Who's In, Who's Out and Who's Back for Louisville Baseball in 2025

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ever since the 2024 season ended for the Louisville baseball program, it has been a whirlwind of roster upheaval. Between players transferring in and out, as well as new recruits joining the fold, at times it has been hard to track which scholarship players are joining, leaving and staying for another year.

Now the dust is beginning to settle a bit, and we are starting to have some idea as to what Louisville's roster will look like for the 2024 season. As of the most recent update, the Cardinals are currently at 45 players, but even that could change with the 2024 MLB Draft coming up.

As we progress through another long offseason, take a look below on who's in, who's out, and who's back for the Cardinals for the 2025 season:

*Each player's class is noted by their 2025 class.*

*This list will be updated if/when additional roster moves are made. Last updated: Jan 25, 2024 - 4:53 p.m. EST*

Left-Handed Pitchers

Who's In (4): Ethan Eberle (Fr.), Aaron England (Fr.), Coen Evrard (Fr.) Casen Murphy (Fr.)
Who's Out (7): Kayden Campbell (Portal), Mitchell Dean (Portal), Sebastian Gongora (Grad.), Jake Murphy (Portal), Riley Phillips (Grad.), Braxton Stewart (Portal), Evan Webster (Grad.)
Who's Back (6): Wyatt Danilowicz (Jr.), Colton Hartman (So.), Jared Lessman (Sr.), T.J. Schlageter (So.), Ty Starke (So.), Justin West (Jr.)
On Roster: 10

Summary: Louisville isn't losing as many lefties and they are righties, but their most impactful pitching losses were both southpaws, as Gongora and Webster were the top two pitchers in the weekend rotation. There are some intriguing options here next season though. Starke looked great in spurts as a true freshmen, plus Hartman and Lessman could be in line for bounce-back years following their first seasons at the D1 level. That being said, Louisville will absolutely need a few other left-handers to take a step forward for 2025.

Right-Handed Pitchers

Who's In (10): Ross Aldridge (Fr.), Jack Brown (Fr.), Brandin Crawford (Fr.), Brennyn Cutts (Sr.), Alex Gay (Fr.), Jake Gregor (Fr.) Eli Hoyt (Sr.), Peter Michael (Jr.), Jake Schweitzer (Fr.), Kian Vorster (Fr.)
Who's Out (11): Noah Bush (Portal), Kaleb Corbett (Grad.), Kyle Crow (Portal), Morgan Davis (Portal), Kade Grundy (Portal), Thomas Howard (Portal), Jake Karaba (Grad.), Josh Klug (Portal), Will Koger (Portal), Carson Liggett (Portal), Dan Snyder (Portal)
Who's Back (3): Tucker Biven (Jr.), Parker Detmers (So.), Patrick Forbes (Jr.)
On Roster: 13

Summary: It's a near complete changing of the guard in terms of right-handers, as the Cardinals are losing double-digit righties. But oddly enough, their best right-handers from 2023 are coming back. Forbes and Biven had two of the three best ERAs for Louisville last season, and both were even invited to try out for the USA Collegiate National Team. Cutts (Indiana State, MVC PoY) and Hoyt (JUCO) are two transfers that'll help provide some much needed veteran experience, as Louisville will be extremely young amongst their righties. Seven of the Cardinals right-handers will be true freshmen.

Catchers

Who's In (1): Collin Mowry (Fr.)
Who's Out (2): Luke Napleton (Grad.), Will Vierling (Portal)
Who's Back (3): George Baker (So.), Matt Klein (Jr.), Tagger Tyson (So.)
On Roster: 4

Summary: Considering he led the team in batting average, was second in OPS and third in total bases, getting Rose to stick around was a massive win for the program. But since he doesn't project as a catcher long term, Matt Klein will be who they go to as the primary backstop next season. Not to mention he also performed very with the bat in his hands last season. If Louisville also got Mowry, a top-250 draft prospect and Cardinals' top HS recruit, to bypass the majors for now.

Infielders

Who's In (7): Tague Davis (Fr.), Nate Earley (Jr.), Ethan Edinger (Jr.), Bayram Hot (Jr.), Jake Munroe (Jr.), Kamau Neighbors (Sr.), Tanner Shiver (Sr.)
Who's Out (5): Brandon Anderson (Portal), Logan Beard (Grad.), Dylan Hoy (Grad.), Gavin Kilen (Portal), Ryan McCoy (Grad.)
Who's Back (1): Alex Alicea (So.)
On Roster: 8

Summary: Louisville will have a nearly brand new infielder next season. Kilen became the top player in the portal when he entered, while three other regular starters in Beard, Hoy and McCoy all graduated. It'll be an area dominated primarily by JUCO newcomers, with Early, Edinger and Munroe bringing a lot of experience with them to Jim Patterson Stadium. That being said, Alex Alicea was one of a few bright spots on last season's team as a true freshman, Neighbors (CSUN) has been a good contact hitter, and Shiver (Tennessee Tech) flashed some power last season. The fall will be crucial in how well this area of the diamon develops both on their own and together as a unit.

Outfielders

Who's In (4): Kyle Campbell (Fr.), Cole Crafton (Fr.), Griffin Crain (Fr.), Garret Pike (Sr.)
Who's Out (3): J.T. Benson (Grad.), Korbyn Dickerson (Portal), Isaac Humphrey (Portal)
Who's Back (4): Eddie King Jr. (Sr.), Michael Lippe (Jr.), Lucas Moore (So.), Zion Rose (So.)
On Roster: 8

Summary: The outlook at outfielder for Louisville in 2025 is very high. Like Rose, getting King - their top MLB Draft prospect - to return for his final year in college was a massive development. Additionally, Rose will likely find a permanent home in the outfield, Pike was an All-American at Toledo, while Moore was one of the best contact hitters for the Cardinals last season.

(Photo via Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

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