SEC Baseball: Position Power Rankings Through Week 9

We’ve now seen nine weekends of action come and go. The next few weeks will make or break myriad seasons across the college baseball landscape.

Contenders are well-established, while pretenders have mostly been found out. Postseason projections are here, and many teams are beginning to figure out what the final five weeks of the regular season must look like for them to feel comfortable when the Field of 64 is revealed.

Barring a couple of collapses, the SEC will once again lead the way with the most selections of any conference. But who are these teams leaning on as the weight of each game increases?

It’s once again time to rank the top players at every position in the SEC. This is my third iteration, and believe it or not, parsing through the talent in this league has only gotten more difficult.

Just look at third base. Entering last weekend, eight SEC third basemen were hitting over .300, and none have been defensive liabilities. Center field is another position that contains oodles of skill and athleticism. It’s hard to whittle things down to a top five.

Using the nine-week sample, leaning heavily on statistics and my amateur eye test, let’s get to ranking. My second version, which came out after week six, can be seen here.

Catcher

1. Daniel Jackson, Georgia (.385/.480/.790): The brawny junior has not torn through SEC pitching by any means, but it was always going to be tough to match his non-conference numbers. He hasn’t had to lean on his power to continue to produce, though strikeouts have crept up as of late. That said, he was the Just Baseball Midseason SEC Player of the Year for a reason. Jackson is a versatile athlete with a great bat and an underrated defensive acumen. As noted by 11point7 over the weekend, Jackson could become the seventh player since 1997 to put together a 25-homer, 25-steal season. It’ll take a strong finish, but it’s within reach, as he’s now at 16 bombs and 17 swipes.

2. Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas (.289/.426/.625): Helfrick did not get off to an elite start like other Preseason All-Americans, but he’s rounded into form and done his best to carry Arkansas’ lackluster offense the last few weeks. He’s cut down on strikeouts (under 18% entering the weekend) and is hitting more line drives (over 28%) while continuing to look like one of the top all-around athletes in the league. Helfrick gives 100-percent effort every game, and that has shone through when watching him play this season.

3. Carson Tinney, Texas (.314/.468/.661): It wasn’t an otherworldly start to the year for the Notre Dame transfer, but Tinney was getting on base and playing stout defense behind the dish. As the year has gone on, he’s started to make some noise with the bat and is now hitting .345 with six bombs and 15 RBI in SEC play. Tinney is patient, punishes mistakes, guns down baserunners and now has 20 assists with no errors on the year. As advertised.

4. Chase Fralick, Auburn (.318/.435/.561): The sophomore has slowed at the plate in conference play, but he had a three-hit weekend vs. Kentucky and is now at 42 total knocks on the year, second for any catcher in the league behind Jackson. He could use a second wind down the stretch, but by no means is Fralick fading. He remains a threat in the heart of the Tigers’ order and has shown improvements defensively compared to his freshman campaign.

5. Brendan Brock, Oklahoma (.302/.397/.566): Brock has split time with Deiten Lachance — a name that’s appeared on this list in each of the first two iterations — this season, but Lachance is beginning to be more of a regular at first base. The Southwestern Illinois CC transfer also struggled early on in SEC action, but a four-hit weekend at Vandy saw Brock drive in five runs and walk four times. One of the best athletes at the position, he’s walloped eight doubles and eight homers this season. He’s also now up to 22 stolen bases, a top-five mark in the league.

First Base

1. Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M (.356/.454/.689): The Aggies’ sweet-swinging leadoff man is somehow quietly putting together an All-American season. Severely cutting down on the swing-and-miss (just over a 13% K-rate entering the weekend), the junior is spraying the ball all over the yard with high-end exit velocities. He’s improved as the year has gone on and has made the transition from third to first look seamless. Grahovac has now driven in 46 runs on the year, smashing 11 doubles, three triples and nine homers. After missing essentially the entire 2025 season, he looks better than ever this spring.

