DELAND, Fla. – The reigning ASUN Conference champions are once again the team to beat. D1 Baseball projected Stetson to win the league in its conference preview released Thursday afternoon, setting high expectations for a Hatters squad looking to build on last season's success.

Stetson shared the ASUN regular-season title with Austin Peay and FGCU after all three teams posted identical 20-10 conference records. The Hatters then stormed through the postseason, winning their ninth ASUN Tournament championship and securing a spot in the NCAA Regional, where they knocked off second-seeded Alabama before bowing out in Tallahassee.

With a 40-win season in the rearview, the Hatters now set their sights on a repeat. Their journey begins outside of both the state and the continental United States, as they open the 2025 campaign in Puerto Rico against the UConn Huskies.

D1 Baseball highlighted several key factors that make Stetson the conference favorite:

Strengths

A veteran infield returns intact from last season, bringing both experience and chemistry. That group played a pivotal role in the Hatters' championship run, providing steady defense and offensive production throughout the season.

Question Marks

While last year's pitching staff leaned on the consistency of fifth- and sixth-year arms, this season's group features pitchers with higher upside but less collegiate experience. Developing those arms into reliable contributors will be key to Stetson's success.

Star Power

Stetson's talent was on full display this past summer, as 14 Hatters competed in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Among the standouts are four players D1 Baseball singled out as stars to watch:

• James Hays (RHP) – The hard-throwing right-hander is Stetson's top MLB Draft prospect despite logging just three innings for Georgia last season. His electric fastball, which reaches 96 mph, gives him frontline potential.
• Lorenzo Meola (SS) – A budding star in the middle infield, Meola brings both offensive firepower and defensive reliability.
• Landon Moran (1B) – A plus-plus defender at first base, Moran combines elite glove work with an OPS above .840.
• Yohann Dessureault (2B) – The team's leading home run hitter in 2024 with 12 long balls, Dessureault provides pop in the lineup while anchoring the infield alongside Meola and Moran.

With talent, experience, and high expectations, the Hatters are poised for another memorable season. The quest for back-to-back ASUN titles begins in February.