The Athletic’s Coaches Forum: The Best College Baseball Player You’ve Ever Seen

College baseball season begins, and the sport is in a better place than ever before. Interest from fans is high, and the talent level is at an all-time high. Nine coaches from around the country give their thoughts on the upcoming season, the effects of NIL, and various other topics. In Part 1, the coaches name the best players in the game and identify teams to watch this spring. In Part 2, they discuss some of the issues facing the game. In Part 3, each coach picks the best position player and pitcher they have seen in their days coaching college baseball.

Vanderbilt University’s coach, Tim Corbin, believes that former Florida State outfielder J.D. Drew was the best college baseball player he has seen. Drew’s combination of hitting, power, speed, and defense was unmatched. Alex Gordon from Nebraska, who played third base and won the Golden Spikes Award in 2005, is the player that stands out to Tony Vitello from the University of Tennessee. Vitello thinks that Gordon did it for an entire career and wasn’t a one-year wonder. Tracy Smith, from Arizona State University, highlights two players that stood out: Spencer Torkelson and Adley Rutschman. Matthew McLain, a shortstop from UCLA, is the steady and consistent toolsy player that Pat Bailey from Oregon State University is looking forward to watching.

Chris Burke from Tennessee was the most productive player Dan McDonnell from the University of Louisville has coached against. McDonnell coached against Todd Helton, who he believes was maybe the most talented player he ever coached against. For Jim Schlossnagle from Texas Christian University, Bryce Harper was the best player he has ever seen in college baseball. Anthony Rendon from Rice was the player that stood out to Butch Thompson from Auburn University. Thompson thinks that Rendon was a special player with unique abilities, tools, and presence.

In terms of the best pitchers, Kris Benson from Clemson in 1996, and David Price from Vanderbilt in 2007 are the two best that Corbin has seen. If it is not players that Corbin coached, he thinks that LSU’s Aaron Nola was one of the best pitchers he has ever seen. Max Scherzer, who was a prospect, and Wes Roemer from Fullerton, who led the country in fewest walks per nine innings by far, were the best pitchers that Vitello has seen. Tim Lincecum from Washington is the best pitcher that Mitchell Canham from Oregon State has seen.

In conclusion, college baseball is in a great place, and the talent level is at an all-time high. Fans have high levels of interest in the sport. The coaches from around the country are excited about the upcoming season and have identified the best players and pitchers that they have seen throughout their careers in college baseball.