP for the Panthers this season. Laxner is in his first season at EIU after transferring in from Kankakee CC.

Florida

Chase Centala - Freshman RHP this season for the Gators.

Nick Ficarrotta - Redshirt Freshman RHP for the Gators this season. Last year in a shortened season for the Gators, Ficarrotta made two appearances totaling 3.1 innings pitched with a 2.70 ERA.

Hunter Mink - Redshirt Freshman RHP for the Gators this season. Mink made one appearance last season for the Gators allowing 0 runs in one inning of work allowing only one hit vs. Jacksonville.

Florida Gulf Coast

Mason Miller - Freshman LHP for Florida Gulf Coast this season.

Florida State

Cooper Nelson - Freshman RHP for the Seminoles this season.

Fairleigh Dickinson

Chris Seropian - Freshman LHP for the Knights this season.

Fordham

Ryan Thiesse - Freshman outfielder for the Rams this season.

Florida Atlantic

Marc DeGusipe - Redshirt Freshman LHP for the Owls this season. Last season, DeGusipe made two starts in a shortened season where he struck out 5 batters in 5.2 innings of work vs. #1 Florida and Florida Gulf Coast.

High Point

Dawson Place - Redshirt Freshman RHP for High Point this season. Place made five appearances last season with 9 strikeouts in 7.2 innings pitched in shortened season due to COVID-19.

Holy Cross

Alex Bryant - Freshman RHP for the Crusaders this season.

Iowa

Anthony Mangano - Freshman Utility player for the Hawkeyes this season.

Tyler Snep - Redshirt Freshman Catcher for the Hawkeyes this season. Snep started one game as catcher last season and saw action in four other contests during the shortened season.

Illinois

Danny Doligale - Redshirt Freshman Outfielder for the Fighting Illini this season. Doligale played in 12 games starting in 11 last year as a freshman hitting .316 with 6 stolen bases in a shortened season due to COVID-19.

Kellen Sarver - Redshirt Sophomore firstbaseman and catcher for the Fighting Illini this season. Sarver started all 13 games last season with three doubles and 10 RBI's in a shortened season. Sarver played in all 57 games as a freshman and is a career .261 hitter for the Fighting Illini. Sarver is the #24 ranked MLB Draft Prospect in the Big Ten by D1Baseball.

Grant Leader - Redshirt Freshman RHP for the Fighting Illini this season. Leader appeared in 4 games out of the bullpen in a shortened season throwing 4.2 innings striking out 4.

Ryan Hampe - Redshirt Sophomore Catcher for the Fighting Illini this season. Hampe transferred in from John A. Logan CC where he hit .413 for the #1 ranked team in the nation in JUCO. Hampe's freshman year at UIC he hit .351 and was Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. Hampe is selected as a Pre-Season All Big Ten selection by Perfect Game and is the #27 ranked MLB Draft Prospect in the Big Ten by D1Baseball.

Andrew Hoffmann - Redshirt Sophomore RHP for the Figthing Illini this season. Hoffmann transferred in from John A. Logan CC where he was 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 26 innings of work in a shortened season for the #1 ranked team in JUCO in the nation. In his freshman year at Oakland he had 46 strikeouts in 56 innings of work. Hoffmann is the #14 ranked MLB Draft Prospect in the Big Ten by D1Baseball.

Illinois State

Sean Sinisko - Redshirt Freshman LHP for he Redbirds this season. Sinisko didn't play last year due to injury.

Jordan Libman - Senior Outfielder and LHP for the Redbirds this season. Libman started in all 15 games last season hitting .281 on a shortened season due to COVID-19. Libman is a career .269 hitter with 22 doubles and 62 RBI's.

Jeremy Gaines - Redshirt Junior Outfielder for the Redbirds this season. Gaines appeared in 14 games last season starting in 11, hitting .314 in a shortened season. He is a career .309 hitter for the Redbirds.

Michael Sebby - Graduate Student LHP for the Redbirds this season. Sebby made 5 appearances this past season with a 1-1 record out of the bullpen in a shortened season. Sebby has a career 4.73 ERA for the Redbirds with 52 strikeouts in 51.1 innings of work.

Minnesota

Michael Gurka - Sophomore RHP for the Gophers this season. Gurka made two appearances out of the bullpen for the Gophers last season.