2. Hudson Brown, Kentucky (.358/.493/.509): There’s nothing super sexy about Brown’s game, but the slash line speaks for itself, doesn’t it? The redshirt sophomore has made a gigantic jump this season and has carried the load for UK at times. He strikes out less than 15 percent of the time and has a knack for hitting ’em where they ain’t. Brown is a perfect fit for the Cats’ identity, and he continues to stand out, though he was out this weekend at Auburn battling illness.

3. Ethan Surowiec, Florida (.319/.425/.546): While Surowiec has played the last five games at third base, he’s still logged more time at first this year, so he sticks here for now. Despite being among the SEC leaders in strikeouts with 46, Surowiec is a dynamic hitter. He’s now hitting .333 in conference play after a six-knock week that saw him drive in seven runs. He’s drawing enough walks (25) and now has 17 XBH this season. Surowiec also possesses one of the more underrated gloves in the league.

4. Will Furniss, Ole Miss (.320/.453/.422): The senior has always been one to kick things into gear in conference play, and that’s once again the case in 2026. After terrorizing LSU pitching over the weekend, Furniss is now hitting .321 in SEC games. He’s striking out less than ever — now sub-20% on the year — and is walking once for every K. The longtime Rebel is now up to 120 career RBI during his time in Oxford and has quietly been one of the more consistent first basemen in the league.

5. Reed Stallman, Mississippi State (.302/.389/.538): Stallman has now made 26 starts at first after logging just one last season. The second-year Bulldog, now in his fifth season of college baseball, had four hits and two home runs over the weekend vs. Tennessee. The State offense is in a funk, but Stallman has produced and is second on the team in RBI with 34. The former outfielder can play his new position well, too.

Second Base

1. Gehrig Frei, Mississippi State (.350/.411/.607): There is no clear-cut top player at second base in the SEC right now, in my opinion. Frei’s production has only ramped up during SEC action. He’s now up to 16 extra-base hits on the season, and while he’s still putting the ball on the ground plenty (over 48% entering the weekend), he’s hitting the ball hard and acts as a sprocket for the State lineup. The veteran switch-hitter is also yet to commit an error on defense and feels like an important piece to the puzzle for Brian O’Connor and Co.

2. Chris Rembert, Auburn (.327/.392/.478): Persevering through his early two-week absence, the sophomore has not stopped hitting the ball hard when on the field. There’s been a touch more swing-and-miss to his game, but contact is often thunderous and on a line. Now up to 37 hits after a loud six-hit weekend vs. Kentucky, Rembert has driven in 28 runs and looks like the Just Baseball Preseason All-American we expected to see. Now it’s about maintaining that level through the rest of the season.

3. Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M (.294/.406/.494): Despite having just 21 games under his belt, Hacopian is already compiling numbers that rival other top second basemen in the league, and he’s done it mostly against SEC opponents. It’s very clear upon watching the Maryland transfer that he’s among the best players in the sport when healthy. His presence creates a three-headed monster at the top of A&M’s order, adding a layer that’s supremely noticeable when missing. Hacopian routinely clears 110-MPH exit velocities, has elite bat-to-ball skills, raw power and a rock-solid glove. He’s got aura, as the kids say. His numbers — five doubles, four homers, 17 RBI, 16 BB, just 11 K and one error — would agree.

4. Ryan Black, Georgia (.307/.441/.564): Another underrated player in the SEC, Black bats at the bottom of a stacked Georgia lineup and has at times fluctuated from second base to the outfield. The versatile senior who transferred in from UT Arlington last season had a great first half of league play, hitting over .300 with an OPS above 1.000. He’s drawn 23 walks, tied for the most on his team, and is now up to six homers, one shy of his total from 2025. What helps set Black apart is a plus glove that’s yet to commit an error in a UGA uniform. He’s one of the league’s unsung heroes.

