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The Atlantic Coast Conference, or the ACC, had a banner 2024 college baseball season with four programs — Florida State, North Carolina, Virginia and NC State — making the College World Series. Although the ACC failed to place a team in the CWS final, the conference competed with the Southeastern Conference in the race for the best conference in baseball.
Teams from the ACC retooled their lineup during the offseason to compete in another College World Series and hopefully win the national championship next season. One of the positions teams concentrated on replenishing was the pitching staff. Each team revitalized their crew by picking quality pitchers in the transfer portal and retaining their big-time starters to contend for the title next season.
Here's a closer look at the pitchers expected to make a splash in the 2025 NCAA baseball season.
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Way too early Top 7 ACC college baseball pitchers projections
#7. Nolan Sparks, RHP, Boston College
Nolan Sparks played four solid seasons with Rochester, going 19-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 43 games, 38 of which were starts. After a so-so 2021 season, the 5-foot-10 right-hander turned up the volume, going 17-4 with ERAs of 3.10, 2.76 and 2.25 over the next three seasons, respectively.
Sparks, who expressed his commitment to play with Boston College in June, pitched 60 innings in the 2023-24 season and recorded 80 strikeouts. His performance in Rochester enticed the St. Louis Cardinals to pick him with the No. 381 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft.
Sparks is expected to contend for a Friday night start for Boston College in 2025.
#6. Tom Chmielewski, LHP, North Carolina
North Carolina immediately boosted their pitching rotation following their 2024 College World Series stint where they finished joint fifth alongside Kentucky. The Diamond Heels added 6-foot-2 Princeton transfer Tom Chmielewski to their pitching corps. He is expected to help the Scott Forbes-mentored squad to another CWS stint with his uncanny ability to strike out batters.
The left-hander started in 13 games for the Ivy League school last season and posted a 6-6 record with a 3.40 ERA. He struck out 73 batters and surrendered only 19 walks. Chmielewski's ability to limit base traffic was the main reason Scott Forbes and his staff acquired him for the 2025 season.
#5. Cam Leiter, RHP, Florida State
Cam Leiter had a promising first year with Florida State, going 5-1 and 4.63 ERA in seven starts in the 2024 season. Leiter struck out 56 batters in 35 innings for Link Jarrett's team.
Leiter's 14.4 strikeouts per nine innings showed how he can light up the plate. Rival batters combine for .241 in his starts which could drop further if he continues his improvement next season.
Leiter is expected to be the No. 2 or No. 3 starter for the Seminoles, who could be an early favorite to win the 2025 national title with Jamie Arnold returning for another year.
#4. Jason DeCaro, RHP, North Carolina
Jason DeCaro had an excellent freshman season, going 6-1 with a 3.81 ERA in 18 games started. DeCaro played 89 2/3 innings for the Diamond Heels, posting 78 strikeouts and surrendering 44 walks.
The right-hander allowed a .221 batting average en route to a solid season for North Carolina, who made the 2024 College World Series. DeCaro is expected to be the No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher for North Carolina next season.
#3. Andrew Healy, LHP, Duke
Andrew Healy is back for another season with Duke. The 6-foot-6 Glen Mills, Pennsylvania native excelled on the mound in the last two seasons, starting in 23 of the 31 games he's fielded in and tallied an 8-2 mark with a 3.02 ERA.
Healy pitched 83 1/3 innings for the Blue Devils in two seasons, tallying 87 strikeouts and 24 walks. He has allowed a batting average of .229 during his appearances on the mound. The southpaw is expected to lead Duke's starting corps next season as it tries to make another postseason run.
#2. Aidan Knaak, RHP, Clemson
Aidan Knaak is coming off an excellent freshman season with the Clemson Tigers, pitching 83 1/3 innings in 15 starts. Knaak, who struck out 108 batters this past season, went 5-1 with a 3.35 ERA, giving him the NCBWA National Freshman Pitcher of the Year award.
The 6-foot right-hander will hope to pick up where he left off, leading Clemson to a College World Series stint and a possible national title. Knaak is viewed to play as a No. 1 or No. 2 starter for the Tigers next season.
#1. Jamie Arnold, LHP, Florida State
Jamie Arnold was the undisputed ace in the Seminoles' pitching staff. The 6-foot-1 left-hander appeared in 19 games (18 starts) and went 11-3 with a 2.98 ERA last season.
Arnold pitched 105 2/3 innings and struck out 159 batters, allowing a batting average of .224. His contributions helped Florida State clinch a semifinal slot in the 2024 College World Series. He's set to return in the 2025 season and lead the Seminoles' quest to win the national title.
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