Coming into the 2025 season, Virginia baseball was looking to rely on a core of dominant returning hitters. Whether it be power hitters like sophomore outfielder Henry Ford and graduate catcher Jacob Ference or contact hitters like junior infielder Henry Godbout and sophomore infielder Eric Becker, the Cavalier lineup was deadly at each spot in the order.
However, so far, much of the offensive game has been jump-started by players who were not in the everyday starting plans for Virginia. Some are freshmen, some are transfers and some are just guys waiting in the wings for their shot in the lineup. However, one thing is undoubtedly true —- this new production has given the Cavaliers the best and worst problem one can have. That problem, simply, is too much depth.
Having good bench depth is vital for a team, as it allows for coaches to bench players in a slump for other high-quality players. This is what Virginia had last year, where players like Becker, junior infielder Luke Hanson and then-junior outfielder Anthony Stephan all came off the bench to hit .280 or better and combine for over 100 runs batted in.
But this year, the depth is off the charts. While sample size is obviously limited just 14 games into the season, four of the seven players who are not in the normal starting lineup are hitting above .300, and the three who have gotten a start have already combined for 25 total bases in just 33 at bats. These numbers are great in a vacuum, as they speak to the sheer volume of talent within the program.
However, only nine players can share the field at once. Having too much depth might force Coach Brian O’Connor to have less patience with the established veterans of the team in order to put the best team on the field. At nearly every position on the field, there is a quality player sitting on the bench desperately awaiting his chance to get an at-bat or play an inning in the field.
It is important to note that baseball is a game of failure. The best players in the world earn a hit three or four times every 10 at-bats. It is essential that stars are given patience to power through the occasional slump or off-day. But for O’Connor’s squad, that patience is difficult to justify.
Ference, who was a preseason All-American, has to compete with junior catcher Trey Wells — who is outhitting him in every statistic. Junior outfielder Harrison Didawick has to compete with freshman outfielder James Nunnallee, who has gone hit for hit with every starter in the lineup. Becker and Godbout have to compete with freshman infielder Chone James, who has stolen the show with five RBIs in just 12 at-bats. Not to mention, there is only one designated hitter spot for a team where 13 players have an on-base percentage above .300.
This same problem can be seen on the mound, too. While freshman pitcher Tomas Valincius started the year as the Sunday starter, he is most likely to leave the weekend rotation once junior pitcher Evan Blanco is fully healthy. However, Valincius is tied for 22nd in the country in strikeouts and is a large reason why Virginia is sixth in team earned run average this year.
The competition is fierce even in the bullpen too. Transfers such as sophomore Drew Koenen and graduate Matt Lanzendorfer have taken on heavy innings in 2025, pushing returning arms like junior Kevin Jaxel and senior Blake Barker to lesser roles. Especially in a spot like the bullpen where the leash on a player can be tight, depth can serve as a blessing and a curse as the increase of talent leads to less experience on the mound for all.
As conference play ramps up, O’Connor will have to think long and hard about who gets at-bats or innings in critical moments, as well as how long everyone’s leash is for poor gameplay. With the ACC being an incredibly good conference, every series, game, inning and at-bat matters for the Cavaliers. That certainly adds pressure to O’Connor’s decision. Getting wins in the ACC is not easy, and deciding who earns ever-limited opportunities at the plate might just be the key factor in whether or not the Cavaliers can return to the College Baseball World Series.
So, the question remains. What does Virginia baseball do? Is it best to ride it out with the returners from the 2024 squad and bank that they will regain the form of the previous year? Should O’Connor simply play the best nine regardless of year or reputation? Or is the best move to continue doing what he has done and mix in the new standouts with the returning players to give everyone an equal chance to earn a spot?
Since ACC play is so important it is vital that O’Connor puts the best lineup out there every single time, no matter who that may be. Specifically, O’Connor should utilize the weekly midweek game that is normally against lesser competition to allow slumping players to earn their spot back in the lineup. This would encourage healthy competition amongst the team as players earn every at-bat or inning played. Batting the best nine every game regardless of age would also allow for the underclassmen to get more experience. While many have started off hot, earning more at-bats will help them develop their skills further so that they can be long-term contributors for the team.
The Cavaliers have already had a few losses in key games during the non conference part of their schedule to Michigan, Oregon State and Oklahoma. Despite regaining form — they have won by run rule in three consecutive games — it is imperative that Virginia enters the heart of conference play the right way and continues this high level of play against better competition. Yet, this is easier said than done, and the depth of the Cavaliers could really hinder them if not managed properly down the stretch.
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