NIL

HookC Battles For First Place at St. John’s

Story Links QUEENS, N.Y. – The UConn baseball team (23-17, 8-4 BIG EAST) battles for first place in the BIG EAST with a three-game set at St. John’s (20-17, 6-3 BIG EAST). The series has been altered due to inclement weather on Saturday. The series kicks off with a doubleheader on […]

Published

1 month ago

April 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

QUEENS, N.Y. – The UConn baseball team (23-17, 8-4 BIG EAST) battles for first place in the BIG EAST with a three-game set at St. John’s (20-17, 6-3 BIG EAST).

The series has been altered due to inclement weather on Saturday. The series kicks off with a doubleheader on Friday, April 25 at 1 p.m. and finishes with the series finale on Sunday, April 27 at 1 p.m.

The Huskies and Red Storm are tied atop the BIG EAST standings with Xavier (8-4) and Creighton (6-3).

UConn enters the series riding a season-long 10-game win streak after defeating UMass and Army in the midweek.

The UConn pitching staff ranks 31st in the country with 9.9 strikeouts per nine this season. The last five games the UConn pitchers have recorded double digit strikeout efforts with 17 total games this year. 11 UConn pitchers have more strikeouts than innings pitched this season. Ian Cooke leads the Huskies with 53 strikeouts, Pudvar has 52 and Afthim has 40.

The Huskies rank 12th in the country with 100 stolen bases this season. Caleb Shpur leads the way with 30 bags, ranking eighth nationally. Sam Biller has 16 SB, Rispoli with 14, Minick with 10, Daniels with 9 and Dougherty with 8. The 100 stolen bases with 15 games to play already ranks 7th most in program history.The Huskies are averaging 2.50 stolen bases per game.

Rob Rispoli has been a spark at the top of the UConn order this season. The shortstop has been named to the Brooks Wallace Watch List, an award given to the best SS in college baseball. The redshirt freshman is hitting .324 with a team best .474 on-base percentage. The UConn SS leadd the team with 26 walks and 13 hit by pitches. He has also stolen 14 bases this year.

Ryan Daniles has had a breakout junior senior after dealing with injuries his first two seasons in Storrs. He is currently in a hot stretch with four home runs in the last three games. He registered his first career multi-homer game against Army with a two-run HR and grand slam to total a career-high six RBI. The Meriden, CT native is hitting .339 with 38 runs scored (tied for team lead), 10 doubles (leads team), two triples, eight home runs and 38 runs batted in. The infield/outfielder has a .447 OBP.

In the series finale at FAU, Daniels hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the 10th inning to lift UConn to its first win of the year. The home run was part of the first career four-hit game for the infielder/outfielder. Daniels followed up that performance with a game-tying home run against No. 14 Vanderbilt to eventually earn the Huskies a ranked win.

Sophomore Tyler Minick has already taken a big jump from his freshman to sophomore year. The Reading, Pa. native is hitting .346 batting average, 12 home runs and 41 runs batted in. The corner INF has a career-high with 18 walks and is slugging at a .692 clip. Minick recorded a multi-homer game in the series opener against Seton Hall. The sophomore already has four career grand slams with two of them this season (FAU & Creighton).

Long time Husky Bryan Padilla registered his 200th career hit with a double in the 8th inning against Creighton in the series opener. Padilla becomes the 24th Husky in programa history to reach the 200-hit mark. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native has played in 212 games with the Huskies and racked up 212 career hits including 24 home runs. The infielder has scored 139 runs, driven in 150 runs and walked 109 times.

