Top 10 college baseball standouts to watch out for ahead of conference tournaments ft. Charlie Condon

College baseball in 2024 has been insanely competitive. One reason for the competitiveness is the wealth of superstars sprinkled across the game. From heavy hitters to perplexing pitchers, college baseball has no lack of superstar power.

Here are 10 of the sport's top players ahead of conference tournament play.

Top 10 college baseball standouts to watch for ahead of conference tournaments

Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith is one of the best pitchers in college baseball.

#10, Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M

The hard-hitting outfielder is the key player in a potent Texas A&M offense. While fellow outfielder Jace Laviolette has a bit more power, Montgomery is the better all-around player. A corner outfielder with a powerful arm, Montgomery is hitting .333 with 24 homers and 77 RBIs. He's also stolen five bases. If A&M makes a run to Omaha, Montgomery will be a key.

#9, JJ Wetherholt, West Virginia

Wetherholt is often a forgotten player because he's battled injuries for much of 2024. A hamstring injury cost him much of the season, but when he's played, he's been his usual self. The infielder is hitting .384 with six home runs in just 26 games. The Mountaineers have been competent despite Wetherholt missing half the year. He's still the kind of player who could carry a team.

#8, Nick Kurtz, Wake Forest

An imposing slugger at first base, Kurtz is batting .322 with 20 home runs and 50 RBIs. With 66 walks, his on-base percentage is a dazzling .538. Wake is an incredibly consistent team, but Kurtz is the most reliable part of its offense.

#7, Chase Burns, Wake Forest

Hitting isn't the only impressive part of Wake's team. Burns, who transferred from Tennessee, is 10-1 with a 2.85 ERA. In 82 innings, Burns has allowed 46 hits and 24 walks and has 156 strikeouts. Opposing hitters are batting just .161 against him. He'll keep Wake a formidable foe in short series play.

#6, Christian Moore, Tennessee

The talented Tennessee infielder is an integral part of perhaps the nation's best offense. Moore leads the Vols with a .377 batting average, 24 home runs and 57 RBIs. Yes, he leads in all three categories. He's solid defensively (only five errors) and has struck out just 37 times. Tennessee has plenty of heavy hitters, but none are more reliable than Moore.

#5, Vance Honeycutt, North Carolina

One of the most complete players in college baseball, Honeycutt is a true power and speed threat. The brilliant young outfielder is hitting .333 with 22 home runs and 27 stolen bases. UNC has a stout offense all around, with Parks Harber as another standout. But with his power and running ability, Honeycutt is in the middle of their success.

#4, Travis Bazzana, Oregon State

There aren't too many second basemen who can hit like Bazzana. He's hitting .424, with 26 home runs and 60 RBIs. Bazzana has walked 66 times and struck out just 28. He's also stolen 14 bases. He has just six errors this season at second base. He may be the top pick in the 2024 MLB draft, and he'll make Oregon State a major threat.

#3, Jac Caglianone, Florida

The pre-eminent slugger in college baseball a year ago has been pitched around a bunch in 2024. Caglianone is still hitting a robust .418 with 28 home runs. He's also struck out just 18 times in 196 at-bats. On the mound, he's 5-1 with a 4.07 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 59.2 innings. Caglianone is one of the best hitters in baseball and is probably a No. 1 or 1 pitcher as well.

#2, Hagen Smith, Arkansas

The most dominant arm in the Southeastern Conference, Smith is 9-0 with just a 1.65 ERA. In 71 innings, Smith has a remarkable 136 strikeouts. He has allowed just 33 hits, with opposing batters hitting a paltry .138 against him. Smith is also a full run above the second-place ERA qualifier in the SEC. He makes Arkansas a threat all on his own.

#1, Charlie Condon, Georgia

The best pure hitter in college baseball, the Georgia sophomore is batting .454 with 34 home runs. He thus leads the NCAA in both batting average and home runs. Condon has been a solid defensive third baseman, with just three errors. He doesn't even strike out much, with 37 on the year. Condon has Georgia contending for regional and super-regional hosting in 2024.

Which college baseball stars do you want to see? Let us hear your thoughts below in our comments section!