10 Potential ACC Sophomore Hitting Breakouts

The ACC is loaded with potential new stars ahead of the 2026 season. Last year, hitters such as Cal Fisher (Florida State), Carson Tinney (Notre Dame), and Sam Harris (Duke) enjoyed breakout campaigns as sophomores after limited playing time as freshmen. 

Once again, there is no shortage of breakout candidates in the ACC entering their second season.

The criteria used to identify these under-the-radar sophomores required the elimination of any player that earned an All-Conference or Team USA invitation, which means the likes of Myles Bailey (Florida State), Tague Davis (Louisville), and Bino Watters (Notre Dame) aren’t eligible for this list.

Additionally, any hitter who played in 35 games or more as a freshman didn’t make this group, which is why potential stars like Dalton Wentz (Wake Forest), Hunter Carns (Florida State), and Jayce Lee (Notre Dame) aren’t included.

High-profile transfers such as Ty Mainolfi (Boston College), Ty Lichtenberger (Clemson), and Mikey Ryan (NC State) are not included, either.

Without these arbitrary parameters, this list of breakout candidates would be overwhelming, as the talent level of the ACC is among the nation’s best. All 10 of the following players are expected to have opportunities for playing time and have shown glimmers of potential stardom. 

OF Colin Larson, Boston College

Colin Larson got his first taste of the ACC last season, earning opportunities down the stretch for Boston College. At 5-foot-9, 185 lbs, Larson has a compact but powerful frame. He’s a line drive gap-to-gap hitter with the ability for pull-side juice.

Over 57 at-bats in 2025, he hit just .228 with four doubles, two home runs, and struck out 17 times. Despite the up-and-down results, Larson came up clutch several times over his first year on campus.

Perhaps his most memorable weekend came in April against Notre Dame, when he launched a go-ahead double down the right field line that led to BC evening the series.

The next day, Larson homered to left in his first at-bat of the game as the Eagles went on to win the game and the series.  

The young outfielder dominated the Appy League over the summer, posting a gaudy .952 OPS while walking a staggering 46 times. He was 21-of-25 in stolen bases and had 11 extra-base hits.

Larson’s improvement in plate discipline and his baserunning ability make him a prime Todd Interdonato player.

With the attention mostly on the likes of Kyle Wolff, Nick Wang, and Ty Mainolfi, Larson is flying under the radar. But the Easthampton, Massachusetts native has the chance to be a major impact player as a sophomore for Boston College.      

C Kalen Applefield, Cal

Kalen Applefield is a switch-hitting catcher with the athleticism to play in the outfield if needed. As a freshman, he made just eight starts– seven of which came in the outfield as Cal had a trio of highly experienced backstops ahead of him on the depth chart.

Over just 24 at-bats, Applefield slugged four extra base hits, including three home runs.  

“Kalen Applefield had a brief run for us where he got his feet wet and hit some homers in a short amount of at-bats,” hitting coach Brett Wallace said. “We’re looking for him to make a big jump as well.”

While Clemson transfer Hideki Prather is expected to lead the charge for playing time behind the plate, Applefield’s bat may be too valuable to leave out of the lineup.

The sophomore is projected to be the starting DH but could also compete for one of the corner outfield spots in addition to being the primary backup catcher. 

“App did a great job last year biding his time, working hard, staying focused, and when he got his opportunity later, he took advantage of it,” Wallace continued. “We had some older guys in front of him for a while, and he was ready to go when we called his number.

“I think he’s going to make a leap this year. He’s a really talented kid, really strong, good bat speed, and he wants it. He’s a competitor.”

The powerful physical specimen possesses an aggressive approach at the plate, but has the discipline to lay off bad pitches. If he gets his chance behind the dish, he’s got a strong arm and decent blocking ability.

If Applefield establishes himself as a regular starter, Cal’s offense becomes dangerous alongside Carl Schmidt, Jacob French, and Cade Campbell.

2B/OF Jeff Lougee, Duke

Jeff Lougee pushed to start on day one at second base for Duke in 2025, but was ultimately beaten out by veteran Jake Berger. An injury against UConn in mid-March effectively ended his season, otherwise he likely would’ve broken into the lineup at some point down the stretch.

As it was, Lougee was only able to get nine at-bats with just a single hit. Despite the lack of experience as a freshman, Lougee earned an invitation to the Cape Cod League over the summer and shined for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks.

In 23 games, he slashed .288/.396/.413 against top-end arm talent. Defensively, he showed versatility by playing in the outfield as well as second base, but he still needs to improve that aspect of his game. 

“I think he’s got a lot of bat potential and had a nice summer,” new Duke head coach Corey Muscara told me early in the fall. “He was an All-Star on the Cape. He’s left-handed, and we don’t have a ton of left-handed bats. I’m definitely excited about him.”