Games Played

Chris Winkel, 2017-21   243

Billy Ferriter, 2010-2013   242

Mike Nemeth, 2008-11   241

Bobby Melley, 2013-16   241

Bryan Daniello, 2013-16   224

John Topaa, 2016-19   222

Pat Mahoney, 2005-08   217

LJ Mazzilli, 2010-13   212

Bryan Padilla, 2022-25   212

Hits

Mike Nemeth, 2008-11   331

LJ Mazzilli 2010-13   295

Bobby Melley, 2013-16.   290

Billy Ferriter 2010-13   288

George Springer, 2009-11   242

Pierre LePage, 2008-10   237

John Toppa, 2016-19   237

Dennis Donovan, 2004-07   236

Pat Mahoney, 2005-08   233

Clarke Caudill, 1997-00   232

Todd Rosenthal, 1989-92   227

Anthony Prato, 2017-19   227

Chris Winkel, 2017-21   222

Vinny Siena, 2013-15   221

Bryan Daniello, 2013-16.   212

Bryan Padilla, 2022-25   212

Walks

Sean Irey, 1991-94   143

Jack Sundberg, 2013-16   134

Mike Nemeth, 2008-11   134

Bobby Melley, 2013-16   132

George Springer, 2009-11   128

Bryan Padlla, 2022-2025   109

UConn closer Brady Afthim has been one of the top closers in the country. The RHP is ranked No. 15 by D1Baseball.com on the top 100 closers list. He has been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List.

Afthim has appeared in 15 games for UConn this year and is 1-1 with eight saves and leads the team with a 1.40 ERA. In 25.2 innings, the Windham, Maine native has allowed four earned run and struck out 40 batters while holding opponents to a .218 average against. The tri-captain has now appeared in 85 games, ranking 4th all-time in program history. The 16 career saves he has registered is 9th all-time.

Saves

Justin Willis, 2021-23   28

Mike James, 2001-04   22

Kevin Vance, 2009-11   21

Patrick Ruotolo, 2014-16   20

David Erickson, 2005-09   20

Jacob Wallace, 2017-19   19

Matt Karl, 2005-08   18

P.J. Poulin, 2016-18   16

Brady Afthim, 2022-2025   14

Appearances

Dan Feehan, 2010-13.   96

David Erickson, 2005-09   87

CJ Dandeneau, 2016-19   87

Brady Afthim, 2022-2025   85

Ian Cooke has struggled to start his 2025 campaign but the 2024 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year has looked strong in seven relief appearance. The New Milford, Conn. native has pitched 20.0 innings, allowed three earned runs, walked five and struck out batters. Cooke closed out the middle game of the series at Xavier with 3.0 shutout innings to earn his first save of the year. In BIG EAST play, Cooke has recorded three saves and one win with all four of those outings lasting 3.0 innings or more. The senior has logged 200.2 career innings and recorded 15 wins on the mound for the Huskies. He currently has 231 strikeouts, ranking sixth in program history.

Strikeouts

Mason Feole, 2017-19   278

Tim Cate, 2016-18   270

Anthony Kay, 2014-16   263

Ian Cooke, 2022-2025   252

RHP Sean Finn has become a back end of the bullpen piece for the Huskies this season. The RHP leads the team with five wins in 13 appearances and four starts. The Warrington, Pa. product has a 3.10 ERA in 20.1 innings and struck out 31 while holding opponents to a .200 batting average against.

Against Seton Hall, Finn earned a pair of wins out of the bullpen to help the Huskies sweep the series. He combined for 5.1 innings with just two hits, 0 earned runs and struck out 11.

Greg Shaw III has been another Manhattan transfer (Pudvar) that has made his impact felt in his first season in Storrs. The RHP leads the staff with 19 appearances and has a 4.11 ERA. In 35.0 innings, he has 31 strikeouts and held opponents to a .233 batting average against. Shaw earned his first save as a Husky by closing out the series finale at UNC Greensboro and earned his first win with 3.0 innings of work at Boston College.

CF Caleb Shpur has been one of the best CF’s in the country according to defensive runs saved. The East Canaan, CT native is third amongst CF’s with 9.70 defensive runs saved this season.

The UConn outfielder also leads the team and the BIG EAST Conference with 30 stolen bases after stealing 26 bases a year ago. The 30 stolen bases is 8th in the nation and is also climbing the single-season list for most stolen bases in a UConn single season.

