The SEC tournament kicks off next week, with the top teams in the conference vying for a high-profile victory while some of the game's top prospects use the grand stage as a platform to highlight their games ahead of July's MLB Draft.
Which teams will compete and who should fans focus on throughout the battle for conference supremacy?
We know SEC regular season champions the Tennessee Volunteers will be one of them.
Who joins them?
Find out with this preview of the tournament.
Tournament Schedule and Bracket
First Round (single elimination): May 21
Second Round (double elimination): May 22
Third Round (double elimination): May 23
Fourth Round (double elimination): May 24
Semifinal Round (single elimination): May 25
Championship Game: May 26
Full schedule, including times, here.
Southeastern Conference @SEC🚨 The Bracket.<br><br>[PDF] <a href=""> href="">#SECBSB</a> x <a href="">#SECTourney</a> <a href="">
Team Rosters
Top Prospects
Charlie Condon, 3B, Georgia Bulldogs
Bulldogs third baseman Condon had the best season in school history and one of the great offensive seasons in conference history, with a .450 average, 35 home runs, and 72 RBI in 200 plate appearances.
11Point7 College Baseball @11point735 REGULAR SEASON HOMERS IS INSANE ‼️<br><br>Charlie Condon is truly one of a kind <a href="">
Per MLB.com, his average base running is made up for by his physical gifts.
"Though he's a below-average runner, Condon is reasonably athletic and covers ground with long strides once he gets going," the site stated.
Condon should be the consensus No. 1 pick but a conference rival with an ability to play two ways could usurp him for that coveted spot, held by the Cleveland Guardians.
Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida Gators
Called "the best two-way player in the nation" by MLB.com, Caglianone compiled a .419 average, 28 homers, and 56 RBI in 203 at-bats.
Jacob Rudner @JacobRudnerJac Caglianone has hit 62 home runs over the last two years. <a href="">
The offense is already impressive. Add to that his pitching and you have a player that likely has Major League ball clubs salivating at the potential of adding him to their clubhouse.
The Tampa native went 5-1 as a starter and tallied a 4.07 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched. Struggles to find his command hurt his standing as a top-tier pitching prospect, with MLB suggesting he is a first-rounder based on his power, but a "second-rounder on the mound."
Caglianone has undergone Tommy John surgery.
Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas Razorbacks
Smith overcame Tommy John surgery to become one of the best pitchers in the nation, with a wicked slider that operates in the mid-to-high 80s. That may be his best and most consistent stuff but his fastball, according to MLB, "operates in 93-97 and touches 100 mph."
Baseball America @BaseballAmericaHagen Smith's 2024 season is incredible.<br><br>He broke the <a href="">@RazorbackBSB</a> career strikeout record.<br><br>Smith's numbers are silly. <br><br>9-0<br>1.52 ERA<br>77 IP<br>150 Ks<br>29 BB<br><br>🔥🔥🔥<a href="">
The site also said of his somewhat awkward delivery, "Smith employs far from a textbook delivery, working from a low-three-quarters slot with some crossfire that makes it tough to pick up his pitches and also to throw strikes at times."
Like most power pitchers, he can be a dependable starter in the bigs but will have to find his command and control to be the best he can be at the next level of competition.