5. Ethan Mendoza, Texas (.279/.373/.529): Mendoza has been struggling in SEC play, hitting .204 with a sub-.300 OBP. Jim Schlossnagle has stuck with the veteran in the leadoff spot, and some of his numbers for the season — 39 hits, eight homers, 31 RBI, sub-15% K-rate, one error — are still solid. Mendoza had three hits last week and will aim to make a return to form down the stretch. He’s an integral piece for the Longhorns.

Third Base

1. Tre Phelps, Georgia (.398/.535/.818): Despite his hilariously gaudy numbers, Phelps is somehow underrated when it comes to discussing some of the top players in college baseball. The junior is a real marauder with the bat in his hands and is now at 53 total hits on the year. He possesses merciless pop (14 HR) but doesn’t have the swing-and-miss tendencies that often plague a slugger. He has a knack for getting hit by pitches, offers impressive versatility as an infielder and offers a calming presence at the top of the UGA order.

2. Brodie Johnston, Vanderbilt (.365/.439/.676): After going hitless in Vandy’s opening weekend of SEC play, Johnston has gone on to tally 22 hits in the last 12 league games. After striking out 36% of the time as a freshman, Johnston has trimmed his K-rate down to 20% and has doubled his walk-rate, too. Nearly half of his 54 hits have gone for extra bases. Johnston is twitched up and has shown vast improvement this spring.

3. Nico Partida, Texas A&M (.339/.444/.630): Just Baseball’s Midseason SEC Freshman of the Year, Partida has played like a savvy veteran for the Aggies. He’s getting on base and producing in the middle of a potent lineup, where the top of the order draws a bulk of the attention. He’s not trying to be the hero, shooting balls into gaps and letting the extra bases come. He’s also playing perfectly fine defense at a premium position. Third base is often filled by the upperclassman captain archetype, but Partida is making his freshman presence felt in a major way this spring.

4. Ace Reese, Mississippi State (.312/.404/.630): State’s newfound SEC woes have not been nurtured by Reese, who’s hitting just .213 with a .780 OPS in league play. The superstar junior doesn’t have any worrisome preliminary numbers, but his presence needs to be felt if the Bulldogs are going to get off the schneid after dropping six home SEC games in a row. To his credit, he’s still roped 14 doubles and 10 home runs on the year, driving in runs while playing a respectable third base.

5. Eric Guevara, Auburn (.366/.448/.545): The junior has blossomed into an above-average hitter, and that’s shown during league play. Guevara is now slashing .412/.500/.529 in SEC games, mostly spraying singles around the yard, showing off some of the better contact skills in the league. Perhaps not thought of as a key cog to the AU machine entering the year, Guevara has been leading the charge as of late.

Shortstop

1. Brendan Lawson, Florida (.340/.552/.773): The Gators’ star sophomore missed a few games due to illness, but his impact was felt in the final two games of UF’s series win at Georgia over the weekend. Lawson’s power surge has stalled in SEC play, but he’s still at 11 long balls on the season, one more than he hit all of last year. Lawson is putting the ball in the air more, drawing a ton of walks (38 on the year) and just has the look of a future big leaguer. He’s the clear top shortstop in the SEC and one of the best in the nation.

2. Tyler Bell, Kentucky (.354/.567/.569): Like Hacopian at second base, Bell is clearly a cut above. His shoulder injury on opening day sidelined him for a little less than a month, and his initial return saw him stick at DH. He’s now played the last 11 games at shortstop, and he’s yet to make an error, showcasing a slick glove. In a 21-game sample, the sophomore switch-hitter has 23 hits (six XBH), 16 RBI, 22 walks, 10 HBP and seven steals. I once again ask: how in the world did UK get Bell to campus?

