Sun Devils set for first Big 12 home series, taking on Kansas

(Photo: Maya Diaz/WCSN)

21 games into the 2025 season, it’s fair to say that Arizona State baseball is once again experiencing another roller coaster year.

The Sun Devils soared high this past weekend, scoring 38 runs in two games to begin Big 12 conference play with a huge road series victory over TCU. Continued bullpen struggles and a sluggish performance from the bats on Tuesday night saw the team descend right back down in a 6-3 loss against USC on home turf.

With conference play now in full swing, Big 12 action makes its way to Phoenix Municipal Stadium for the first time this season. The Sun Devils (14-7, 2-1 Big 12) play host to the upstart Kansas Jayhawks (17-4, 2-1 Big 12) for a three-game series.

Over the last 10 years, Kansas’ baseball program has been mired in constant futility. Since a 35-26 campaign in 2014, the Jayhawks haven’t made the NCAA Tournament or finished above 5th in the Big 12 standings. However, third-year manager Dan Fitzgerald has seen gradual improvement since being hired in 2023 including posting a winning record last season.

After being picked to finish 9th in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, the Jayhawks immediately exceeded their modest expectations after starting the season 14-1. That scorching pace was then followed up by a 3-3 record since March 11, and despite winning its first in-conference series versus Baylor, Kansas has lost two straight after being shutout at No. 23 Arizona on Tuesday.

What makes this series so intriguing is that Kansas’ greatest strength mirrors ASU perfectly: unrelenting offensive production. The Jayhawks’ lineup is currently 8th in the country in runs scored with 207 across in 21 games and 10th in scoring at an average of 10 runs per game.

If there’s one thing in particular their bats thrive on, it’s the long ball. A whopping total of 46 home runs batted in is good enough for sixth best in the nation. Five of those came in a 29-1 win over Minnesota, a team that nearly swept ASU, on March 12 where the Jayhawks set an NCAA record for most consecutive home runs in a single game.

Sophomore first baseman Brady Ballinger has been without question Kansas’ headliner in the box. The transfer from College of Southern Nevada leads the team in hits and OPS while also being top three in home runs, batting average and RBIs. Another transfer who has made a major impact is senior left fielder Brady Counsell, son of former Major Leaguer and current Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who has recorded five home runs and 25 RBIs.

That’s not to mention graduate Jackson Hauge, one of the best designated hitters in the country with a season stat line of 11 home runs and 32 total RBI.

Despite what a team average of .313 would suggest, inconsistent plate discipline has resulted in a middling 1.88 strikeout-to-walk ratio. However, the Jayhawks racking up 232 hits has made them one of the best teams at getting on base as seen in a top 25 percentage of .437.

Kansas also boasts a relatively stable and young pitching staff that struggles to remain consistent from game-to-game. As a team, the Jayhawks have an ERA of 3.89 which currently sits as fourth-best in the Big 12 in spite of a below average 1.38 WHIP and allowing 5 walks a game on average.

As the staff leader in innings pitched, sophomore right-handed pitcher Dominic Voegele gave up 15 runs across four games to open the season before rebounding with seven scoreless innings in a start against Baylor. After redshirting at Oklahoma State and spending a year at Walters State Community College, sophomore righty Manning West leads the team in starts and hasn’t given up more than 3 earned runs in 22.2 innings pitched.

One important thing to note about Kansas’ rotation is that it lacks a clear-cut third starter. Redshirt junior righty Patrick Steitz and sophomore righty Cooper Moore are third and fourth in starts but both haven’t seen action since early March.

The Jayhawks often opt to turn to the bullpen to get things done, especially the duo of junior righty Kannon Carr and senior righty Connor Maggi. The two pitchers have an ERA under 3.00, combine for 4 wins and will be looking to bounce back following forgettable appearances over the past week.

First pitch between the Sun Devils and Jayhawks is set for 6:30 p.m. MST this Friday.