Meet the Cavaliers… One of the nation’s preseason CWS favorites
Who’s the Pack playing?
Opponent: Virginia
Mascot: Antebellum Aristocrats | School Location: Charlottestownsfieldville, VA | Conference: ACC
2025 Record: 16-11 (6-6, T-9th) | 2025 RPI Rank: 82
2024 Record: 46-17 (18-12, 2nd Coastal) | 2024 RPI Rank: 9
2023 Record: 50-15 (19-11, 1st Coastal) | 2023 RPI Rank: 11
When? Where? How do I watch?
Location: Doak Field at Dail Park (Raleigh, NC)
Game Time(s): Fri, Apr 4 @ 6:00pm | Sat, Apr 5 @ 3:00pm | Sun, Apr 6 @ 3:00pm
TV: Friday (ACCNX), Saturday (ACCNX), Sunday (ACC Network)
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (Friday | Saturday | Sunday)
Tell me about this team
A quick recent history of Virginia baseball, because this is kind of important.
Brian O’Connor took over Virginia’s baseball program in 2004 after cutting his teeth as an assistant for eight years under Paul Mainieri at Notre Dame (as well as two years before that as an assistant at his alma mater Creighton. Prior to O’Connor stepping on campus, the Cavaliers baseball program had all of three NCAA postseason appearances in it’s history, never advancing out of a Regional. That history, dating back to 1889, also contained two conference titles: one regular season ACC title in 1972 and one ACC tournament title in 1996. That’s the background.
In 20 full seasons under O’Connor, Virginia has been to 18 NCAA Regionals (hosted 11 of those), 9 Super Regionals (hosted 7 of those), and 7 College World Series (won it all in 2015).
This man will walk into the NCAA Baseball Hall of Fame whenever he damn well pleases.
So after that 2015 title (Virginia finished as the runner-up in 2014, with what was honestly a better team than their championship squad), the program sort of shuffled back a bit. The 2016 and 2017 teams were still really solid, but then came back-to-back sub-.500 ACC seasons in 2018 and 2019 and some were left wondering if O’Connor had lost the magic.
Well, he certainly used the covid-shortened 2020 season as a hard reset, because Virginia has been two three of four CWS since then, including each of the last two years. Each of the last two squads have been excellent, but this year was expected to be even better. Here’s my blurb on Virginia from the non-existent preseason ACC preview (it’s the last team I previewed in that, so you don’t have to worry about me doing this anymore):
Quite possibly the best team NC State will face all year (yeah, it’s the preseason, so take that for what it’s worth), this Virginia team is loaded. Six starters return to the lineup and every single one should hit for double-digit home runs, with a couple of them being 20+ homer threats. There are only a pair of transfer players who join the fold, but Chris Arroyo looks like a potential difference maker and could slot in either at first base (the only open infield spot) or one of the two vacant outfield spots. A pair of super talented freshmen could also factor into the mix in James Nunnallee and Aiden Harris. Nunnallee was drafted by the Brewers last year while Harris was a Top 15 national recruit.
Evan Blanco and Jay Woolfolk form a great 1-2 punch for the rotation while Aidan Teel, Matt Augustin, and Jack O’Connor make the beginnings of a great bullpen. Arroyo has a chance to also be the Cavaliers Sunday starter, showcasing his talent. The transfer class has some solid options, including some additional starter profile types, and the freshman class is talented, as you’d expect from Virginia.
This is a national seed caliber squad. Low end is a Regional host.
Well, 2025 Virginia set off doing their best 2024 Wake Forest impression. Great prior season, huge expectations, flat play. If not for Texas A&M’s baseball equivalent of 2024 Florida State football, this Virginia squad would be getting a lot more attention for their underperformance so far.
Unfortunately for NC State, this Cavaliers team may be turning a corner right as they come to Raleigh.
After suffering a 5-game losing streak including a series sweep at home versus Duke bookended by midweek losses to Richmond and Liberty (hey, you guys, too?), Virginia has reeled off four straight wins, including a series sweep of a Stanford team that had previously swept Duke.
A lineup which scored all of 18 combined runs in the aforementioned 5-game skid has scored 44 runs in their current 4-game winning streak. The pitching staff that gave up 46 runs in the losing streak has allowed 28 runs during the current winning run. I mean, giving up 7 runs/game isn’t that impressive, but it’s a heck of an improvement compared to giving up over 9 runs/game.