3. Brandon McCraine, Auburn (.355/.466/.430): The redshirt freshman played his way into the lineup once second baseman Chris Rembert missed a couple weeks with injury early in the year. Upon Rembert’s return, McCraine shifted to shortstop and has continued to flourish. McCraine may not be as slick as other marquee players at the position, but he’s committed just five errors. He puts the ball in play, has 10 stolen bases, as many walks as strikeouts and hasn’t dipped much in SEC action. He’ll be in Butch Thompson’s plans for the foreseeable future.

4. Jaxon Willits, Oklahoma (.303/.417/.486): SEC play has been a rollercoaster for the Sooners, but Willits (.308/.403/.442) has continued to play above-average baseball, leading one of the top defensive infields in the league. He’s helped turn 16 double plays and has still committed just one error all year. Willits has range and an innate ability to make tough plays.

5. Steven Milam, LSU (.266/.400/.420): There is no better defensive shortstop in the SEC, and perhaps the nation, than Milam. Smooth doesn’t begin to describe the junior’s ability. He has range, makes consistent throws and just has that silky touch you want to see in most big league gloves at the position. Oh, and the hitting numbers are quietly rising, despite LSU’s rocky season. He’s up to 13 XBH and has walked more (21) than he’s struck out (19).

Left Field

1. Bryce Chance, Mississippi State (.376/.474/.495): It was always going to be tough for Chance to stay above the .400 average mark, and a hitless weekend vs. Tennessee finally sees his numbers dip a bit. The fifth-year senior has still been one of State’s best bats, and he continues to produce in the nine-hole, despite the Bulldogs’ six-game SEC skid. Chance has struck out just eight times this season — that remains remarkable considering the talent he’s facing on a weekly basis.

2. Mike Mancini, Vanderbilt (.336/.479/.727): The senior missed opening weekend but has been smashing baseballs since. How about a 1.272 OPS, eight homers and 18 RBI in 15 SEC games? Mancini hit four homers in his first season at Vandy in 2025. He’s now at 12 this year, totes a ridiculous OBP and has helped lead the Commodores’ unexpected power crusade. It’s looking like a career year for the one-time James Madison transfer.

3. Jake Duer, Texas A&M (.341/.471/.520): The FAU transfer has exceeded expectations in College Station thanks to 14 extra-base hits, 36 RBI and 30 walks. He’s got a .918 OPS in SEC play and is another weapon that makes the Aggies look like one of the deepest lineups in the nation. The senior is also a good defensive corner outfielder.

4. Trey Gambill, Oklahoma (.337/.518/.574): Not only is Gambill a tremendous defender, he’s becoming quite the reliable bat for the Sooners. He’s now hitting .365 with six doubles, a pair of homers and eight RBI in SEC play. The senior’s absurd OBP should not be discounted at this point in the season. Gambill is incredible at getting on base, and what more could you ask for if you’re Skip Johnson? ChaOUs, indeed.

5. Anthony Pack, Texas (.328/.460/.529): A contender for SEC Freshman of the Year, Pack Jr. has not let up in conference play and is now hitting .373 with a 1.061 OPS. He’s made the move from right to left field, is third on the team with 33 RBI and has swiped a team-high 12 bases. Pack doesn’t look lost when surrounded by veterans, and he’s earned the trust of Schlossnagle.

Center Field

1. Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M (.379/.465/.856): It’s easy to sound repetitive when praising Sorrell, but much of what makes him great is worth repeating. Not many hit the ball harder, and while he may strikeout a touch too much (nearly 24% entering the weekend), Sorrell is doing consistent damage at the top of the A&M order. His 17 home runs are top-10 nationally and lead the SEC. His 57 RBI is top-five nationally. Keep in mind, this is all accompanied by a great glove at a premium position. And to top it off, Sorrell has stayed healthy after injury limited him to 26 games a season ago.

2. Aiden Robbins, Texas (.358/.428/.745): It was a weekend to forget for Texas, but Robbins blasted four home runs and reminded the nation that he may be the best center fielder in the nation. The Seton Hall transfer loves the spotlight and shines in it. He hit 12 total homers in two seasons with the Pirates and is now at 15 as a Longhorn this spring. Robbins is a classic college baseball superstar, and his stock, somehow, continues to rise.