Lougee was Duke’s top recruit heading into 2025 and has elite offensive upside. It’s a quick twitch swing with loud bat-to-ball skills. He’s got a mature approach and provides the Blue Devils with some pull-side pop from the left side.

Defensively, he’s probably not going to beat out RJ Hamilton at second base but could push for playing time as the DH or a corner outfielder. 

OF Sawyer Black, North Carolina

Left field was a bit of a revolving door for the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2025, and it looked like freshman Sawyer Black had claimed the spot before going down with a hand injury. In 37 at-bats, the youngster hit .297 with a double and three home runs.

While both veteran Carter French and fellow sophomore Perry Hargett will once again be in the mix for playing time in left, neither one has the offensive upside that Black does. 

The Oak Ridge, North Carolina native showcased that upside on the Cape this summer, joining the aforementioned Jeff Lougee on the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Over 15 games, Black posted an .832 OPS with two doubles and two home runs in just 39 at-bats.     

“He went out and had a great summer in the Cape and came back a better player,” said UNC hitting coach Jesse Wierzbicki. “Although his injury last year was unfortunate for him and our team, he’s going to be in a better place for it this year.

“His attitude and work ethic will help greatly this year. I’m excited to see how he helps our team.”

Black is 6-foot-1 and possesses a physical frame with quick hands that generate major bat speed. He has prodigious pull-side power but is capable of hitting the ball to all fields. There is some whiff to his game, but his approach and discipline should improve with experience.

Defensively, he’s a very capable left fielder and will continue to develop. Black will be an impact bat towards the bottom of an underrated North Carolina lineup.  

SS Noah Coy, Notre Dame

Noah Coy started at second base for the Irish on Opening Weekend as a freshman in 2025, but a slow start combined with high production from Connor Hincks ultimately cost him playing time for much of the season.

Still, the coaching staff is extremely high on Coy, and multiple members of the program have highlighted his leadership abilities and intangibles. With both Hincks and Estevan Moreno gone, the sophomore is expected to slide over to the shortstop position and take command of the Notre Dame infield.

Coy played in 24 games as a first year, earning 76 at-bats and slashing .145/.275/.211. It was an inauspicious start for the 5-foot-11 infielder, but he broke out in a big way this summer playing in the Northwoods League for the Kalamazoo Growlers.

Over 52 games, he hit .363 with 14 extra base hits and 26 stolen bases. He walked (45) more than he struck out (35) and posted an impressive .966 OPS.

Coy’s maturity shows up both at the plate and in the field. He possesses a top-of-the-order skillset complete with great plate discipline and strong baserunning ability. He doesn’t have a ton of home run juice but is capable of loud contact to all fields.

On defense, he’s a slick fielding shortstop with a quick first step. He has an adequate arm and should be able to handle the move to shortstop without issue.

Notre Dame’s success relies on their core of sophomores, which includes Coy. A breakout season from the second-year shortstop would go a long way towards Irish regional hopes. 

1B/DH Chase Van Ameyde, Notre Dame

Another Notre Dame sophomore, Chase Van Ameyde is known mostly at the collegiate level as a submarine relief pitcher. He spent his freshman year in the bullpen as he acclimated offensively to the college game.

It should be noted that three Notre Dame sophomores – Bino Watters, Parker Brzustewicz, and Van Ameyde – were all in contention for 2024 Michigan State High School Player of the Year. Of the three, it was Van Ameyde who had the reputation of a home run slugger.

The 6-foot-5 two-way star has showcased prodigious power and electric bat speed over the fall and summer. There is a ton of whiff to his game, and the hit tool isn’t quite where it needs to be, but the Michigan high school product will get a chance to develop through experience. 

“He came a long way offensively this fall,” Notre Dame assistant coach Ryan Munger told me in an interview this past winter. “It’s 6-foot-5, it’s strength, it’s levers, and it’s real bad speed. He was able to really impact the ball.

“Last year, his chase was a little too much and he would get himself out, and he has brought that number down. It’s still a little bit high, but now it’s more the right chase, and the batted ball data is really, really good.”

Parker Brzustewicz is expected to make the move over to third base, which allows Van Ameyde and freshman Dylan Passo to platoon at first base.

Even if Van Ameyde isn’t a regular starter, he can make an impact as a power bat off the bench or in the DH role. He’ll continue to be a key arm out of the bullpen as well.

OF Julian Irizarry, Pittsburgh

Julian Irizarry earned prominent playing time down the stretch before slugger Lorenzo Carrier returned from injury. Over just 46 at-bats, Irizarry hit .304 and drew eight walks.

There’s not a ton of juice in the bat, but he has the ability to drive the ball to the gaps and provide a contact rate in the box.

On the defensive side, he’s an outstanding outfielder that can play any of the three positions. His experience as a freshman could see him make a big jump in production as a sophomore. 

