SEC Baseball: Position Power Rankings Through Week 12

May baseball is underway, meaning the regular season has entered its final stretch. Every game is pivotal from here, and big moments will be aplenty.

Big moments call for big players.

Every team needs an unlikely hero or two to step up and make a surprise splash in a high-leverage situation, but you usually have to ride your thoroughbreds to get to the promised land in the postseason, as they are a huge reason why you’ve made it this far in the first place.

The SEC is chock-full of thoroughbreds. While the league has been filled with parity and perhaps hasn’t fully inspired faith that a seventh-straight College World Series title is en route, it has seen plenty of established stars shine and new stars blossom.

With that in mind, it’s time for the fourth iteration of ranking the top five players at every position in the SEC. This will be my final crack at these rankings until the end of the postseason, when we’ll revisit one last time and put a bow on things.

As always, these are my opinions at the end of the day, though I am factoring in season stats and the eye test, among other things. Let’s give it another go.

Rankings After Week 3 | Rankings After Week 6 | Rankings After Week 9

Catcher

1. Daniel Jackson, Georgia (.373/.466/.788): The SEC triple crown looks likely for the standout junior, who continues to tote an OPS above 1.200. Jackson is chasing a 25-homer, 25-stolen base season, currently sitting at 23 each. He’s driven in 67 runs and looks like the potential SEC Player of the Year. A thunderous bat steals the headlines, but don’t let his defense behind the dish go unnoticed. He’s up to 34 assists and has thrown out 12 of 34 stolen base attempts.

2. Carson Tinney, Texas (.314/.471/.673): Despite going hitless over the weekend, Tinney has taken his game to a new level across the last few weeks. He’s now at 16 home runs, one shy of his 2025 total at Notre Dame. Half of his 50 hits have gone for extra bases. Tinney has a rocket launcher for an arm and has been one of the top defensive catchers in the league all year.

3. Ryder Helfrick, Arkansas  (.294/.435/.600): The junior hasn’t been overly dominant in SEC play, but he’s striking out less (39 K) and walking more (47 BB) than he did a year ago. Helfrick takes professional at-bats and scorches line drives to all fields on a regular basis. He’s up to 15 homers and 44 RBI. You could argue no one is more important to their team than Helfrick is to Arkansas.

4. Chase Fralick, Auburn (.341/.447/.647): The stocky sophomore lefty is red-hot, racking up 13 hits and driving in 10 runs across his last seven games. His 59 hits are second among SEC catchers, behind Jackson. He’s also tough to run on, gunning down seven of just 17 stolen base attempts. Fralick is a leader and one of the biggest threats in the Auburn order.

5. Cade Arrambide, LSU (.331/.436/.656): Like most on LSU, a sluggish middle of the season saw Arrambide’s numbers drop, but the sophomore has looked as advertised down the stretch despite the awry campaign in Baton Rouge. He’s had seven multi-hit games over the last 30 days, including his program record four-homer game vs. Tennessee. He’s now hit 14 bombs this season, 10 more than his freshman year.

First Base

1. Gavin Grahovac, Texas A&M (.361/.447/.728): One of the hottest hitters in the country, Grahovac is bullying opposing pitchers at the top of the A&M order. He’s up to 12 doubles and 16 home runs and has now driven in 61 runs. The junior has a hit in 19 of his last 20 games, and he’s made the transition across the diamond to first look seamless. Big-league swing, big-league frame.

2. Will Furniss, Ole Miss (.329/.456/.486): The 6-foot-4 senior has become one of, if not the most important piece to the puzzle for the Rebels. He’s been on fire since the beginning of April, notching a hit in 16 of 19 games, driving in 20 runs. Furniss is hitting more line drives than ever and striking out less — now sub-20 percent. Now at 41 RBI on the year with an elite OBP, he’s carrying his weight and then some.

3. Ethan Surowiec, Florida (.310/.411/.508): Still manning both corners, Surowiec has played more first, so he sticks here rather than third base. While he’s struck out 56 times, the Ole Miss transfer is now up to 20 XBH on the year, and he’s drawn his fair share of walks (31). Consistency has eluded Florida this season, but the sophomore has played and started all 48 games, bringing a big bat and good defense to the table.

4. Hudson Brown, Kentucky (.354/.490/.531): The redshirt sophomore battled illness and missed nearly a month, returning over the weekend as UK won a huge series over Tennessee. Despite being out of the picture as of late, Brown has been a key cog for the Bat Cats and has looked like a top first baseman in the league. He’s walked more than he’s struck out and will play a big role as UK fights for a spot in the Field of 64.

