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2019 SEC baseball season preview: Top teams, players, predictions

By Justin Strawn

Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: A general view of a baseball on the field prior to game two of the College World Series Championship Series between the Oregon State Beavers and the Arkansas Razorbacks on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: A general view of a baseball on the field prior to game two of the College World Series Championship Series between the Oregon State Beavers and the Arkansas Razorbacks on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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May 29, 2016: Texas A&M Aggies outfielder Nick Banks (4) hits his second home run during the Texas A&M versus Florida Final Round game of the SEC Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, AL. (Photo by: Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
May 29, 2016: Texas A&M Aggies outfielder Nick Banks (4) hits his second home run during the Texas A&M versus Florida Final Round game of the SEC Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Hoover, AL. (Photo by: Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). /

Postseason Teams

This next tier of SEC baseball teams will be good, but getting them to compete with the top two tiers of the conference will be a challenge. But as good as the SEC is, it wouldn’t be a surprise for any of these teams to exceed expectations and challenge for their respective division titles.

In the SEC East, the Kentucky Wildcats and South Carolina Gamecocks will have talented rosters. They both have questions that will need to be answered.

At times during the 2018 season, the Kentucky Wildcats looked like the best team in the country. They could hit the ball out of the park and got solid pitching in most circumstances. But inconsistent play led the Wildcats to finish with a sub .500 SEC record and out of the postseason. If they can get away from the erratic performances of a season ago, the Wildcats could be dangerous.

The South Carolina Gamecocks made it to a Super Regional in 2018 after not making the postseason at all in 2017. The Gamecocks have talent, but enough of that talent is unproven and will give many people a wait and see approach with the Gamecocks.

In the SEC West, the Texas A&M Aggies will look to compete in a loaded SEC West. The Aggies were the only team in 2018 to make it to an NCAA Regional to post a losing conference record. The Aggies will have a strong starting rotation, but there are questions about the lineup. There is plenty of talent, but players will have to step up to compete in arguably the best division in college baseball.