The American Athletic Conference looks very different in 2024, thanks to the defection of several schools to the Big-12 and the addition of others. However, the team that dominated AAC play is back — and set to do so again in 2024. Here’s our 2024 AAC baseball season preview.
Related: 2024 College Baseball Season Preview: Big East
Charlotte
We start off our 2024 AAC baseball season preview with Charlotte. The reigning C-USA champion is one of several new additions to the AAC, a conference that lost Houston, UCF, and Cincinnati to the Big 12. Last season, Charlotte went 36-28 and owned a 17-12 record in the C-USA.
Ace pitcher Wyatt Hudepohl is no longer with the 49ers after he was drafted by the Mets last July. There are many fresh faces on this year’s roster, including former UNC Asheville pitcher Ryan Douglas. Douglas struck out 61 over 60 frames last year with the Bulldogs.
East Carolina
Yet again, the East Carolina Pirates are expected to be a force in college baseball this upcoming season. ECU was ranked #12 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll and #11 by D1Baseball in the preseason, thanks to a strong roster.
Headling the East Carolina roster is pitcher Trey Yesavage, who struck out 105 batters over 76 innings in 2023 and could be a first-round pick come July. ECU did lose 2023 home run hitter Josh Moylan to the Yankees but the Pirates welcome back hits leader Jacob Starling. Freshman outfielder Bristol Carter, ranked the 104th-best player in the Class of 2023 by Perfect Game, joins ECU for 2024.
Florida Atlantic
FAU had one of the best hitters in all of college baseball last season in now-Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel. With Schanuel and several other notable names gone, the Owls are set to look different for 2024.
Florida Atlantic did return 2023 strikeout leader Hunter Cooley. And, freshmen Trey Beard (#202 in the Class of 2023 according to Perfect Game) and AJ Shelton (#338) also join the Owls.
Memphis
The Memphis Tigers did finish the 2023 campaign with an overall record of 29-28. However, a 10-14 conference record in AAC play placed the Tigers sixth in the conference. Memphis also has a head coach, as former Southeastern Louisiana head coach Matt Riser takes over the Tigers for 2024.
Left-hander Dalton Fowler, who struck out 112 batters for Memphis last year, is now property of the Rays. Pitchers Luke Ellis and J.T. Durham are among the notable players back.
Rice
The Rice Owls have long been a powerhouse in the college scene. However, 2023 was not kind to Rice, as the Owls finished with a 9-21 record in C-USA play.
Head coach Jose Cruz Jr. could not get commit Yahil Melendez to campus, as he opted to go pro after being selected in the seventh round last July by the Cubs. Rice’s rotation will, however, be roughly the same. Junior pitcher and USA collegiate national team invitee Parker Smith is back, as is J.D. McCracken.
South Florida
The University of South Florida finished last in the AAC in 2023, as the Bulls went 7-17 in conference play. USF will look to change that in 2024, and one name that will be depended on is sophomore infielder Eric Snow. Snow led the Bulls in hits (73) and hit .343 with eight home runs as a freshman.
USF will also welcome freshman catcher Nicholas Rodriguez to Tampa. Rodriguez was rated #298 in the Class of 2023 by Perfect Game.
Tulane
The 2023 campaign was a tough one for Tulane, who haven’t finished in the top two of the AAC since 2021. Last year, the Green Wave went 8-16 in conference play and lost ace Dylan Carmouche to the pros.
The good news for Tulane is that Brady Marget and Teo Banks are back for 2024. Banks and Marget both batted over .300 last season and were Tulane’s top two bats from that campaign.
UAB
UAB did not do well in the C-USA last season, as the Blazers finished in a statistical tie with FIU for the worst conference record. Heading into 2024, UAB will look for a fresh start in the AAC.
UAB did lose 2023 strikeout leader Carson Myers to a different-looking Auburn team. Junior outfielder Logan Braunschweig, who hit .333 for the Blazers in 2023, is back for the 2024 season.
UTSA
UTSA is one of five C-USA schools to join the AAC in 2024. Of the four, UTSA had the most success in their old conference, although Charlotte won the conference. Last season, UTSA went 21-8 in conference play.
The Roadrunners did lose some big names, including now-Reds property Simon Miller. Matt King and Caleb Hill, both of whom hit very well with the Roadrunners, are back for their junior and senior seasons, respectively.
Wichita State
We end our 2024 AAC baseball season preview with the Wichita State Shockers. Wichita State finished third in the AAC conference standings last spring, behind now-Big 12 school Houston and East Carolina. They’ll have a new manager for 2024, as Brian Green is the permanent replacement for Eric Wedge, who parted ways with the school in December 2022.
The Shockers did lose two-way threat Payton Tolle to TCU, and Clark Candiotti to Arizona. On the other hand, Mauricio Millan returned and the Shockers welcome several players from Perfect Game’s Class of 2023 top 500: pitcher Ryan Geraghty (#165), infielder Darnell Parker Jr (#311), and pitcher Tommy Lapour (#388 PG).