The lineup as a whole has been strong, putting up a line of .298/.399/.440, 52 2B, 24 HR, 11.2 BB%, 15.3 K%, 35-45 SB. Even with 2024 2nd Team All-ACC player Harrison Didawick uncharacteristically struggling (he posted a line last year of .292/.414/.642, 13 2B, 23 HR, 14.0 BB%, 24.3 K%, 14-20 SB), this is still a very productive group, and – as mentioned – the bats seem to be heating up.
It’s been the pitching staff that has been the headscratcher. They’ve given up 5+ runs in each of their last 16 games (sorry for the kiss-of-death there) after allowing their opponent to hit 5 runs in a game just 3 times over their first 11 games. The fact that the Cavaliers have used 20 pitchers to date – including 15 having throw over 6.0 IP – is indicative of just how deep this group is, but the 11.6 BB% (ranking 160th in the country) is holding this group back from reaching their full potential. As a collective, Virginia’s pitching staff solid 4.74 ERA and 24.8 K% while being one of the best in the country at limiting home runs.
It’s been a bit of a rocky start for Virginia, but this is still a team that can reach Omaha for the third straight year. That is, if the pitching staff starts limiting the freebies and the lineup gets a little more production out of some of their underperforming pieces.
Pitching Matchups
Friday: LHP Dominic Fritton (JR) — RHP Jay Woolfolk (SR)
Saturday: RHP Heath Andrews (SO) — LHP Evan Blanco (JR)
Sunday: LHP Ryan Marohn (SO) — LHP Tomas Valincius (FR)
Key Players:
Offense
SS Eric Becker (SO) – .357/.435/.545, 10 2B, 3 HR, 9.2 BB%, 21.4 K%, 3-6 SB. Former Top 200 recruit nationally who started 39 games last year, mostly at 3B. He’s trending towards being a 2026 1st round MLB draft pick at this point. That could give the Becker family back-to-back 1st round picks as his younger brother (also a Virginia commit) is one of the top high school shortstops in this year’s class. The lefty hitter is currently on a tear: 10-for-19 with 8 R and 8 RBI over the last four games.
RF Henry Ford (SO) – .360/.415/.460, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8.9 BB%, 12.2 K%, 2-3 SB. A 6’5, 220 lbs draft-eligible sophomore who is projected as a 1st round pick this year. Was a Freshman All-American last year after hitting .336/.409/.597, 13 2B, 17 HR, 10.0 BB%, 18.2 K%, 3-3 SB. Likely a first baseman at the next level despite being right-handed.
2B Henry Godbout (JR) – .324/.434/.480, 5 2B, 3 HR, 14.5 BB%, 7.3 K%, 4-5 SB. High school teammate of Ford, the 6’2, 190 lbs right-handed hitter was a 2nd Team All-American last year after hitting .372/.472/.645, 18 2B, 9 HR, 13.4 BB%, 9.2 K%, 6-9 SB. Exceptional plate discipline and contact skills.
CF Aidan Teel (rSO) – .309/.455/.485, 11 2B, 2 HR, 12.9 BB%, 13.7 K%, 6-6 SB. Younger brother of former Virginia All-American, 2023 ACC Player-of-the-Year, and 2023 1st round MLB Draft pick Kyle Teel. Wasn’t as highly regarded out of high school as his brother (who should make his MLB debut with the Red Sox this year), but more athletic. Missed his freshman year with an injury and mostly pitched last year (2-2, 6 SV, 7.88 ERA, 24.0 IP, 13.7 BB%, 27.4 K%) with only 11 PA as a hitter, but is the team’s starting CF this year and quickly moving up draft boards.
1B Chris Arroyo (JR) – .298/.356/.529, 1 2B, 7 HR, 9.2 BB%, 15.1 K%, 2-2 SB. JUCO transfer who started his career at Florida before being a JUCO All-American last year. The 6’2, 225 lbs lefty is a gifted athlete and was expected to be a two-way player for the Cavaliers, but has only seen 3.0 IP on the mound. Impressive power from a line-drive oriented approach with all-fields power. Should be a top 5 round draft pick this year.
Pitching
RHP Jay Woolfolk (SR) – 2-2, 4.67 ERA, 34.2 IP, 8.2 BB%, 30.1 K%. Was a two-sport player at Virginia to start his career, also playing QB for the football team for his first two years (made one start – vs Notre Dame) before focusing on baseball. Was a 2022 Freshman All-American and was on the 2023 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team. Low-to-mid 90’s fastball among what can be up to a five-pitch mix.
