Head coach Dan Fitzgerald is now in his third year guiding the Kansas baseball program. This season, once again, he and his staff have achieved the remarkable feat of assembling the top-ranked JUCO recruiting class nationwide according to the JBB. As of now, the 2025 recruiting class comprises 11 players, with 10 coming from the JUCO level. These 10 players include INF Cade Baldridge, RHP Dane Ebel, OF Savion Flowers, INF Tyson LeBlanc, C Augusto Mungarrieta, RHP Jacob O’Day, OF/RHP Jhamil Rivera, C/1B Frankie Santiago Rivera, INF Dylan Schlotterback, and LHP Ty Thomson. The lone high school recruit for the Jayhawks is INF Cru Huenfeld from Saint Thomas Aquinas HS in Overland Park, Kansas.

Excitement Surrounding the Recruiting Class

Coach Fitzgerald expressed his enthusiasm at the press conference on Thursday. He mentioned that when considering the transfer portal and the draft's impact this year, the class will continue to evolve and grow. But he is truly excited about the core of the recruits they have secured.Just like in football and basketball, the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and transfer portal have brought significant changes to the recruiting process for collegiate baseball programs across the nation. High school baseball players no longer receive the same level of attention from Division I programs as they used to. This has forced these athletes to explore various options for their collegiate baseball careers. For many, spending a year or two playing JUCO baseball becomes a viable path, with the hope of getting noticed and gaining the opportunity to transfer to a higher-level program.

Assistant Coach Jon Coyne's Role

Another key figure in this latest recruiting class is assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Jon Coyne. He, like Fitzgerald, is entering his third season with the Jayhawks. Both Coyne and Fitzgerald have extensive experience with junior college baseball as they have each spent several years coaching at the JUCO level.Fitzgerald emphasized the love for baseball that JUCO players possess. He stated that they have a strong work ethic and are often willing to go to great small towns to pursue their baseball dreams.Coyne also shared his thoughts, saying that each of their commits will make an immediate impact on the roster and contribute to building the team's culture. They are all excellent players, students, and even better people.

Characteristics of JUCO Players

Fitzgerald recognized the work ethic and mental toughness required to play at the JUCO level. These qualities make JUCO players highly desirable recruiting targets. He mentioned that these players have a level of humility that is essential for playing in their program. The Kansas baseball team is known for its gritty, blue-collar attitude, and these JUCO players fit in perfectly.

Upcoming Season and Opening Game

Last season, Kansas baseball ended with a record of 31-23, just missing out on the Big 12 title game. The Jayhawks will kick off their 2025 campaign on the road against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 14, 2025, at Whataburger Field. This is an exciting start to the new season, and the team is looking forward to making a strong showing.