3. Derek Curiel, LSU (.359/.437/.545): It’s been a disappointing season in Baton Rouge thus far, but Curiel, Just Baseball’s Preseason SEC Player of the Year, has rounded into form the last few weeks. Hitting .339 in conference play, the dynamic sophomore has done a little more than slap singles, now up to eight doubles, two triples and five homers. Curiel hardly strikes out and has handled the transition from corner outfield to center quite well, even if he’s not making highlight-reel grabs on a weekly basis.

4. Jayce Tharnish, Kentucky (.368/.436/.507): The St. Bonaventure transfer has been as advertised. Tharnish gets on base, steals bases and sets the table on a consistent basis. His 24 steals are second in the league, and his 53 hits easily lead UK. He roams a big center field at Kentucky Proud Park well and is the latest portal pickup that fits the mold under head coach Nick Mingione.

5. Rylan Lujo, Georgia (.380/.482/.620): Another versatile Bulldog that’s somehow ended up the near-everyday center fielder in Athens, Lujo is red-hot. His .442 average in SEC play easily leads the league. He’s struck out just seven times in 29 games. The sophomore Dayton transfer has sent his stock soaring heading into the home stretch of the regular season. Originally thought of as an option at second base, Lujo has now started 22 games in center.

Right Field

1. Brady Neal, Alabama (.358/.468/.626): The senior looks to be settling in at right field rather than catcher at this point in the season, and his rise the last few weeks has been meteoric. Neal hit .219 in 41 games last year and is now tied for 10th in the SEC in average. He’s up to .393 in league play and has turned out to be the straw that stirs the drink for Bama. It took a while, but Neal is finally living up to the hype that came with his blue-chip recruit status. One of the bigger surprises this season.

2. Jake Brown, LSU (.324/.426/.676): It looks like the 2026 season is turning sour for LSU, but that’s no fault of Brown. The veteran lefty pumped two more home runs vs. Ole Miss over the weekend and is now up to 15 on the year. He has had some struggles in SEC play (.228 average), but he’s hitting the ball hard and is still walking more than ever in his career. Brown looks like the leader of a team that’s trying to acquire some spunk down the stretch.

3. Tristan Bissetta, Ole Miss (.324/.429/.699): Make no mistake, the non-conference numbers are doing some heavy-lifting for Bissetta’s slash line. His 51 strikeouts are the most in the league, but this isn’t exactly anything new for the Clemson transfer. He still possesses a thunderous left-handed swing and will be one of the players that grabs the headlines for the Rebels as they push for another postseason berth. His 15 homers and 40 RBI remain among the best in the league.

4. Reese Chapman, Tennessee (.295/.415/.500): As the Vols attempt to turn their season around, the senior is closing in on a career year. He’s walking more than ever (over 14% entering the weekend), and while the power (four HR) may be a little down, his 13 doubles are already a season-high, and he’s also made a couple of highlight-reel grabs in right. Chapman has been around the program for a long time, and he remains vital for Josh Elander and Co.

5. Jacob Parker, Mississippi State (.324/.441/.689): Another standout freshman, Parker has forced his way into Brian O’Connor’s plans earlier than expected. After some memorable moments early in the year, Parker has only picked things up and is now hitting .343 with a 1.100 OPS in SEC play. He has a knack for shellacking bad balls, and while the swing is long, it does damage. Parker has six doubles, seven homers and 25 RBI to his name this season.

Starting Pitcher

1. Tomas Valincius, Mississippi State (53 IP, 9 ER, 12 BB, 72 K): The Bulldogs’ ace left-hander proved to be somewhat human over the weekend, surrendering eight hits and three runs in a loss to Tennessee. If that’s the worst it’ll get for the Virginia transfer, then that’s pretty good. Opponents are hitting .190, and his ERA now sits at 1.51. Valincius is averaging eight strikeouts per game.

