The 2024 Virginia Cavaliers have made a makeover on their path for Omaha. Head Coach Brian O’Connor is still a bit bitter over being the first one out of last years’ College World Series.
He has a talented crop of incoming recruits and transfer players to have his squad ready to compete for a national championship once again
It appears he has strength in the outfield with Casey Saucke and Harrison Didawick ready and pointed for breakout years. They added graduate student Bobby Whalen from Indiana to help alleviate the loss of Ethan O’Donnell to the MLB Draft. He will patrol center with Saucke in rightfield
Returning for the infield will be juniors Griff O’ Farrell and Ethan Anderson. Last year they hit over .370 and will be team leaders for the Cavs. Sophomore Henry Godbout and his .286 batting average will anchor second base. Anderson is talented enough, he could shift to the catcher’s position as he did in the Cape Cod League this past summer.
The vacancy at catcher will also be a major storyline in 2024, as consensus First Team All-American Kyle Teel will no longer be a major force behind the plate, having been drafted 14th overall by the Boston Red Sox. Fighting for the starting spot are graduate student transfer Jacob Ference along with freshmen Mark Gialluisi and Henry Ford. Ference — joining the Cavaliers with three seasons of experience at DIII Salisbury — could be the frontrunner over Gialluisi and Ford, whom Virginia could use in a reserve role or redshirt and save for 2025. Either of the newcomers or even Anderson would be strong options, but replacing Teel is a difficult task regardless.
Jack O’Connor returns for his sophomore season after earning Freshman All American honors. He will be the ace along with Nate Savino. Add Cullen McKay and Bradley Hodges and this pitching staff will be around for many years. Add in graduate transfer from Pennsylvania and his college World Series experience is Owen Coady. Look for freshman Tommy Rolda, a high prospect from Maryland to get involved on the rotation. Junior closer Jay Woolfolk is now the unquestioned option for the ninth inning
Virginia will open up ACC play in Miami (March 8-10) and play road ACC series against Pitt (March 22-24), Duke (March 28-30), Louisville (April 12-14) and Boston College (April 25-27).
