2025 Fall College Baseball Reset: USC

The 2025 campaign marked a step forward for the USC baseball program. The Trojans went 37-23 and performed well in the school’s first season with the Big 10 conference. More importantly, USC earned an at-large berth for the NCAA Tournament, the school’s first in a decade. Heading into 2026, the Trojans will have many familiar faces back, as well as new talent to work with.

The Returnees

Adrian Lopez turned out to be a great addition for head coach Andy Stankiewicz and USC last year. After Lopez hit eight home runs with Long Beach State in 2024, he did the same as a regular in 2025 with the Trojans. Lopez hit .329 and slugged .500 thanks to 31 total extra-base hits.

However, Lopez’s power didn’t show up too much in the Cape Cod League this past summer. The 21-year-old — who was eligible for the 2025 MLB Draft — hit .215 and struck out 35 times across 31 contests. Lopez had five extra-base hits with Falmouth, all of which were doubles.

Lopez is one of several returning hitters for the Trojans. Juniors Abbrie Covarrubias and Andrew Lamb, both of whom hit over .300 last year as sophomores, are back. The same can be said for senior Jack Basseer, one of the former TCU Horned Frogs on the team, and sophomores Augie Lopez and Maximo Martinez.

Moving to the pitching staff, Andrew Johnson returned for his sophomore campaign. Johnson struck out 56 over 67 innings, thrown between the bullpen and rotation last year.

Mason Edwards, who struck out 46 over 32.2 IP in 2025, returns for his junior season.

The Newcomers

The Trojans, like all the other schools, lost a considerable amount of talent this past summer. Ethan Hedges, who posted a 1.081 OPS and blasted 14 home runs as a junior, was drafted in the third round by Colorado. Caden Hunter, second on the team in strikeouts, was picked in the sixth round by the Orioles.

Also, Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, a regular for the Trojans between 2023 and 2025, signed with the Yankees after going in the 20th round.

On top of that, the Trojans lost two key players from 2025 via the transfer portal. Brayden Dowd, who hit .324 with 10 home runs, joined a stacked class of Florida State transfers. Caden Aoki, the innings and strikeout leader from last season, joined the Georgia baseball program.

Thus, a new crop of transfers and freshmen will need to pick up the slack.

Thirteen freshmen are on the 2025 fall roster for USC. Catcher Jarret Sabol, the brother of Major Leaguer Blake Sabol, is on the roster.

USC was also able to get one of their big infield recruits over to the university. The Trojans couldn’t get Tate Southisene, the Braves’ first-round pick from 2025. However, USC did get infielder Diego Velazquez. Velazquez, a 2024 PG All-American Classic player, impressed with a strong arm and hard-hit contact as a high schooler.

As for the transfer portal, USC added junior catcher Isaac Cadena. Cadena, who spent 2025 with TCU after playing for Ohio State in 2024, hit .235 with eight home runs for the Horned Frogs.

Matthew Morrell, who only tossed 20.2 IP with Oregon State over the last two years, came over for his redshirt sophomore season.

Grad student Ace Whitehead joined the Trojans after three seasons (2022-24) with Texas. Whitehead, a left-handed pitcher, struck out 48 over 67 innings in 2024 with the Longhorns. He did not pitch in 2025.

Summary

Despite losing two key players in Aoki and Dowd, the Trojans have an exciting roster.

USC’s group includes several proven hitters, pitchers who performed well in 2025, and a group of newcomers who could be difference makers both in 2026 and beyond.

It’ll be interesting to see what Stankiewicz, extended through the rest of the decade, can do with this program over the coming years.