Stolen Bases

Dennis Dwyer, 1993………….. 40

David Smith, 2023……………. 39

Dennis Dwyer, 1994………….. 39

Nick Ahmed, 2010 ……………. 34

Billy Ferriter, 2010 ……………. 33

Jack Sundberg, 2015 ………… 33

George Springer, 2010 ………. 33

George Springer, 2011 ………. 31

Jon Gorrie, 2002 ……………… 31

Brian Specyalski, 1989………. 31

Caleb Shpur, 2025……………. 30

NIL

Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn agrees to contract extension

A few more years of the Rob Vaughn era of Alabama baseball have been guaranteed. Yea Alabama, the university NIL collective, announced Tuesday night that, while financial terms remain subject to approval by The Board of Trustees, appropriate members have been notified of the proposed terms and conditions for a contract extension with Vaughn. In […]

Published

11 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

A few more years of the Rob Vaughn era of Alabama baseball have been guaranteed.

Yea Alabama, the university NIL collective, announced Tuesday night that, while financial terms remain subject to approval by The Board of Trustees, appropriate members have been notified of the proposed terms and conditions for a contract extension with Vaughn.

In two seasons, Vaughn has continued Alabama’s NCAA Tournament appearance streak and compiled a 74-42 overall record with the Crimson Tide, highlighted by the program’s first 40-plus win regular season since 2002 this spring.

“It means everything, to be honest with you,” Vaughn told Yea Alabama.

What does baseball coach Rob Vaughn currently get paid at the University of Alabama?

Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne told Yea Alabama that Vaughn has been “an incredible addition” to the university’s coaches and UA is “thrilled to reach an agreement to keep him and his family in Tuscaloosa for years to come.”

When Vaughn was hired in June 2023, he signed a five-year contract for $900,000 annually.

“He went and hired a young coach that had never one time coached in this area, this part of the country, that had never coached in this league, and gave me an opportunity. And I have felt from the second I stepped here super indebted to him for doing that. I never took that lightly,” Vaughn said of Byrne. “I felt like I had to wake up every day and prove Greg right.”

The Crimson Tide’s 2025 season ended on Saturday in an NCAA regionals against No. 16 national seed Southern Miss.

Rob Vaughn reflects on Alabama baseball season after NCAA Regional elimination

Eliminated on the second day of regional play for the second year in a row, Alabama baseball’s 2025 season is over. What coach Rob Vaughn said.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article was updated to correct a typo.

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I feel like FSU is the pinnacle of college baseball

Florida State baseball has its first transfer portal addition for the 2026 season. Davidson transfer Eli Putnam confirmed to Noles247 that he has committed to the Seminoles. 64Analytics’ transfer portal database first had Putnam’s commitment to FSU. Putnam told Noles247, “I feel like FSU is the pinnacle of college baseball and was a perfect fit. […]

Published

28 minutes ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Florida State baseball has its first transfer portal addition for the 2026 season. Davidson transfer Eli Putnam confirmed to Noles247 that he has committed to the Seminoles. 64Analytics’ transfer portal database first had Putnam’s commitment to FSU.

Putnam told Noles247, “I feel like FSU is the pinnacle of college baseball and was a perfect fit. I love the coaching staff, the atmosphere is unmatched, and the history is incredible.”

He spent four seasons at Davidson and would be a redshirt senior in 2026. Putnam played in 13 games as a true freshman in 2022 before losing his 2023 season to injury. He has been an Atlantic 10 First-Team member each of the last two years, playing in 107 total games in that span.

In 2024, Putnam hit .352 with 16 doubles and 16 homers. This season, he batted .349 with 18 doubles and 19 homers.

He owns a career .338 AVG with a .424 OBP and .642 SLG%. In the last two seasons, he’s combined for 34 doubles, 35 homers, and 120 RBI. The right-handed hitter has struck out 122 times compared to 71 free passes.

B3 | ‘Cats 7, GWU 5

Okay, it’s starting to get a little silly, right?! ?