5. Ethin Bingaman, Auburn (.324/.426/.556): All of a sudden, Bingaman looks like he could make a run for SEC Freshman of the Year. He’s now up to eight multi-hit games since the beginning of April and has six doubles and nine homers on the year. The Redlands, Calif. product was presented an opportunity with AU losing Eddie Madrigal for the first half of the season. He’s run with it and adds another dangerous layer to a loaded lineup.

Second Base

1. Chris Rembert, Auburn (.327/.387/.459): The sophomore continues to look like an All-American and future big-leaguer the more he plays. Though his power — just three homers — has been down compared to 2025, Rembert is up 52 hits, is racking up big exit velocities and is the guy in the heart of the order for the Tigers. He’s also rounded into fine form on defense, making just two errors since the beginning of April.

2. Chris Hacopian, Texas A&M (.289/.393/.496): The stud Maryland transfer has now played 31 games this season, and it’s clear to see why he was one of the top players available in the portal. While the numbers aren’t gaudy, mostly due to time missed due to injury, he’s still up to 35 hits with seven doubles and six homers. The versatile junior walked 21 times and struck out 15 while providing some slick defense up the middle.

3. Gehrig Frei, Mississippi State (.314/.383/.538): The fifth-year senior has transitioned into the leadoff spot for State and has remained steady throughout conference play. He’s now clubbed eight homers, tying his 2025 total, and also has 10 doubles and a pair of triples. Frei has driven in 34 runs and continues to find ways to contribute for one of the best teams in the conference.

4. Luke Lawrence, Kentucky (.335/.455/.441): Lawrence has been versatile, filling in at shortstop in the absence of Tyler Bell, then playing a little third base. He’s now played second in 11 of the last 12 games. All the while, his offensive production has continued. Up to 57 knocks, he’s driven in 31 runs and has also stolen 13 bases. His OBP in SEC play is now .468, a top-10 mark in the league. Another veteran that fits the Cats’ style in perfect fashion.

5. Mike Mancini, Vanderbilt (.302/.435/.611): Speaking of versatility, Mancini has transitioned from the outfield to second base for the Commodores, and he’s having a terrific year with the glove. Offensively, Mancini is putting the ball in the air more than ever, which has led to 13 homers. He’s walked 36 times, stolen 16 bases and is now at 39 RBI, contributing to a good offense that hasn’t been at the root of VU’s struggles.

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Third Base

1. Tre Phelps, Georgia (.372/.493/.699): There’s no denying Phelps as one of the top third basemen in the nation, let alone the SEC. He consistently pastes baseballs and puts up absurd exit velocities. He’s now up to 68 hits, including 17 homers, and 48 RBI. He’s also a ball magnet and is now tied for the UGA single-season record with 28 HBP. Boasting an OBP this close to .500 in May in the best conference in baseball is absurd.

2. Brodie Johnston, Vanderbilt (.347/.429/.643): Despite Vandy’s late-season woes, Johnston hasn’t taken his foot off the gas and continues to push for a 1.100 OPS. This is someone who hit .260 in 2025 with 68 strikeouts. He’s dropped his K-rate below 18 percent and is now up to 15 doubles and 14 homers. He logs professional at-bats to go with usually-solid defense at the hot corner.

3. Eric Guevara, Auburn (.360/.426/.593): One of the hottest hitters in the conference, Guevara’s coiled stance and swift approach have seen him hit .363 with a .947 OPS in SEC play. Nestled in at fifth in the AU order, he’s now roped 10 doubles and 10 homers and is only getting better as the season treks on. The junior is stepping into the spotlight alongside a loaded cast of characters. Buy Guevara stock heading into the postseason.

4. Ace Reese, Mississippi State (.304/.412/.652): The preseason All-American still hasn’t clicked on all cylinders in conference play, now hitting .228. Still, he’s barreling balls and is doing damage when he connects. His 19 doubles are first in the SEC, and he’s now up to 15 homers that have helped lead him to 54 RBI. Reese has been tremendous when playing at home, and he’s shown improvement defensively. The junior’s ceiling remains among the highest in the league.