Speaking about Irizarry and another under-the-radar breakout in pitcher Antonio Dogianero, Pitt head coach Mike Bell said, “Antonio and Julian are both products of development and hard work. Both had major impacts in our program as freshmen and have continued to grow in all phases of collegiate baseball.

“They have continued to build strength off the field, build confidence in understanding their game on the field, as well as understanding the details and what it takes to win at the highest level.”

It’s a crowded outfield for Pitt as AJ Nessler, Carrier, and Derek Tarpley Jr all return. Freshman phenom Mason Ligenza will also force his way into the mix, but Irizarry has all the tools necessary to start for the Panthers in 2026.

If Carrier ends up in a DH role, Irizarry could be the starter in center or right field.

3B JJ Moran, Stanford

While fellow freshmen Charlie Bates and Tatum Marsh earned opportunities right away, JJ Moran bided his time for the Cardinal in 2025. He earned two starts in May on the road at Boston College and didn’t disappoint, going 4-for-8 with a home run, two RBI, and a walk.

Overall, Moran took just 27 at-bats as a freshman, slashing .259/.310/.407 in 14 games.

Like many other names on this list, Moran enjoyed a sensational summer with regular playing time. Over 183 at-bats for Eau Claire in the Northwoods League, the Carlsbad native hit .279 with four doubles, two triples, and 10 home runs. Additionally, he walked 31 times to post a .405 OBP.

Moran has carried over the production into the fall and is expected to be a starter on the infield.  

“JJ was our most improved player over the summer,” said Stanford head coach David Esquer. “And he is expected to step into the starting third baseman role while hitting in the middle of our lineup. He is a solid defender at third, and we see him as a run producer for us.”

Moran is a prototypical third baseman with an athletic frame. He’ll provide strong defense at the hot corner after moving over from shortstop. In the batter’s box, he possesses a quick swing with major pop. He’s got a good eye at the plate and doesn’t chase a ton.

As previously mentioned in the quote from Coach Esquer, Moran will get an opportunity to hit in the middle-of-the-order and drive in runs alongside the likes of sluggers Brady Reynolds, Jimmy Nati, and Rintaro Sasaki.

OF Zach Jackson, Virginia

A total of seven players transferred from Duke to Virginia over the summer, following their coaching staff to new horizons in Charlottesville. While much has been made of AJ Gracia, Kyle Johnson, and Henry Zatkowski, none of the ex-Blue Devils have been as overlooked as sophomore Zach Jackson.

The former two-sport athlete has a potential five-tool skillset, and a summer and fall of regular reps could see him break out for the ‘Hoos in 2026. 

“One guy that’s flying below the radar is Zach Jackson,” new Virginia head coach Chris Pollard told me early in the fall. “This was a guy that had been a football and baseball player his entire life. When he showed up at Duke, he didn’t pick up a bat or touch a baseball from June into January.

“And there was a lot of rust there when he came out last January, but man, by May, he was showing the flashes of a unique skillset. And when I say unique skillset, I mean it’s a day one draft kind of skillset with the combination of the arm, the ability to defend in center field, the foot speed, the bat to ball, and there’s power in the barrel.”

Jackson had just four at-bats in 2025, and most of his playing time came as a pinch runner or defensive replacement late in the year. But with his football career over, the Georgia native is all in on baseball.

He enjoyed a strong summer playing for Burlington in the Appy League, where he slashed .254/.396/.385 with 10 stolen bases. There’s still a lot of chase and whiff to his game, but he’s got a decent approach and was able to draw 31 walks.

As Pollard mentioned, it’s raw, tantalizing potential that should develop with experience. The only question is whether Jackson breaks out in 2026 or 2027.

UT Sam Grube, Virginia Tech

Including Sam Grube on this list is technically cheating after he played 50 games for Mount Saint Mary’s in 2025, but not enough people are talking about the potential impact he could have in Blacksburg.

Grube hit .293 as a freshman with 16 extra base hits while walking 15 times more than he struck out. 

“Grube is a versatile defender with really good skills that translate from the left side of the infield to first base and even the outfield,” said Virginia Tech hitting coach Kurt Elbin. “He possesses a high bat-to-ball offensive profile with emerging power.

“He has the ability to hit at the top of the lineup and be a combo OBP/SLG guy.”

Grube could play virtually anywhere on the diamond but catcher, but is expected to be in the mix at first base and the outfield while providing the Hokies with a traditional leadoff option in the lineup.

He’s a high on-base guy with speed on the basepaths, but should see his power numbers increase at Virginia Tech.

While most of the attention is on transfers Owen Petrich, Sam Gates, and Pete Daniel, Grube flies under the radar as a potential multi-year Hokie that will blossom into a star immediately.