WICHITA, Kan. (GoShockers.com) – Wichita State baseball was picked second in the 2025 American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll, the highest preseason projection for the Shockers since joining the conference in 2017.
East Carolina topped the poll with 80 points, including eight first-place votes, while the Shockers garnered 72 points and the other two first-place nods. Defending American Athletic Conference tournament champion Tulane checked in at #3, followed by UTSA and Charlotte in the top half of the poll. Florida Atlantic, South Florida, UAB, Memphis and Rice round out the projections.
The Shockers have never been picked higher than fourth in the American preseason poll, a status they reached just once in the 2022 edition. Last season, Wichita State was picked seventh before finishing 32-29 (15-12) and tying for third in Brian Green‘s first season as head coach.
WSU and Tulane lead the way with four preseason All-Conference selections apiece. Wichita State catcher Mauricio Millan, first baseman Josh Livingston, second baseman Jordan Rogers and shortstop Camden Johnson were all recognized by the conference, with Millan as the unanimous selection behind the plate.
Millan put together another consistent season as Wichita State’s primary starting catcher in 2024, making 56 total starts that included 40 at catcher. The El Paso, Texas native finished third on the team with a .301 batting average, smacking 10 doubles and two home runs while setting a new program and American Athletic Conference record with 24 hit by pitches. Millan recorded 15 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI contests, solidifying his reputation as one of the conference’s most clutch hitters with a .371 batting average with runners in scoring position.
Livingston delivered one of the most impressive months in recent program history to buoy Wichita State’s late-season surge. The rising senior went 11-for-33 in the month of May with three doubles, six home runs and 23 RBI in just nine games, highlighted by four homers in the conference tournament. For the season, Livingston hit .253 with five doubles, 11 home runs and 39 RBI, establishing a new program record with three pinch-hit home runs that included the program’s first pinch-hit grand slam since 2016.
Rogers posted the best season of his career as Wichita State’s regular second baseman in 2024. The versatile defender played in 60 games with 57 starts (52 at second base, four in right field, one in center field), hitting .296 with 12 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs and 41 RBI. Rogers tied for third in the American Athletic Conference in both triples and hit by pitches while leading the Shockers with 56 runs scored. He also put together an 18-game hitting streak from April 20-May 21, the longest by any Wichita State player in 2024.
Johnson burst onto the scene in 2024 as one of the region’s most dynamic young players. The left-handed hitting infielder was named Second Team All-AAC and AAC All-Freshman Team as the only Shocker to start 60 games, 55 at third base and five at shortstop. Johnson led the team with a .326 batting average, adding 13 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 32 RBI while tying for the team lead with seven stolen bases in eight attempts.
2024 American Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll (First-place votes in parentheses)
East Carolina (8) — 80
Wichita State (2) — 72
Tulane — 63
UTSA — 55
Charlotte — 50
Florida Atlantic — 36
South Florida — 31
UAB — 27
Memphis — 21
Rice – 15
Preseason Player of the Year
Mason Lytle, Sr., OF, UTSA
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Colin Daniel, Jr., UAB
Preseason All-Conference Team
P – Colin Daniel, Jr., UAB*
P – Davion Hickson, Jr., Rice
P – Luc Fladda, Sr., Tulane
RP – Ethan Norby, So., East Carolina
RP – Jacob Moore, R-Jr., Tulane
C – Mauricio Millan, Sr., Wichita State*
1B – Josh Livingston, Sr., Wichita State
2B – Jordan Rogers, R-Sr., Wichita State
SS – Camden Johnson, So., Wichita State
3B – Gavin Schulz, Sr., Tulane
OF – Carson Bayne, Sr., Charlotte*
OF – Ryley Johnson, Sr., East Carolina
OF – Mason Lytle, Sr., UTSA*
OF – Jackson Linn, Sr., Tulane
DH – Rafael Betancourt, Jr., South Florida
* denotes unanimous selection