5. Nico Partida, Texas A&M (.317/.415/.585): A contender for SEC Freshman of the Year, Partida has been fighting it a bit the last few weeks as his first college season wears on, and he also missed the final game of last weekend’s series vs. Auburn with what looked to be a groin injury. He’s still been an unreal addition to the Aggies, playing quality defense to go with 52 knocks, 41 RBI and a sub-20 percent K-rate.

Shortstop

1. Tyler Bell, Kentucky (.374/.556/.626): Bell has now played 30 games this season, and while UK’s struggles have mostly come with the superstar sophomore in the lineup during SEC play, it’s evident that the Cats are a better squad with the switch-hitting, slick-fielding dynamo in the lineup. He’s already up to 37 hits with seven two-baggers and six homers, has walked more than he’s struck out, has been hit by a pitch 14 times and has also stolen 10 bases.

2. Brendan Lawson, Florida (.289/.500/.615): The sophomore’s electric first half of the season has not been duplicated and he just went 0-for-12 over the weekend at Oklahoma, bringing his average below .300. Having acknowledged that, we all know the kind of player that Lawson, who hasn’t been 100-percent healthy for a portion of the season, can be when clicking. His numbers in 42 games are still tremendous, as he’s notched 20 XBH, 34 RBI, 44 walks and 10 steals.

3. Camden Kozeal, Arkansas (.297/.378/.609): Dave Van Horn made the midseason decision to shift Kozeal from second to short, and he’s done quite well after battling a slow start in SEC play. The junior is one of the leaders in the dugout for Arkansas, and he’s playing like one, too. Now at 57 hits with 16 doubles, 14 homers and 53 RBI, the 5-foot-10, 205-pounder has a compact left-handed swing that can do damage.

4. Jaxon Willits, Oklahoma (.289/.396/.493): Leading the best defensive infield in the SEC, Willits has continued to put together a rock-solid junior campaign. Committing just two errors all year, he’s been smooth at a premium position and has also produced at the plate, trying to serve as a catalyst for an OU offense that hasn’t been able to hang with some of the top teams in the conference. Nearly half of Willits’ 44 hits have gone for extra bases, and he’s now up to 39 RBI.

5. Kolby Branch, Georgia (.295/.398/.624): Hiding at the bottom of Georgia’s blockbuster lineup is Branch, the everyday shortstop that’s also done his fair share of damage at the dish. Now up to seven multi-hit games since April, the mustachioed senior has now pummeled 15 homers and 12 doubles to go with an OPS that’s back above 1.000. He won’t be the best defensive shortstop you’ve seen, but he’s made just six errors. It’s the bat that swoons, though.

Left Field

Note: Georgia’s Henry Allen is out for the year due to injury and is not included on this list.

1. Bryce Chance, Mississippi State (.363/.455/.490): Chance slugged his first home run of the season over the weekend, hitting a grand slam at Texas. The fifth-year senior has moved from the nine-hole to the middle of the order and has continued to get on base and set the table. He’s got 17 doubles to his name, and while he’s driven in just 26 runs, not many play their role better than Chance. He’s also struck out just 12 times all year.

2. Anthony Pack Jr., Texas (.348/.468/.534): Pack would be my pick for SEC Freshman of the Year if the season were to end today. Hitting third for a top-five team in the nation, Pack doesn’t look out of place. He totes a level of maturity that would make you think he was a veteran, not someone that was playing high school ball in 2025. The defense has improved, and he’s now up to 40 RBI and has walked 33 times and stolen 17 bases. Pack is that dude.

3. Blake Cyr, Florida (.329/.403/.608): An SEC power surge has seen Cyr smack seven homers across the last 10 games, raising his stock, which previously clipped thanks to a hot start to open the season. He’s walked just 13 times all season, but he’s also striking out less than 20 percent of the time. The Jekyll-Hyde Gators will really lean on the senior with crunch time rapidly approaching.

4. Braden Holcomb, Vanderbilt (.342/.422/.627): A midseason lull saw strikeouts creep back into the picture for Holcomb, and while they haven’t totally gone away, the junior is back to bashing. He’s now got 20 hits over his last 10 games, driving his numbers back into the upper echelon of SEC outfielders. Previously playing center, he’s shifted over to left down the stretch. Holcomb now has 66 hits on the year.

5. Jake Duer, Texas A&M (.304/.413/.446): The senior FAU transfer has faded a tad in the back half of the season, but the overall numbers are still good enough to get him to the fifth spot on this list. He’s walked and struck out 32 times each, driven in 39 runs and still has an OBP above .400 despite his recent struggles. He just committed his first error of the season over the weekend vs. Auburn.

