Big 12 baseball coaches expect Arizona State to be competitive in its first year in the conference.
The Sun Devils were picked sixth among the Big 12's 14 teams, receiving 96 total points in the preseason poll released Thursday.
Oklahoma State, last season's Big 12 champion, was selected by the coaches as the preseason favorite, collecting nine first-place votes and 163 total points.
Arizona, another Big 12 newcomer this season, finished second in the preseason poll with four first-place votes and 152 total points.
TCU received the other first-place vote and totaled 149 points to finish third, with West Virginia (115) and Texas Tech (111) rounding out the top five.
Ladies and gentlemen... it's 'bout time to play ball ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/nUl0rXRlOe
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) January 23, 2025
ASU also placed two players on the 2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Team: outfielder Kien Vu and pitcher Ben Jacobs.
Vu, a junior from San Diego, California, earned All-America honors last season after leading the Pac-12 and ranking fifth nationally in batting average (.415).
Jacobs, a junior from Huntington Beach, California, emerged as the Sun Devils' ace last season, finishing with a 4.75 ERA and a team-best seven wins. He struck out 102 in 66.1 innings.
These Devils are ready for BIG things 😈#ForksUp /// #Onward pic.twitter.com/n8m9gmzNJQ
— Sun Devil Baseball (@ASU_Baseball) January 23, 2025
Arizona State posted a 32-26 overall record last season and a 17-13 mark in the Pac-12, finishing tied for fifth in the conference.
The Sun Devils open the 2025 season on Friday, Feb. 14, with the first of three games against Ohio State at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
ASU is led by Willie Bloomquist, who begins his fourth season as head coach.
The top 12 teams in the Big 12 standings will advance to the conference championship tournament May 21-24 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
2025 Big 12 Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Oklahoma State, 163 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Arizona, 152 (4)
3. TCU, 149 (1)
4. West Virginia, 115
5. Texas Tech, 111
6. Arizona State, 96
7. UCF, 93
8. Kansas State, 88
9. Kansas, 85
10. Cincinnati, 73
11. Houston, 45
12. Utah, 44
13. Baylor, 39
14. BYU, 21
2025 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
C — Logan Sauve, West Virginia
IF — Mason White, Arizona
IF — Kerrington Cross, Cincinnati
IF — Colin Brueggemann, Oklahoma State
IF — Aidan Meola, Oklahoma State
IF — Anthony Silva, TCU
OF — Brendan Summerhill, Arizona
OF — Kien Vu, Arizona State
OF — *Nolan Schubart, Oklahoma State
OF — Damian Bravo, Texas Tech
DH — Wesley Jordan, Baylor
UTL — Christian Mitchelle, Cincinnati
SP — Ben Jacobs, Arizona State
SP — Dom Stagliano, UCF
SP — Nathan Taylor, Cincinnati
SP — *Dominic Voegele, Kansas
SP — Gabe Davis, Oklahoma State
RP — Stone Cushing, BYU
RP — Dominic Castellano, UCF
RP — *Ben Abeldt, TCU
* — unanimous selection
2025 Big 12 Preseason Yearly Awards
Player of the Year — Nolan Schubart, Oklahoma State
Pitcher of the Year — Dominic Voegele, Kansas
Newcomer of the Year — Cade Climie, Houston
Freshman of the Year — Noah Franco, TCU