The Terps look to improve upon last season’s 34-22 campaign.
Maryland baseball enters the 2025 season with high expectations following a competitive 2024 campaign. The Terps face a challenging schedule, including seven NCAA Tournament teams and eight programs that finished in the top 75 of Rating Percentage Index. With a blend of seasoned returners and impactful newcomers, Maryland looks to solidify itself as a top contender in the Big Ten.
Head coach Matt Swope, a Maryland alum, enters his second season leading the program after guiding the Terps through a transitional 2024 campaign. Swope has constructed his roster through traditional recruiting and the transfer portal, aiming to maintain the program’s recent success.
In 2025, the Terps will field a mix of experienced veterans and talented newcomers.
Returners
Senior outfielder Elijah Lambros, a 2023 All-Big Ten third-team select, leads the way, bringing power and speed to the lineup. Lambros will be a key cog in Maryland’s offensive play, as proven by his performance last season, finishing the season with a .267 batting average, 10 doubles, two triples and six home runs.
Chris Hacopian, a sophomore utility player, is another name to watch after a standout freshman season in which he was named to the All-Big Ten second team. He hit .323 with 10 doubles and 15 home runs last season.
Senior infielder Eddie Hacopian, a 2024 first-team All-Big Ten member, adds leadership and consistency. He recorded a .377 batting average, 16 doubles, nine home runs and 51 RBI last year.
On the mound, Omar Melendez returns for his senior season and will likely serve as the team’s ace. The left-hander brings experience and poise to the rotation, while Logan Koester, a sixth-year right-hander, provides additional stability. Melendez finished last season with a 5-2 record. He recorded 44 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched and threw the first complete game for the Terps since 2022.
Other arms expected to play key roles are Andrew Johnson, Andrew Koshy and freshman Jake Yeager.
Maryland will have to replace key departures from last season — particularly the infield and bullpen — but the incoming freshmen class and transfers are expected to fill those gaps.
Incoming transfers
Building through the transfer portal is necessary for building programs, and the Terps have done that, bringing in eight new players this season.
Five of the eight are pitchers: Andrew Koshy (Wake Forest), Brayden Ryan (Merrimack), James Gladden (VCU) and graduates Devin Milberg (Dartmouth) and Jack Wren (Marist).
Maryland’s other three transfers are Liam Wilson (Wake Forest), Hollis Porter (Pearl River CC) and Aiden Hill (VCU).
Freshmen
The 2025 roster features several new additions who could make an immediate impact, with 13 total freshmen on the roster.
Infielder Colin Gibbs, the No. 1-ranked shortstop in Maryland by Perfect Game, and right-handed pitcher Jake Yeager, the No. 1-ranked pitcher and overall player in Maryland by Perfect Game and PrepBaseballReport, are expected to contribute.
Other new arms include the No. 2 player in New York, according to Perfect Game, Cristofer Cespedes and three more right-handers: Ryan Bailey, Logan Hastings and Quinn Yelli.
Along with pitchers, the Terps brought in some position players who will try to make an immediate impact. Maryland’s top-ranked outfielder, Dom Moats, comes in alone at his position, along with another top-10 infielder in Luke Keefer.
Other incoming freshmen include infielders Paul Jones II and Parker Corbin, as well as catchers Jacob Hauk and Jake Morgan.
Schedule highlights
Maryland’s schedule features intense matchups, including the season-opening trip to Charleston, South Carolina, for the Swing and Swine College Classic from Feb. 14-16.
The Terps will face six teams that made the 2024 NCAA Tournament, including high-profile series’ against new conference foes UCLA, Washington and Oregon.
Other notable nonconference opportunities include USF, Georgetown and James Madison.
In conference play, the Terps will play home series against UCLA, Northwestern, Oregon, Nebraska and Rutgers. They travel to face Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Penn State and Minnesota.
Final outlook
With a balanced roster featuring seasoned veterans and promising new talent, Maryland has the potential to be a serious contender in the Big Ten and beyond.
For this to happen, though, the Terps need their pitching staff to hold up and the offense to click to make a deep postseason push.