Baseball America looks at Wake Forest baseball with a very high rank at No. 17, and the Deacons look to rebound with a completely rearranged roster in 2025. The main objective of Coach Tom Walter, who will be hoping to inject essential newcomers and transfers after big time departures, is to qualify for another NCAA Tournament. The Demon Deacons’ offense, pitching, and overall team outlook are analyzed in this preview.
The Tom Walter Era: Coaching and Program Stability
In 2025, Tom Walter entered his 16th season as head coach of Wake Forest baseball. On June 16, 2009, he was appointed in his stated position. In 26 years as a head coach, Walter has a 848-673-1 overall ledger. Parrish has taken the Demon Deacons to 456 wins, second only to George Greer for the most in school history. Walter’s long tenure helps make the Wake Forest baseball program stable and consistent.
Key Losses from the 2024 Roster
The Wake Forest team from 2024, which included three first round picks in MLB draft Chase Burns, Nick Kurtz, and Seaver King faces a very tough task to replace the talent that’s gone. Further, Josh Hartle, Will Gervase and Michael Massey were also drafted. Their former head coach described these athletes as ‘irreplaceable. Combined with the losses from the transfer portal, the off season has a big task ahead for the Demon Deacons. Therefore, for Wake Forest to shine it must lean on new parts, like all of its projected rotation and almost all of its starting lineup.
Offensive Roster Additions
Through the transfer portal, Wake Forest baseball has garnered many top players to strengthen its offense. And at Butler, Big East Freshman of the Year Kade Lewis hit . 377 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs as an infielder. Transferring from Marist, Ethan Conrad had a batting average of . 335 and 45 extra base hits. Jimmy Keenan and Matt Scannell are also expected to contribute at the plate, getting 821 collegiate at-bats as a team from last season. The Deacs will be leading 921 at bats (45. 1 percent), Marek Houston and Jack Winnay with 243 of those at bats.
Balance Between Power and Speed
In 2025, coach Walter seeks to break from the emphasis on home runs. He has a great plan to have his players getting confidence at the batter’s box. In his time at New Orleans, Walter also had an offense that set school records in hits, runs and RBIs, pulling it off in another coach’s run. To make their lineup more dynamic and versatile, the Demon Deacons will emphasize increased incorporation of more stolen bases.
Key Players and Expectations
New infield talent welcomes Wake Forest baseball but the returning players such as Jack Winnay bring experience. Last season, Winnay and Marek Houston had 243 at bats in total to lead the team. Kade Lewis, a transfer from Butler, will also be an important contribution to the lineup, occupying either first baseman. Notable for him with a 377 batting average, 10 home runs, and 51 RBIs, he earned Big East Freshman of the Year laurels and is a player that will have a very big impact on the Demon Deacons lineup.
Key Players and Expectations
Ethan Conrad and Matt Scannell are newcomers anticipated to have impactful roles in the Wake Forest outfield in 2025. Conrad transfers to the Demon Deacons from Marist, where he posted a . 335 batting average and recorded 45 extra-base hits as a sophomore. He also received the 2024 Summer Breaker Prospect award in the Cape Cod League. Scannell arrived at Wake Forest baseball following a distinguished career at Princeton, where he was a three-time All-Ivy League selection. With over 400 combined at-bats from the previous season, their experience and offensive skills are expected to enhance the Demon Deacons’ lineup.
Pitching Rotation Overhaul
Wake Forest baseball’s anticipated weekend pitching rotation for 2025 will consist of entirely new members. This considerable turnover places pressure on several transfers and a freshman to contribute from the outset. Tennessee transfer Matt Dallas, Missouri transfer Logan Lunceford, and freshman Duncan Marsten are expected to be key players on the mound. Dallas recorded a 4. 76 ERA over 17 innings at Tennessee, while Lunceford pitched 60. 2 innings with 53 strikeouts at Missouri. Marsten joins as a highly regarded freshman.
Bullpen Breakdown
Zach Johnston is anticipated to be a pivotal player in the Wake Forest bullpen in 2025. During the 2024 season, Johnston posted a 3-2 record, achieving 46 strikeouts and a 3. 93 ERA over 36. 2 innings pitched. With Chase Burns and Josh Hartle advancing to the MLB, Johnston has the potential to become one of the primary contributors in the Demon Deacons’ bullpen.
Key Matchups and Challenges
Wake Forest baseball’s competitiveness in 2025 will be largely assessed by key ACC matchups. For the Demon Deacons, the games versus NC State, North Carolina and Duke are critical. With a sweep against North Carolina, North Carolina and Wake Forest both gave NC State a sweep in 2024, giving the ACC regular season title. Duke and Wake Forest baseball compete in different divisions but the rivalry is still one of the most entertaining in college baseball. Miami, Clemson, Virginia Tech and North Carolina will all be nationally televised games for Wake Forest baseball.
NCAA Tournament Aspirations
Despite making five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1998 to 2002, it would be another milestone for Wake Forest baseball to earn its fourth straight trip to the tournament in 2025. To accomplish this, a rich regular season performance is required. The trick, for Samford, is that the Demon Deacons’ schedule contains 42 of 56 games in North Carolina and seven postseason teams from a year ago.
The Wake Forest baseball Demon Deacons are a team that boasts a blend of promising newbies and old returners, and will be going down a plough this year. It sets an exhilarating season of ACC baseball in Winston-Salem. The possibility for a lot of the yard is certainly there, though it is too early to know if they can live up to the lofty expectations.