Chase Stanke - Junior Catcher for the Gophers this season. Stanke played in 18 games starting 15 last season which was shortened due to COVID-19.

Andrew Whilhite - Junior Outfielder for the Gophers this season. Whilhite started in 15 games for the Gophers last season hitting .320 in a shortened season. Whilhite is a career .267 hitter for the Gophers.

Noah Berghammer - Redshirt Sophomore Infielder for the Gophers this season. Berghammer appeared in six games last season hitting .222 in a shortened season.

Missouri

Konnor Ash - Senior RHP for the Tigers this season. Ash made 4 starts last year in a shortened campaign posting a 2-0 record with a 4.15 ERA and recorded 29 strikeouts in 21.1 innings of work.

Memphis

Nick Jones - Redshirt Freshman Catcher for the Tigers this season.

Missouri State

Dakota Kotowski - Junior Outfielder for the Bears this season. Kotowski started in all 17 games last season hitting .266 with 4 doubles, 3 homers and 16 RBI's in a shortened season due to COVID-19. Kotowski in two years with the Bears is a .281 hitter with 15 homers and 45 RBI's and was a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American.

Maryland

Mark DiLuia - Senior RHP for the Terps this season. DiLuia made five appearances out of the bullpen last season and was one of three pitchers to not allow a single run in a shortened season. DiLuia has logged 108.2 innings as a Terp with a 5.30 ERA with 91 strikeouts in his career.

Miami (OH)

Steven Hamer - Junior LHP for the Redhawks this season. Hamer didn't see action last season. In his freshman campaign he appeared in 11 games.

Mercer

Antonio Brown - Freshman Infielder and Outfielder for the Bears this season.

Morehead State

Stephen Hill - Redshirt Senior Infielder for the Eagles this season. Hill started all 15 games for the Eagles this past season hitting .294 in a shortened season due to COVID-19. Hill is a career .320 hitter with 15 doubles, 8 homers and 48 RBI's.

Notre Dame

Casey Kmet - Redshirt Freshman Infielder for the Fighting Irish this season. Missed last season due to injury.

North Carolina

Michael Oh - Junior RHP for the Tarheels this season. Oh pitched 6.1 innings last season for the Tarheels after a shortened season.

Northwestern

Tony Livermore - Freshman Infielder for the Wildcats this season.

Hank Christie - Graduate Student RHP for the Wildcats this season. In his career, Christie is 9-11 with a 4.62 ERA in 187 innings pitched while striking out 123 batters.

Charlie Bourbon - Senior Catcher and Outfielder for the Wildcats this season. Bourbon got his first career RBI with a single last year vs. USC-Upstate.

North Alabama

Cosi Scinta - Redshirt Freshman RHP for the Lions this season. Scinta pitched in five games in a shortened season last year going 1-0 with a 4.70 ERA.

Northern Illinois

Brandon McPherson - Sophomore RHP for the Huskies this season. McPherson made four starts on the mound last year in a shortened season. He struck out 20 batters in 20.1 innings pitched.

Oakland

Austin Higgins - Sophomore Infielder for the Golden Grizzlies this season. Higgins started in 8 of the 11 games played last year in a shortened season.

Presbyterian

Brandon Williams - Redshirt Senior RHP for Presbyterian this season. Didn't play last season.

Purdue

Ryan Howe - Sophomore Infielder for the Boilermakers this season. Howe is a career .208 hitter for the Boilermakers.

Saint Louis

Jake Little - Freshman RHP for the Billikens this season.

Parker Stoyan - Freshman LHP for the Billikens this season.

Scott Youngbrandt - Sophomore RHP for the Billikens this season. Youngbrandt made four appearances on the mound including starts last year in a shortened season, tossing 6.2 innings, striking out 7 batters.

Marius Balandis - Junior RHP for the Billikens this season. Balandis made six appearances on the mound in a shortened season last year, with one save in 11.2 innings pitched with a 3.09 ERA while striking out 13 batters.

Zach Frieling - Junior Infielder for the Billikens this season. Frieling played in 10 games in as shortened season this past year hitting .240.

Cam Redding - Sophomore Catcher and Firstbaseman for the Billikens this season. Redding played in all 16 games in the shortened season last year, leading the team with 12 RBI's and hit .258. In his career at SLU, Redding is hitting .293.