2. Dylan Volantis, Texas (44.2 IP, 10 ER, 15 BB, 57 K): The sophomore lefty didn’t throw over the weekend with the Texas-Texas A&M finale getting canceled due to weather on Sunday. He’s far from a secret, but Volantis getting deployed at the end of a series still feels like a cheat code of sorts. He’s allowed just seven extra-base hits all season, and opponents remain below the Mendoza line at .198.

3. Jake Marciano, Auburn (52.2 IP, 11 ER, 7 BB, 71 K): Like Valincius, Marciano finally tripped up and allowed four runs on eight hits (three homers) over four innings at home to Kentucky on Saturday. It’s the first time he hasn’t completed five innings all year. Still, the Virginia Tech transfer has far exceeded expectations this spring and will continue to lead the charge for the Tigers. His BB-K rate is ridiculous, though he has now allowed eight homers this year.

4. Aidan King, Florida (46.2 IP, 9 ER, 11 BB, 47 K): The sophomore fills up the zone, induces weak contact and has now completed seven innings in back-to-back starts. King, who moved into the Friday role over the weekend, took a no-hitter into the seventh against an elite Georgia offense. King’s ERA now sits at 1.74, and he looks really tough to beat right now.

5. Andreas Alvarez, Auburn (43.2 IP, 6 ER, 15 BB, 60 K): Another massive surprise for the Tigers, Alvarez made the move from midweek to weekend two starts ago, and it’s gone swimmingly. The sophomore righty just held Kentucky to two runs on three hits across six impressive innings to lower his ERA to 1.24. He’s got six wins on the year and looks to be getting better as the year treks on.

6. Ruger Riojas, Texas (47.2 IP, 18 ER, 11 BB, 72 K): Teams have started to figure out Riojas. He’s allowed at least five hits in all five SEC starts and has now allowed 11 earned across his last two outings against South Carolina and Texas A&M. The eclectic pitch mix still looks terrific, and Riojas is a gamer, but it’ll be interesting to see if he can regain his early-season form down the stretch. It’s still 11 walks and 72 strikeouts, but the ERA is now at 3.40 — still nothing to scoff at.

7. Dylan Vigue, Georgia (41 IP, 12 ER, 24 BB, 49 K): What a stretch it’s been for the Michigan transfer. In his last two starts against Mississippi State and Florida, Vigue has gone 11.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Granted, the command has eluded him at times, but Vigue has an impressive arsenal and is starting to look like a more reliable option for Wes Johnson. Opponents are hitting .162. If he can cut down on the walks, then the junior could be UGA’s go-to guy in the postseason.

8. Hunter Dietz, Arkansas (47.1 IP, 19 ER, 17 BB, 78 K): Dietz has now struck out eight-plus batters in seven of his nine starts. The redshirt sophomore is starting to consistently pitch deep into games, and with Gabe Gaeckle’s move to the bullpen, there will be a lot of weight on Dietz’s shoulders moving forward. Can the lefty handle the workload as the stakes get higher?

9. Cade Townsend, Ole Miss (35.2 IP, 8 ER, 8 BB, 54 K): Townsend came out of his first SEC start and then missed a week due to injury, but that has proven to be a blip. He’s now completed six innings in back-to-back starts, striking out 14 while walking just one. Forming an elite one-two punch with Hunter Elliott, Townsend’s ERA is down to 2.02 and looks like the ace of the future in Oxford.

10. Amp Phillips, South Carolina (49.2 IP, 12 ER, 22 BB, 56 K): The fiery right-hander just put together his best start of the season, shutting down Mizzou to the tune of eight scoreless with 10 strikeouts. The USC Upstate transfer has held opponents to one or no earned runs in six of his nine starts. Phillips’ ERA is down to 2.17, and opponents are hitting .188. The junior has one of the livelier fastballs in the league.