Complete results of 2025 MLB Desert Invitational
Joe Trezza
College baseball is back, and there was no better place to take in the action on opening weekend than on MLB Network and MLB Digital (MLB.TV, MLB.com and MLB app), which carried the MLB Desert Invitational. Three of the 12 showcase games were shown live on MLB Network, while all the games were streamed on MLB's digital platforms.
Some of the country's top amateur talent was in the Phoenix metro area for the three-day tournament, which ran Feb. 14-16, with two Top 100 2024 Draft prospects among the participants.
The event featured eight teams for the second consecutive year: Austin Peay, Grand Canyon, Nebraska, New Mexico, San Diego State, Seton Hall, UC Irvine and Vanderbilt.
Here was the complete schedule for the weekend-long event:
SCHEDULE
The top two Draft prospects at the Desert Invitational showed out on the first day as Vanderbilt held on to win its season opener. Starting pitcher J.D. Thompson (No. 65 Draft) struck out six batters across 4 2/3 innings of scoreless ball while limiting the Antelopes to three hits and one walk. RJ Austin (No. 79 Draft) doubled on the first pitch of the game and finished with three hits, an RBI, a run and a smooth catch in center field. Grand Canyon's Zach Yorke crushed a two-run homer nearly a year to the day that he went deep in the 2024 Desert Invitational.
Nebraska starter Mason McConnaughey recorded nine of his 11 outs via strikeout but ran into trouble in the fourth inning against UC Irvine. Jacob McCombs doubled twice and Colin Yeaman tripled and drove in three runs as eight Anteaters racked up multiple hits, RBIs or runs.
Meanwhile, home runs were flying in the final two games. Brody Szako and Gus Freeman went deep for Austin Peay, Josh McAlister homered for New Mexico, Jonathan Smith hit a roundtripper for San Diego State and AJ Soldra, Kevin Milewski and Joey Calabretti crushed dingers for Seton Hall.
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Nebraska left fielder Gabe Swansen was the big performer of the day, driving in all six Nebraska runs on a trio of extra-base hits in the Huskers' upset with over Vanderbilt. He was a postseason hero at the end of last season and has eight home runs in his past 10 games. Center fielder RJ Austin (Draft No. 79) hit a leadoff homer in the same game, but the Dores were mostly quiet the rest of the way. On the mound, Jakob Schulz struck out three across two perfect relief frames to keep Vandy within striking distance.
UC Irvine put up the highest score of the Desert Invitational so far, as Chase Call (4 RBIs) and Jacob McCombs (3 runs) each homered and Alonso Reyes led the Anteaters with three hits. Seton Hall wasn't far behind, scoring 15 runs without a homer. Aiden Robbins racked up four hits, four RBIs and four runs, while Marco Ali, Jimmy Brennan and Ryan Frontera each added three knocks.
Grand Canyon's Garrett Ahern twirled the best pitching outing of the day. The right-hander struck out seven across six innings of one-run ball while giving up four hits and no walks. Seton Hall righty Ryan Reich was also strong, with five strikeouts and two hits spread across four innings of one-run ball.
Riley Nelson launched a grand slam as Vanderbilt rallied in the eighth inning to salvage a game it once led 5-0 to finish its opening weekend on a high note with a winning record. RJ Austin (Draft No. 79) capped a big weekend with a fine all-around performance with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Commodores righty Cody Bowker twirled six scoreless innings before the Anteaters stormed back with a six-run sixth, and Jayden Davis also went deep for Vandy. James Castagnola homered for UC Irvine.
Designated hitter James McAlister¡¯s two-run inside-the-park homer put New Mexico up early, and winning pitcher Ryan Castillo logged five scoreless innings to lead the Lobos out of the desert with a winning record. Cooper Brass set the tone with a three-hit, two-run game out of the leadoff spot, and Ethan Ott drove in two runs to give the bullpen some breathing room. Aiden Robbins posted a three-hit day for the Pirates.
Max Buettenback clubbed his first homer of the season and led his team with four RBIs during Nebraska's blanking of San Diego State to exit the event with a winning record. Will Walsh went deep in his season debut, spinning seven scoreless innings with six strikeouts. The Cornhuskers ended the weekend with 24 runs scored in three contests.
Austin Peay powered its offense through seven-hole hitter Nathan Barksdale, who connected on a grand slam on a four-hit night. Michael Diaz slugged the lone homer for Grand Canyon. The Antelopes scored twice in the ninth, but a leaping grab by Austin Peay center fielder Troy Sanders capped the Desert Invitational.
TOP PROSPECTS
Vanderbilt: LHP J.D. Thompson (No. 65), OF RJ Austin (No. 79)
Grand Canyon: 1B Zach Yorke, RHP Isaac Lyon
Nebraska: OF Gabe Swansen, RHP Mason McConnaughey
Seton Hall: RHP Ryan Reich, OF Aiden Robbins
Austin Peay: OF John Bay
UC Irvine: 1B Anthony Martinez
New Mexico: OF Khalil Walker
San Diego St.: RHP Omar Serrano, SS Finley Bates
This year's MLB Desert Invitational (formerly known as "MLB 4") was the sixth such event hosted by MLB in Arizona. The majority of games took place at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Spring Training home to the Rockies and D-backs) and Sloan Park (home to the Cubs).
The tournament offered players the opportunity to compete on diamonds that they hope to one day call home upon reaching the professional ranks. Last year, Caleb Lomavita (Cal), Kaelen Culpepper (Kansas State), Austin Overn (Cal), Rodney Green (Cal), and Tyson Neighbors (Kansas State) went on to parlay their successes into becoming early selections in the 2024 Draft with the Nationals, Twins, Orioles, Athletics and Padres respectively.