Center Field

1. Aiden Robbins, Texas (.365/.446/.729): Texas has the luxury of having Robbins atop its lineup, and he has continued to mash in conference play, now hitting over .350 in 23 league games. The Seton Hall transfer is now up to 18 homers after hitting 12 in his last two seasons combined. He collected five more knocks over the weekend and has brought a fiery personality, one that’s relished the chance to compete in the spotlight. Robbins is not out of the SEC Player of the Year race by any stretch.

2. Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M (.346/.430/.777): Strikeouts have been a real issue for Sorrell, who’s now fanned 54 times this season. Thankfully, he’s made up for that with 21 home runs, 14 doubles and a whopping 62 RBI. When Sorrell gets the barrel on the ball, it travels a long way and still gets there in a hurry. He’s also yet to commit an error in center and has stayed healthy, playing 43 games.

3. Garrett Wright, Tennessee (.346/.444/.566): The Bowling Green transfer was injured and missed the beginning of the season, playing just one game in February. Since settling back in, he’s provided quite the spark for the Vols. In 37 games, he’s up to 47 hits, 19 of which have gone for extra bases. Taking over center field at Lindsey Nelson, Wright is also a viable catching option, offering an elite level of versatility. He’s been crucial to Tennessee’s success as of late.

4. Derek Curiel, LSU (.333/.407/.505): Yes, it’s been a season from hell for LSU, and Curiel will not match the Preseason SEC Player of the Year expectations, but he hasn’t quit and still looks like an elite player. He’s got a hit in 11 of his last 13 games and has now driven in 43 runs. The transition from left to center has gone very well, even if Curiel isn’t one of the best defensive outfielders in the SEC.

5. Jayce Tharnish, Kentucky (.360/.425/.513): Tharnish has become one of the more underrated players in the SEC as UK navigates a rocky path to the postseason. He’s excelled defensively in one of the conference’s biggest yards. He can slap singles, he can punish mistakes, but most importantly, he knows how to produce, though opportunities to do just that haven’t been super consistent. The St. Bonaventure transfer is up to 68 hits with 33 RBI and 25 stolen bases, the third-most in the league.

Right Field

Note: LSU’s Jake Brown is out for the year due to injury and is not included on this list.

1. Brady Neal, Alabama (.346/.458/.574): The flourishing senior has split time between right field and catcher, but he sticks in the outfield with John Lemm taking plenty of time behind the dish, too. Neal was on fire early in SEC play and is still hitting .333 in league games. With shortstop Justin Lebron not having an All-American season, Neal has stepped up and is now at 40 RBI with 14 doubles and seven home runs. His rise has been a huge development for the Tide.

2. Jacob Parker, Mississippi State (.330/.430/.661): The electric freshman has had multiple massive moments in big spots for State this season. Competing for time, he’s now made 30 starts and should remain in the lineup as the stakes get higher. He’s up to nine homers and eight doubles, driving in 37 runs. Parker will help headline what will be a loaded SEC All-Freshman Team.

3. Tristan Bissetta, Ole Miss (.305/.409/.658): It’s been a hot-and-cold year for the Clemson transfer, but when Bissetta is hot, he’s one of the nation’s best bats. The booming lefty swing has led to 19 bombs, 57 total hits and 51 RBI. His 65 strikeouts are the second-most in the SEC, but that’s nothing new for the senior. It feels like Bissetta is due for a major moment when the postseason rolls around.

4. Reese Chapman, Tennessee (.293/.411/.524): The Vols are scrapping to make Selection Monday stress-free, and Chapman continues to do his part as one of the top seniors in the SEC. Spraying balls to the gaps, he leads all right fielders in the league with 17 doubles and has also slugged seven long balls. He’s had a better approach at the dish this spring, and it’s paid off.

5. Jorian Wilson, Texas A&M (.313/.373/.747): The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder looks like an edge rusher, and he’s emerging as another future superstar in College Station. He’s becoming a staunch fixture in the everyday lineup for Michael Earley. Wilson has 31 hits, including 12 bombs, five doubles and a triple. He’s also swiped six bags, and while strikeouts will be there, he’s swinging a hot stick that should have the 12th Man excited about what Wilson could be in 2027 and beyond.

