Stanford's Breakout Freshman Just Earned National Attention

Stanford baseball is rolling. Enduring a slow start to the season, the Cardinal have since gotten things together, winning six of their last seven games and getting back to .500. Making a postseason run will still be difficult, but it is now much more doable with how much better the Cardinal are playing.

And a big reason for the Cardinal's recent run of success has been the play of some of the younger guys, most notably freshman infielder Teddy Tokheim, who made the Baseball America Midseason Freshman of the Year watchlist, along with being named the ACC co-Player of the Week.

Tokheim, a former standout at Lakeside School in Seattle, was ranked as the ninth-best high school third baseman in the nation coming out of high school, and chose Stanford over offers from other prominent Division I programs.

Since joining the Cardinal, Tokheim has played at an elite level and has wasted no time in proving himself, leading all freshmen in OPS (1.359) and is currently hitting .413 with eight home runs, nine doubles, 24 RBI and 14 walks through his first 20 games.

While not a starter to begin the season, it wasn't until a standout performance in an exhibition game against Waseda University that Tokheim became a regular in the Cardinal lineup.

Tokheim has proven his worth in a lot of ways this season and with at least two more seasons of college baseball required before he is able to consider a pro career, he figures to be a core player for Stanford over the next couple of seasons.

And for a team that has missed the College World Series in back-to-back seasons after making it for three straight years from 2021-23, having a guy to rely on like Tokheim is going to be key for the program moving forward.

In high school, Tokheim enjoyed an accolade-filled career, earning several honors such as an All-Region selection as a senior, two school MVPs and one school Pitcher of the Year award, as well as leaving Lakeside as the school's career leader in doubles and pitcher wins.

Standing at 6-foot-3, and weighing 215 pounds, Tokheim brings size and athleticism to The Farm, and will surely be a fixture in the lineup for the foreseeable future.

The Cardinal still have work to do this season, but enter their next series with a lot of momentum. Sweeping Utah Valley and taking two games out of three against Virginia Tech, the Cardinal are finding ways to win no matter the circumstance. With the season nearing the final stretch, wins mean more now as the Cardinal are still clawing for a potential spot in the tournament.

A young team, the Cardinal have also shown a lot of growth over the last few weeks and hope that they can keep it up as the postseason draws closer.

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