Tulane Baseball 2025 Preview
A Blog by Will at Overdue Sports
After back-to-back AAC tournament victories in 2023 and 2024, the Tulane Green Wave had yet another successful season, where it would come to an unfortunate end in the Corvallis Regional. Jay Uhlman’s ballclub finished the 2024 campaign with a 36-26 record (15-12 conf) including a sweep over the East Carolina Pirates which propelled them into the AAC tournament where' they’d go 4-0 and hoist another title thanks to a heroic walkoff homerun by outfielder, Jackson Linn.
While the Wave look to replace some key pieces on both the mound (Chandler Welch, Billy Price), and in the lineup (Brady Marget, Colin Tuft, Teo Banks, Marcus Cline), Head Coach Jay Uhlman loves the mix of youth and veteran experience his team will bring into the 2025 season; “We have a hungry group of newcomers that have blended quickly with our battle tested group of back-to-back AAC champions. The guys are motivated to continue the upward trajectory of the past two seasons and put their own stamp on the standards of the program. It has been a rewarding process for us this fall and we want to stay focused on that process to give us the best chance to get what we want.”
Out:
Brady Marget: 62 GS, .331/.427/.524, 14 2B, 10 HR, 59 RBI, 40 BB, 38 K
Colin Tuft: 61 GS, .279/.437/.509, 11 2B, 12 HR, 41 RBI, 13 SB
Teo Banks: 61 GS, .265/.380/.543, 19 2B, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 7 SB
Marcus Cline: 60 GS, .229/.364/.385, 8 2B, 6 HR, 29 RBI
Ben Romano: 33 GP, .278/.381/.500
Nathan Rose: 31 GP/20 GS, .216/.376/.378, 6 2B, 8 RBI
Chandler Welch: 17 GS, 89.0 IP, 4.65 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 88 K, .303 B/AVG
Billy Price: 20 APP, 6 GS, 3.33 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 51.1 IP, .225 B/AVG
Colin Reilly: 4 APP
The Offense:
Despite losing four key starters from the lineup, Tulane brings back eight players that started 20 games or more, four starting 45+ games.
Junior infielder Connor Rasmussen returns, starting 61 games in 2024, slashed .310/.423/.487 with 15 2B, 7 HR, and 51 RBI (T-1 amongst returners). Rasmussen also swiped seven bags in 2024, with a quiet swing and fast hands and solid defense up the middle will be primed for another year of setting the table and driving in runs, as well as utilize the bunt game with a team-leading five SH in 2024.
Senior utility man Gavin Schulz is back in New Orleans after slashing .303/.378/.517 with 13 2B, 11 HR, 51 RBI, and 7 SB in his junior campaign. Started all 62 games for Tulane in 2024, plays great defense across the board. With a big leg kick early in counts that can generate a lot of pop, Schulz does a great job shortening up with two strikes and is willing to get the job done playing small-ball.
Jackson Linn headlines the middle of order after a big junior year where he slashed .299/.351/.658 with 13 2B, 16 HR (led team), 45 RBI, and 7 SB. Not to mentioned the shot heard ‘round the AAC with the walkoff homerun to cap off the AAC tournament run and punch a ticket for the Green Wave to the NCAA playoffs. I anticipate even more power production from Linn in 2025 and will be a great veteran bat in the middle of this Tulane order.
Michael Lombardi will play a pivotal role on the 2025 club as a two-way player, slashed .277/.380/.369, with 7 2B and 26 RBI at the plate while posting a 3.89 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, and a 4-3 record over 41.2 innings of work while racking up 53 strikeouts and a mere .189 B/AVG.
Rounding out the Green Wave lineup of returners are seniors Matthias Haas and Brock Slaton who appeared in 42 and 41 games respectively combining for 35 RBI.
The Returners:
Connor Rasmussen (JR/IF): .310/.423/.487, 15 2B, 7 HR, 51 RBI, 7 SB
Gavin Schulz (SR/UTL): .303/.378/.517, 13 2B, 11 HR, 51 RBI, 7 SB
Jackson Linn (SR/OF): .299/.351/.658, 13 2B, 16 HR, 45 RBI, 7 SB
Michael Lombardi (JR/TWP): .277/.380/.369, 7 2B, 26 RBI - 3.89 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 41.2 IP, 53 K, .189 B/AVG
Matthias Haas (SR/UTL): 42 G, .299/.383/.505, 5 2B, 5 HR, 24 RBI
Brock Slaton (SR/OF): 41 G, .235/.333/.412, 5 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI
Luc Fladda (SR/LHP): 15 GS, 83.0 IP, 4.77 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 61 K, .281 B/AVG
Jacob Moore (JR/RHP): 26 APP, 42 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 45 K, 6 Saves, .222 B/AVG
Henry Shuffler (SR/RHP): 30 APP, 46 IP, 4.89 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 48 K, .246 B/AVG
Carter Benbrook (GR/LHP): 25 APP, 39.1 IP, 5.49 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 46 K, .286 B/AVG
Blaise Wilcenski (JR/RHP): 21 APP, 43.1 IP, 6.23 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 41 K, .337 B/AVG
Will Clements (SR/RHP): 14 APP, 9 GS, 34 IP, 6.35 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 23 K, .293 B/AVG
The Pitching:
While the Green Wave will be replacing their top innings thrower in Chandler Welch, they return more than enough major contributors to the staff that I don’t anticipate them missing a step as we get into the 2025 season.
Senior left-handed pitcher Luc Fladda will lead the charge after getting the ball in 15 games in 2024, notching a 5-3 record, 4.77 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 61 K, and a .281 B/AVG. Fladda was named to the All-Corvallis Regional team where Tulane saw their 2024 run end, going 8 strong innings in a win against Nicholls St allowing no runs and fanning one.
Jacob Moore is back after a team-leading 6 saves over 26 appearances and 42 innings. Racked up a 3.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 45 K, and a .222 B/AVG and can be the anchor of this Tulane bullpen. With a short arm action, Moore lives in the low 90’s and brings an unmatched energy to the mound that all clubhouses need in a closer.
2024 appearance leader (30) Henry Shuffler is back after throwing 46 innings to a 4.89 ERA, 1.37 WHIP with 48 K and a .246 B/AVG. Carter Benbrook, Blaise Wilcenski, and Will Clements round out the returners for the Tulane staff combining for 116.2 innings of work and 50 appearences.
With such a veteran staff, and big pieces back on offense, Tulane should be in a great spot to roll in 2025 as they’ll look to three-peat on AAC titles.
Series of Interest:
@ Long Beach St 3/4
v Xavier 3/14 - 3/16
v Wichita St 3/21 - 3/24
@ Southern Miss 4/1 & 4/22
@ East Carolina 4/25 - 4/27
v Charlotte 5/15 - 5/17
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