Brendan Carrane - Freshman Infielder for the Billikens this season. Carrane didn't see action last season.

South Florida

Tanner Mink - Redshirt Freshman Infielder and RHP for the Bulls this season. Mink appeared in four games as a freshman last season hitting .250 for the Bulls.

South Carolina

Jack Mahoney - Freshman RHP and Infielder for the Gamecocks this season.

Southeast Missouri State

Collin Wilma - Freshman RHP for SEMO this season. Wilma appeared in four games last year, starting in three of them, going 1-0 with 19 strikeouts in 18.1 innings of work in a shortened season due to COVID-19.

Austin Blazevic - Senior Infielder for the Redhawks this season. Blazevic started in all 16 games this past season hitting .266 in a shortened season.

Southern Illinois

Vincent Massaglia - Sophomore Outfielder for SIU this season. Massaglia transferred in from Illinois Central College where he was a 2nd team NJCAA All-American.

SF Austin

Garrett Goetz - Junior Infielder for SFA this season. Goetz played in six games last season, starting two in a shortened season. Goetz was a transfer from Waubonsee CC.

UW-Milwaukee

Cheorkee LeBeau - Redshirt Sophomore Infielder for the Panthers this season. LeBeau was a transfer from Oakland University where he was a freshman All-Horizon team selection after total 23 hits in 32 games as a freshman.

USC-Upstate

Kevin Davis - Junior RHP for the Spartans this season. Davis was 1-0 in 7 appearances last season with a 1.35 ERA while striking out 28 in 20 innings pitched in a shortened year.

Robby McGaha - Senior Outfielder for the Spartans this season. Last year, McGaha was out for the year due to injury. In 2019, McGaha started in 36 games hitting .255.

Xavier

Ryan Altenberger - Senior Infielder for the Musketeers this season. Altenberger is a career .239 hitter with 27 doubles, 9 homers and 50 RBI's.

Trey Schramm - Graduate Student RHP for the Musketeers this season. Schramm has made 86 appearances in his career, he has a 12-7 record with 9 saves, a 4.70 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 157 innings pitched.

Western Illinois

Jack Carberry - Junior RHP for the Leathernecks this season. Carberry has logged 82.2 innings in his career at Western Illinois owning a 7-6 record with a 6.21 ERA along with 70 strikeouts.

Western Michigan

Luke Pappas - Freshman LHP for the Broncos this season.

Joe Shapiro - Freshman LHP for the Broncos this season.

Gavin Doyle - Sophomore Infielder and RHP for the Broncos this season. Doyle appeared in 14 games last season starting 13 and hitting .191 in shortened season.

Brady Miller - Sophomore RHP for the Broncos this season. Miller made 4 starts last year in a shortened season going 1-2 with 15 strikeouts in 21 innings of work. In 2019, Miller was 2nd team All-MAC with a 3.10 ERA going 5-2 with 49 strikeouts on the year.

Wake Forest

Camden Minacci - Freshman RHP for the Demon Deacons this season.

Bobby Seymour - Junior First baseman for the Demon Deacons this season. Seymour has been selected as a Pre-Season 1st Team All-American by Perfect Game and Pre-Season 2nd Team All-American by Baseball America and D1Baseball. In 2019, Seymour was ACC Player of the Year. Seymour is a career .328 hitter with 35 doubles, 17 homers and 135 RBI's.

Derek Crum - Freshman Outfielder for the Demon Deacons this season. Crum played in 16 games and started in 14 of them last season, hitting .244 in a shortened season.

Valparasio

Jacob Rosenkranz - Sophomore RHP for the Crusaders this season. Rosenkranz made 5 appearances out of the bullpen in a shortened season last year putting up a 3.52 ERA.

Keegan Bates - Junior LHP for the Crusaders this season. Bates made two relief appearances in a shortened COVID-19 season and didn't give up a run. In 2019, Bates logged 37 innings while striking out 28 hitters.

Zach Fricke - Junior RHP for the Crusaders this season. Fricke made 4 starts in a shortened COVID-19 season logging 19 innings striking out 10 hitters.

Villanova

Thomas Schafer - Freshman RHP for the Wildcats this season.