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Starting Pitcher

1. Aidan King, Florida (67.2 IP, 13 ER, 15 BB, 71 K): The sophomore right-hander is on an unreal stretch. He’s faced five ranked teams in his last five starts and has allowed just six earned runs across 35.2 IP, striking out 38 while walking just six. Opponents are hitting .180 against the Gators’ ace, whose ERA has dwindled to 1.73. Behind a blow-away heater, King shows plenty of emotion on the slab and isn’t afraid to let the other team know.

2. Dylan Volantis, Texas (62.2 IP, 13 ER, 19 BB, 92 K): A Sunday rainout last month was perhaps the best thing that could’ve happened to Texas. It caused Jim Schlossnagle to move Volantis into the Friday night role. In his three starts since the change, the sophomore lefty has allowed three runs in 18 IP, striking out 35 batters. Utter dominance. He’s closing in on 100 strikeouts this season and is 7-0 with a 1.87 ERA.

3. Tomas Valincius, Mississippi State (68.1 IP 18 ER, 16 BB, 92 K): The sophomore lefty has come back to Earth a bit, surrendering three earned runs in each of his last four starts. It speaks to his overall performance that, despite getting hit a little more over the last month, he still boasts a 2.37 ERA and is holding opponents to a .213 average with a ton of punchies. Valincius’ control and ability to make timely pitches remain divine, and as long as Ryan McPherson isn’t 100 percent, he’ll carry the load for this State staff.

4. Jake Marciano, Auburn (67.2 IP, 17 ER, 12 BB, 87 K): The Virginia Tech transfer took the SEC by storm with his early-season excellence, and he continues to give Auburn a chance to win despite surrendering a little more hard contact as of late. Marciano has allowed nine homers in SEC play, separating his solid starts from being great. Still, opposing batters are below the Mendoza Line at .195, and the sophomore has an elite BB-K ratio.

5. Cade Townsend, Ole Miss (52 IP, 14 ER, 13 BB, 73 K): The rising righty has proven to be uber-reliable for an Ole Miss staff that hasn’t been able to lean on veteran lefty Hunter Elliott as of late. Townsend’s midseason injury hasn’t bubbled back up since his return, and he’s now allowed multiple earned runs in a start just four times this season. Now 5-1 with a 2.42 ERA, the ace of the future has quickly become the ace of the present in Oxford.

6. Hunter Dietz, Arkansas (65.2 IP, 25 ER, 23 BB, 101 K): What a season it’s been for the lefty Dietz, who was limited to just 1.2 IP across the previous two years due to injury. Now operating as the Hogs’ top arm, Dietz leads the SEC in strikeouts and has completed six innings in four of his last five outings. The long ball has been the lone issue as he’s allowed seven homers in his last four starts. Still, he’s limiting damage and putting Arkansas in a good spot every week.

7. Andreas Alvarez, Auburn (59.2 IP, 17 ER, 18 BB, 80 K): The sophomore righty has felt the wrath of the SEC a bit across the last three weeks, allowing 11 earned. He was tagged for three home runs by Texas A&M over the weekend but still completed seven innings and picked up the win, his eighth of the year. Alvarez transitioned from the midweek to the weekend, and while numbers are starting to even out, he still looks trustworthy. The ERA is now 2.56 with opponents hitting .217.

8. Ruger Riojas, Texas (60.2 IP, 25 ER, 12 BB, 96 K): Riojas provided his second steady start in the last three weeks against Mississippi State, holding the Bulldogs to one run over five innings, striking out seven. No longer in the race for SEC Pitcher of the Year, the fiery senior righty still has big-game energy and will be a crucial arm for the Longhorns. The overall numbers remain gaudy as he’s second in the SEC in strikeouts and continues to fill up the zone with an eclectic pitch mix.

9. Alex Petrovic, Auburn (66 IP, 23 ER, 14 BB, 67 K): You could argue Petrovic is the most important arm in Auburn’s elite rotation. He’s been superbly steady, completing at least five innings in 10 of his 12 starts. The redshirt sophomore is 7-2 with a 3.14 ERA, and opposing batters are now hitting .196. Don’t be surprised if Petrovic emerges as the lead horse for AU in the postseason.

10. Aiden Sims, Texas A&M (65 IP, 26 ER, 18 BB, 68 K): Another surging sophomore right-hander, Sims has offered consistency and will likely be the go-to arm for the Aggies in the postseason. Like others on this list, Sims has been plagued by the long ball as of late, surrendering eight home runs in his last four starts. Still, he’s now 8-1 on the year and is holding opponents to a .208 average. Sims has completed five innings in six of his last seven starts.