Welcome to the 2022 College Baseball Season - Here's What To Watch For

We're back, baby.

Forget all that Major League Baseball lockout nonsense of billionaires squabbling with multi-millionaires. We have baseball today. I say this every year, but it has never been more true than it is today: if you haven't followed it in the past, this is the best time possible to get into college baseball.

We're coming off an incredible NCAA Tournament and College World Series — minus the NCAA screwing NC State out of a potential national title, but what are you gonna do — and with MLB essentially not existing right now, enjoy some aluminum bat baseball this year. I promise, with or without a rooting interest, college baseball is electric once you start following it.

Here's a couple things to look for this weekend and throughout the season for those looking to #GrowTheGame.

Hitter to Watch: Chase DeLauter, James Madison OF

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If it's possible for a Preseason First Team All-American to be under the radar, that's Chase DeLauter. If you're not familiar with the James Madison prospect, check him out this season, because he's going to be the first college hitter taken in the 2022 MLB Draft.

DeLauter slashed .386/.508/.723 with 9 HR and 21 RBI in 26 games for JMU last season before leading the Cape Cod League in home runs over the summer. So if your MLB team is picking in the top five this year, watch a few James Madison games.

Pitcher to Watch: Landon Sims, Mississippi State SP

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I'm very intrigued to watch Landon Sims' transfer from Mississippi State's shutdown guy out of the bullpen to the Bulldogs' Friday night starter. Sims put up a 1.44 ERA and 13 saves in 56 innings last season, but he'll be making his first career college start today when MSU hosts Long Beach State in a ranked matchup.

Even without having made a start, Sims could easily be considered the best pitcher in college baseball coming into this season and will certainly be a first rounder this summer if he puts up numbers even close to what he has so far in his career.

Freshman to Watch: Chase Burns, Tennessee SP

Tennessee lost several of its best bats from the 2021 College World Series team, but the Vols' pitching staff — when fully healthy — is up there with anybody's. Draft-eligible sophomore Blade Tidwell is going to be a first round pick this year but is currently on the shelf with an injury, so freshman fireballer Chase Burns will get the Opening Day start for UT.

Burns, who tops out at 100 MPH, was projected to be one of the top high school arms taken in the 2021 MLB Draft, but opted for Tennessee instead. He'll make his first career start this afternoon against Georgia Southern and will be the Vols' Friday night guy until Tidwell returns.

Games to Watch This Weekend:

No. 7 Oklahoma State at No. 3 Vanderbilt

We get an on-campus, Top 10 matchup right off the bat in Nashville with Oklahoma State visiting Vanderbilt. After getting within one win of a second consecutive national title — fraudulently, but still — the Commodores will find out pretty quickly what they have following the departures of Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter when the Cowboys come to town.

No. 24 Long Beach State at No. 4 Mississippi State

The defending national champions begin their title defense with Sims on the bump against a good Long Beach State team. It's great that it's a ranked matchup, but Dudy Noble was going to rocking today no matter who was coming in there.

State Farm College Baseball Showdown

Texas Tech, Arizona, Auburn, Michigan, Kansas State and Oklahoma get together in Arlington, Texas this weekend for a great multi-team event on Opening Weekend. Arizona will try to find its footing in the post-Jay Johnson era while Texas Tech looks to ride Jace Jung and what should be a great offense back to Omaha.

James Madison at No. 11 Florida State

Watch Chase DeLauter.

Baseball is back, folks. Enjoy it.