2024 Las Vegas College Baseball Classic: Everything you need to know
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What happens in Vegas… could significantly boost your RPI/DSR! The Las Vegas College Baseball Classic is brand new in 2024 and these early season round robin tournaments have been a huge hit in college baseball. The field for Las Vegas includes representation from the Pac-12 (California), Big Ten (Ohio State), ACC (Pittsburgh), and the Big 12 (Oklahoma). All four clubs should be in the hunt for regional play, and this is a weekend with resume-building opportunities aplenty.
Let’s take a closer look at the Las Vegas College Baseball Classic field:
California
Head coach: Mike Neu
The Skinny On The Golden Bears
Cal enters Sin City on a heater, no pun intended. The 6-1 Golden Bears own a win over a Kansas State team that was ranked at the time, and they swept Connecticut at home last weekend. This is an old team, led by a junior class that has been on the field for three years now. Cal’s pitching depth and infield defense look much improved from a year ago.
Star Power: Caleb Lomavita & Rodney Green Jr.
Lomavita is an athletic catcher who hit fourth for Cal as a true freshman. “Athletic” may be underselling the righthanded hitter, as he played center field in high school. Lomavita will be in the running for first catcher off the board in the MLB Draft this July. Speaking of athletic, Green Jr. was a notable basketball player in high school and committed to baseball late in his prep career. He is a premium defender in center field, and the 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefthanded hitters shows plus power. He is also an outstanding baserunner. If Green Jr. creates more contact in 2024 (31.7 career K%), he could rocket up draft boards.
Who’s Hot Right Now?
Lomavita (.414-3-15) got off to a great start and has been the main cog for Cal’s offense. Green Jr. continues to struggle with contact (11 Ks), but his production has been outstanding, nonetheless. He has four round-trippers and eight RBIs through seven games, and he has taken seven walks already. Freshman middle infielders PJ Moutzouridis (.632-1-11) and Jarren Advincula (.259-2-8) have made every start and they have significantly upgraded Cal’s athleticism in the middle of the field. Neither rookie has made an error thus far. On the mound, newcomer righthanders Quinn Larson (1-0, 8 Ks, 5 IP, .176 BAA) and Tom Mayer (0-0, 2.00 ERA, 10 Ks, 9 IP, .152 BAA) have been brilliant.
Prospect Watch
Here’s a list of prospects ranked by D1Baseball in the 2024 and 2025 draft classes.
2024:
C Caleb Lomavita (18)
OF Rodney Green Jr. (48)
Ohio State
Head coach: Bill Mosiello
The Skinny On The Buckeyes
The Buckeyes can run as many as eight lefthanded hitters at you and this group is physical and athletic. Mosiello’s club went 4-4 on their Arizona trip to begin the season. Three of those wins came against college baseball historic powers USC and Arizona State. Ohio State is averaging nine runs per game in their wins. This squad likes to run (17 stolen bases in eight games) and the weekend rotation of Landon Beidelschies (1-1, 3.27 ERA), Colin Purcell (1-1, 4.32 ERA), and Gavin Bruni (1-0, 3.86 ERA) has been very good through two weekends.
Star Power: Henry Kaczmar
The Ohio State shortstop played everyday as a true freshman, and he seems to be in the middle of everything for the Buckeyes. The lefthanded-hitting sophomore hits third in this lineup and he offers a nice blend of power and pure hit. Kaczmar (.303/.395/.515) is tied for the team lead in RBIs (8) and total bases (17).
Who’s Hot Right Now?
Right fielder Mitchell Okuley leads the club in hitting (.406) and the fifth-year senior could be on the verge of a breakout season. Okuley is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound lefthanded hitter capable of a double-digit home run and stolen base season. Left fielder Trey Lipsey (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) is a smooth lefthanded hitter and he leads off for the Bucks. The junior leads the team in runs (10) and he is looking to return to his 2022 form when he posted a .943 OPS as a freshman. In the bullpen, freshman Gavin DeVooght (0-1, 1.50 ERA, 6 IP, 1 BB, 6 Ks) is off to an excellent start in his college career. The 6-foot-5, 238-pound righthander showed a 94-95 mph fastball with cut in Arizona, and his 85 mph slider flashes as a wipeout pitch with depth.
Prospect Watch
Here’s a list of prospects ranked by D1Baseball in the 2024 and 2025 draft classes.
2024:
LHP Gavin Bruni (115)
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Oklahoma
Head coach: Skip Johnson
The Skinny On The Sooners
The Sooners enter the weekend with a 5-3 record and that is reflective of a very challenging schedule to this point. Wins over Tennessee and Nebraska are already looking like high quality data points, and taking three of four from Horizon League juggernaut Wright State should age well. OU’s vaunted running game is yet to fully actualize (10-for-14 in stolen bases) but the team triple slash is an outstanding .343/.434/.546.
Star Power: John Spikerman
Spikerman jumped on the scene in 2022 as a very productive freshman contributor during Oklahoma’s run to the CWS Finals. The switch-hitting center fielder impacts the game in multiple ways with his game-changing speed. After a down year in 2023, Spikerman is off to a hot start this season. He leads the club in hitting (.517), runs (12), and stolen bases (5).
Who’s Hot Right Now
Transfers Braden Davis (Sam Houston) and Brendan Girton (Texas Tech) have changed the complexion of OU’s weekend rotation. The lefthanded Davis is a converted reliever with a career 30.8 K%. Through two starts, his 2024 numbers are stellar (1-0, 0.82 ERA, .158 BAA). Girton is a hard-throwing righthander with a lot of pedigree and he has pitched to a 2.35 ERA through two starts. Girton has always missed bats and his 28.9 K% speaks to his upside. Keep an eye on brothers Kyson and Malachi Witherspoon who have added to the depth of this pitching staff.
Prospect Watch
Here’s a list of prospects ranked by D1Baseball in the 2024 and 2025 draft classes.
2024:
LHP Braden Davis (113)
OF John Spikerman (165)
OF Carter Frederick (169)
2025:
RHP Kyson Witherspoon (87)
C Easton Carmichael (100)
Pittsburgh
Head coach: Mike Bell
The Skinny On The Panthers
The Panthers continue to make progress under skipper Mike Bell, earning a berth to the ACC Tournament in three consecutive seasons. The 2024 club is off to a 6-1 start despite not playing a home game yet. Pitt’s run prevention stands out as the squad is fielding .987 (just three errors) and the pitching staff sports a 4.65 ERA. Additionally, Bell’s bullpen has been stellar to date.
Star Power: Jayden Melendez
Melendez comes from a baseball family. His father Mervyl was the long-time skipper at Bethune-Cookman, Alabama State, and FIU, taking his teams to regionals 12 different times. Jayden’s brother MJ has hit 34 home runs for the Kansas City Royals over the last two seasons. Jayden Melendez catches and hits in the middle of the order for Pitt. He leads the club in hitting (.391) and on base percentage (.531).
Who’s Hot Right Now?
Center fielder Dom Popa and first baseman Luke Cantwell jump start this offense from the top of the order. Popa is hitting .357 with nine runs scored, and the lefthanded hitter is a four-year member of the program. Most importantly, he is a “Grittsburg” native. Cantwell (.357-2-9) is a transfer from Farleigh Dickinson. The lefthanded hitter went off for the Knights in 2023, posting a 1.199 OPS with 14 home runs. Relievers Ethan Firoved, Phil Fox, Kyle Demi, Erubiel Candelario, and Matthew Fernandez have surrendered just three runs over a combined 11 appearances and 25 innings.
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