LHP Evan Blanco (JR) – 1-1, 4.96 ERA, 16.1 IP, 5.1 BB%, 20.5 K%. This will be his 4th start as he’s working his way back from an injury. 3rd Team All-ACC in 2024. Low-90s fastball. Sets up his changeup which is a true out pitch. The slider can also be really good.
LHP Tomas Valincius (FR) – 1-1, 6.06 ERA, 32.2 IP, 4.1 BB%, 28.1 K%. Illinois native was a Top 100 national recruit who has also played for the Lithuanian national team thanks to his family’s heritage. Has been up to 97 mph with his fastball and is excellent at inducing ground balls (52.6% ground ball rate).
RHP Ryan Osinski (JR) – 2-2, 2 SV, 4.12 ERA, 19.2 IP, 13.3 BB%, 24.4 K%. Big 6’6, 235 pounder is a former transfer from Bucknell who has a huge arm, hitting 100 mph already this year. Surprisingly carried just a 9.8 K% over 30.0 IP last year after carrying a 27.6 K% at Bucknell. Mostly sits mid-to-upper 90’s with a high spin rate fastball.
RHP Drew Koenen (SO) – 3-0, 2.55 ERA, 17.2 IP, 16.0 BB%, 8.0 K%. Transfer from Dartmouth with a 6’3, 235 lbs frame. A fastball-slider guy with a low-to-mid-90’s heater. A ground ball specialist who has yet to give up a HR this year.
LHP Matt Lanzendorfer (SR) – 2-1, 2 SV, 3.18 ERA, 17.0 IP, 11.8 BB%, 38.2 K%. Grad transfer from DIII Misericordia University where he posted a line last year of 4-0, 8 SV, 1.24 ERA, 43.2 IP, 7.0 BB%, 29.1 K%. He’s a sidearmer who can touch the mid-90’s and produces a ton of flyballs, which may play against him at the Doak.
RHP Kevin Jaxel (JR) – 1-0, 2.51 ERA, 14.1 IP, 12.3 BB%, 24.6 K%. Another fastball-slider guy who had an excellent freshman season in 2023 but struggled last year (4-1, 10.38 ERA, 26.0 IP, 13.7 BB%, 16.0 K%) mostly due to control issues. Low 90’s heat from the 6’5, 220 pounder.
LHP Matthew Buchanan (SR) – 2-0, 1.17 ERA, 7.2 IP, 12.9 BB%, 32.3 K%. The definition of a LOOGY, he’s thrown 7.2 innings over 10 appearances.
RHP Jack O’Connor (JR) – 0-0, 8.53 ERA, 6.1 IP, 12.9 BB%, 22.6 K%. The son of head coach Brian O’Connor, Jack was a Top 125 prospect out of high school but was firmly committed to his dad and UVA so he went undrafted. A Freshman All-American in 2024, he was limited last year due to injury and is just working his way back. Big 6’5, 225 lbs frame with a fastball that sits anywhere from 92-97 mph with good movement. Also has a slider, curve, and change. If he gets fully healthy, he could be Virginia’s best pitcher.
Quick! Fun Facts!
This series will feature two of the 15 active D1 head coaches with 900+ career wins.
Virginia FR LF James Nunnallee (.258/.407/.333, 5 2B, 0 HR, 13.8 BB%, 6.9 K%, 3-4 SB) is one of the best contact hitters in the country, ranking 7th nationally with a Contact Rate of 93.3% and a Whiff Rate of 6.7%.
NC State SO RHP Jacob Dudan ranks 20th in the country in Whiff Rate on his slider at 53.1%.
UVA 1B Chris Arroyo and NC State 1B Matt Ossenfort were high school teammates at Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS in Florida.
MLB Opening Day rosters featured 10 Virginia alums, the second most of any school behind only Vanderbilt (11).
The Key To A Series Win For State
Consistency. The Wolfpack have yet to have a series where any one of pitching, defense, or offense are consistent from the opener to the finale. There have been instances where all three come together, but typically one or more lack in a given game and that has been the downfall for the team.
Prediction
Virginia’s a very tough opponent that seems to be turning the corner at the optimum time for them, but less so for this series.
Outcome: The Wahoos take two of three.