Indiana University Athletics
Preseason Praise for Taylor, Hoosiers
1/17/2025 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Baseball America and Perfect Game, two of the three premier college baseball media outlets, tabbed junior outfielder Devin Taylor as their Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, as announced on Friday (Jan. 17) morning. D1 Baseball is still yet to release its preseason projections.
Taylor was nothing short of phenomenal as a sophomore last season. The Cincinnati, Ohio hit .357 across 59 starts. He recorded the team high in hits (86), home runs (20), total bases (159) and slugging percentage (.660). He was the first IU player since 2010 (Alex Dickerson) with a 20-home run season. He also turned into a prolific corner outfield weapon for the Hoosiers.
He was a Perfect Game (Second Team) and ABCA (Third Team) All-American and a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection. He has the potential to leadoff or hit middle of the order for IU while giving head coach Jeff Mercer the flexibility to play any of the three outfield positions. Taylor was named a Perfect Game All-Conference (OF) and All-American selection heading into the year.
Sophomore second baseman Jasen Oliver was the other IU player named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-Conference team. The middle infielder grabbed the reigns of the second base position in March of 2024 and never let it go. He became the seventh true freshman to hit 10+ home runs in a season for the Hoosiers.
In a win over Minnesota in 2024, Oliver broke IU's single-game freshman RBI record and IU's single-game Big Ten RBI record with eight driven in against the Golden Gophers. He returns to form an outstanding pairing up the middle of the diamond with junior shortstop Tyler Cerny.
Freshman catcher/outfielder Hogan Denny was selected as Baseball America's Preseason Freshman of the Year – Perfect Game doesn't make a selection in the category. He was the 2024 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state.
The High School All-American has impressed in the fall with outstanding composure at the plate and a true knack to hit the ball. His defensive flexibility – ability to play catcher or in the outfield – should ensure that his bat makes its way into the lineup for the Hoosiers.
IU has a long track of freshmen making an immediate impact in Bloomington under Mercer. He's overseen nine Freshman All-Americans since 2019 and helped develop Taylor into the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023. D1 Baseball will be the final outlet to release preseason projections in the coming weeks.
2025 Indiana Preseason Baseball Honors
• Devin Taylor
- Perfect Game Second Team All-American
- Perfect Game Big Ten Player of the Year
- Perfect Game Big Ten All-Conference Team
-Baseball America Big Ten Player of the Year
• Jasen Oliver
- Perfect Game Big Ten All-Conference Team
• Hogan Denny
- Baseball America Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Taylor was nothing short of phenomenal as a sophomore last season. The Cincinnati, Ohio hit .357 across 59 starts. He recorded the team high in hits (86), home runs (20), total bases (159) and slugging percentage (.660). He was the first IU player since 2010 (Alex Dickerson) with a 20-home run season. He also turned into a prolific corner outfield weapon for the Hoosiers.
He was a Perfect Game (Second Team) and ABCA (Third Team) All-American and a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection. He has the potential to leadoff or hit middle of the order for IU while giving head coach Jeff Mercer the flexibility to play any of the three outfield positions. Taylor was named a Perfect Game All-Conference (OF) and All-American selection heading into the year.
Sophomore second baseman Jasen Oliver was the other IU player named to Perfect Game's Preseason All-Conference team. The middle infielder grabbed the reigns of the second base position in March of 2024 and never let it go. He became the seventh true freshman to hit 10+ home runs in a season for the Hoosiers.
In a win over Minnesota in 2024, Oliver broke IU's single-game freshman RBI record and IU's single-game Big Ten RBI record with eight driven in against the Golden Gophers. He returns to form an outstanding pairing up the middle of the diamond with junior shortstop Tyler Cerny.
Freshman catcher/outfielder Hogan Denny was selected as Baseball America's Preseason Freshman of the Year – Perfect Game doesn't make a selection in the category. He was the 2024 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state.
The High School All-American has impressed in the fall with outstanding composure at the plate and a true knack to hit the ball. His defensive flexibility – ability to play catcher or in the outfield – should ensure that his bat makes its way into the lineup for the Hoosiers.
IU has a long track of freshmen making an immediate impact in Bloomington under Mercer. He's overseen nine Freshman All-Americans since 2019 and helped develop Taylor into the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2023. D1 Baseball will be the final outlet to release preseason projections in the coming weeks.
2025 Indiana Preseason Baseball Honors
• Devin Taylor
- Perfect Game Second Team All-American
- Perfect Game Big Ten Player of the Year
- Perfect Game Big Ten All-Conference Team
-Baseball America Big Ten Player of the Year
• Jasen Oliver
- Perfect Game Big Ten All-Conference Team
• Hogan Denny
- Baseball America Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Players Mentioned
Sunday, February 22
Saturday, February 21
Friday, February 20
Wednesday, May 21