Oklahoma State baseball 2025 season preview: 3 biggest games, key players, predictions and more
Oklahoma State Baseball played well in the recently concluded 2024 NCAA Baseball season. They failed to defend their Big 12 regular season title, losing out to their fierce rivals, the Oklahoma Sooners, despite an impressive 19-9 conference record.
However, the Cowboys got their revenge soon after, winning their fourth Big 12 Tournament by beating the Sooners 9-3 in the tournament's championship game.
Their performance earned them the No. 11 seed in the postseason and the right to host the Stillwater Regional. However, the Florida Gators sprung a surprise by eliminating the Cowboys in the Regional despite being the third seed among the four teams in Stillwater. The Cowboys finished the season 42-19 overall.
Josh Holliday will enter his 12th year as the Cowboys' head coach in 2025. While eight of their players were picked in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Cowboys filled some of their gaps in the off-season. Here, we preview Oklahoma State Baseball ahead of the 2025 NCAA Baseball season.
3 key games for Oklahoma State Baseball in the 2025 season
3. West Virginia Mountaineers
The Mountaineers' 19-11 conference record saw them finish a game behind the Cowboys in the Big 12 regular season. The Cowboys came out on top in their series 2-1 in Morgantown this year. However, the Mountaineers went one step further than the Cowboys in the postseason with a stunning victory in the Tucson Regional.
With the Sooners and the Texas Longhorns moving to the SEC, the Mountaineers will likely be one of the Cowboys' top rivals in the Big 12 next season despite the loss of star hitter JJ Wetherholt in this year's draft.
2. Kansas State Wildcats
The Wildcats finished the season with a 15-15 conference record but won a home series 2-1 against the Cowboys in the regular season. During the postseason, they also went further than the Cowboys, pulling an upset in the Fayetteville Regional to make the Super Regionals.
They are likely to give the Cowboys stiff competition in 2025.
1. Oklahoma Sooners
Although the Sooners will join the SEC, the annual Bedlam series will likely occur in the 2025 regular season. The Cowboys won bragging rights over their in-state rivals this year, winning the series 2-1 in Stillwater.
Key players for the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2025
3. Colin Brueggemann, 1B
Brueggemann followed up a solid 2023 season with an impressive outing this year. He recorded 14 home runs and 50 RBI, averaging .251 in 59 games.
The 2025 season will see Brueggemann play out his final year of NCAA eligibility after going undrafted in this year's MLB Draft. He will look to produce another solid effort at the plate during his senior year while hoping to earn a call-up to the major leagues.
2. Harrison Bodendorf, LHP
The Cowboys capitalized on Bodendorf's choice to enter the transfer portal by nabbing him for the 2025 season. This spring, he emerged as a reliable starter and reliever for the Rainbow Warriors, recording 64 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.61 in 56.2 innings pitched.
With the Cowboys losing two key pitchers, Brian Holiday and Sam Garcia, Bodendorf is expected to settle in quickly with his new team. The former Rainbow Warrior will be among the veteran pitchers in Oklahoma State's 2025 bullpen.
1. Nolan Schubart, OF
Schubart produced a stellar sophomore season at the plate this year. He led all Cowboys hitters in home runs (23), RBI (68), batting average (.370) and OPS (1.351).
Schubart is a touted prospect for next year's draft and looks to excel at the plate for the Cowboys in 2025. Coach Holliday expects him to lead the Cowboys' offense next year, making his performances critical to their success.
Predicting the Oklahoma State Cowboys' 2025 season
The Cowboys have worked smartly to replace two-way star Carson Benge and other key players lost in this year's draft. They will likely produce another strong regular season in the Big 12, which will keep their streak of making the postseason alive every year in the Holliday era.
They are likely to go a step further by winning an NCAA Regional and making the NCAA Super Regional. However, given the stiff competition they will face from SEC and ACC teams, they may fail to make the College World Series.