ELI PUTNAM WITH ANOTHER HR, his 5th in the last 7 ABs!!! pic.twitter.com/399TrqDejS

— Davidson Baseball (@DavidsonBASE) March 25, 2025

He has played all four positions on the infield in his time at Davidson. This past season, six-foot-four, 215-pound infielder mostly played second base. He made 10 errors in 255 total chances for a .961 FLD%.

“I don’t have any expectation around where I’ll play,” Putnam explained, “But it is a goal for me to stick on the left side of the infield and I think Link (Jarrett) is the best coach in America when it comes to developing infielders.”

He produced at a high level in the Cape Cod League last summer. In 36 games, he posted a .291 AVG with a .906 OPS. With wood bats, he slugged seven doubles, three triples, and five homers. He also stole nine bases in 11 attempts. He played first base on the Cape, only making a pair of errors in 241 total chances.

Big fly off the bat of Eli Putnam (@DavidsonBASE) ??#GuardTheGate #GoGatemen pic.twitter.com/HpVtvZqIuj

— Wareham Gatemen (@WarehamGatemen) July 30, 2024

Putnam is not planning on going back to the Cape this summer but said it was ‘the best summer of his life’ last year.

The Davidson transfer was able to make one visit to Tallahassee. It only lasted about 20 hours but left an impact on him. He said, “I felt like I got a pretty good feel of the program through talking a bunch with the coaches and current players. It was a whirlwind of a day but I could really see myself going to FSU after the visit.”

He is draft-eligible and confirmed he will go through the draft process this summer. If he does not sign, FSU will be getting a proven, producitve right-handed bat.

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LSU 5-star WR commit Tristen Keys inks NIL deal with adidas

Adidas continues to build out its high school NIL roster. LSU five-star wide receiver commit Tristen Keys is the latest addition. Keys signed an NIL deal with adidas, the company announced Wednesday. His agreement comes after adidas announced a slew of highly rated basketball recruits to deals as part of its investment in the NIL […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Adidas continues to build out its high school NIL roster. LSU five-star wide receiver commit Tristen Keys is the latest addition.

Keys signed an NIL deal with adidas, the company announced Wednesday. His agreement comes after adidas announced a slew of highly rated basketball recruits to deals as part of its investment in the NIL space.

Keys committed to LSU in March and is fresh off an official visit to Miami over the weekend. On3’s Steve Wiltfong also detailed more visits the five-star receiver has planned in the coming weeks.

A product of Hattiesburg (Miss.), Keys is the No. 5 overall player out of the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the top prospect in the state of Mississippi and has a $536,000 On3 NIL Valuation.

Adidas continues to build out its roster of football athletes. The brand recently signed Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola to an NIL deal and secured a partnership with former Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who later went No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The company also signed former Washington standouts Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze to deals before they became Top-10 picks.

Tristen Keys scouting report

As a junior at Hattiesburg, Tristen Keys hauled in 58 receptions for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns. His ability to make contested catches stood out, as well as his athleticism. Keys also impressed in the high jump and triple jump while also playing basketball.

On3’s Chad Simmons reported multiple programs – including Miami, Alabama and Tennessee – are still in the mix for Keys. The elite receiver also said he will be back at LSU on June 20, and the Tigers aren’t letting up in their recruitment as they look to maintain his commitment.

“LSU has done a great job staying on me and being consistent,” Keys told On3. “I wanted to see how they would act after I committed and they have done a great job. They treat me like I am still a top recruit and that is big for me. That is why I am still committed.”

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Oklahoma Outfielder Maya Bland Enters Transfer Portal

Share Tweet Share Share Email Oklahoma sophomore outfielder Maya Bland has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal, marking her exit from Norman after two seasons with the Sooners. Standing at 5-foot-7, Bland bats left and throws right and hails from Ladera Ranch, California. She was a standout recruit from the OC Batbusters program and was […]

Published

3 hours ago

June 5, 2025

Your Sports Nation