DBU Baseball Enters 2025 Season Ranked No. 17, Poised for Continued Success

Coming off their 10th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regional, the DBU Baseball team kicks off the 2025 season ranked No. 17 in the nation in Perfect Game’s Preseason Top 25. Under the guidance of Head Coach Dan Heefner, the Patriots have solidified their place among college baseball’s elite programs. DBU is one of just five teams nationally to reach the NCAA postseason each of the past 10 years, joining powerhouse programs like Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, and Vanderbilt. Additionally, the Patriots have averaged 43 wins per season since 2015, ranking as the third-highest win total in the nation over that span.

In 2025, DBU returns a talented and experienced roster, including 21 lettermen from last year’s squad that finished with a 45-15 record and earned the No. 2 seed in the Tucson Regional. Despite losing key players like program all-time strikeout leader Ryan Johnson (a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Angels) and third-round pick Jaron DeBerry, the Patriots boast a wealth of returning talent. Among the standouts are Freshman All-American Luke Pettitte, All-Region selections Chayton Krauss and Tom Poole, and CUSA Newcomer of the Year Michael Dattalo. The team also brings back six All-CUSA selections: Dattalo, Luke Heefner, Grant Jay, Krauss, Pettitte, and Poole.

DBU also bolstered its roster with 20 newcomers, including four impactful Division I transfers: Nick Bonn (Pepperdine), Micah Bucknam (LSU), Rian Schwede (Villanova), and Mason Swinney (Alabama). These additions provide depth and strength across multiple positions, further enhancing the team’s already formidable lineup.

The Patriots will open their 2025 season at DBU's home field, Horner Ballpark, on February 14 against North Dakota State. The schedule is challenging, featuring 14 games against teams that advanced to the postseason in 2024, including Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Oral Roberts. As DBU enters its third season in Conference USA, the Patriots are coming off a strong year, having clinched the CUSA Tournament Championship after winning the league’s regular season title in their inaugural season in 2023. With a balanced mix of veteran leadership and promising newcomers, DBU seeks to make another run to the postseason in 2025.