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Who would have thought that a true freshman would start and excel in three consecutive clinching games? Or that an aerospace engineering major would close two of them? Or that a light-hitting catcher would become Mr. Clutch?

Those three players — Smith Bailey, Tony Pluta and Adonys Guzman — are among 10 Wildcats to keep an eye on as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ opens play in the College World Series against Coastal Carolina on Friday. Let’s take a closer look at all 10 (listed in alphabetical order):

RHP Smith Bailey

A tall (6-4) righty who can land multiple pitches for strikes, Bailey has been ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s No. 3 starter since opening weekend. He began his career with 12 consecutive scoreless innings, appeared to hit the “freshman wallâ€� in late April/early May and has been on a roll down the stretch. Bailey has posted three quality starts in his last four outings and has a 1.93 ERA over that period. Those contests included the deciding games in the Big 12 Tournament, Eugene Regional and Super Regional at North Carolina. Aside from his stuff, poise is Bailey’s greatest trait.

C Adonys Guzman

Known as a defense-first catcher when he transferred from Boston College in the summer of 2023, Guzman has developed into one of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s top hitters. The junior is hitting .318 overall — up from .265 last year — and is even better in clutch situations. Guzman is batting .324 with runners in scoring position and .325 with two outs. He also has a career-high eight home runs after hitting just one in his first season in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Defensively, Guzman hit a rough patch in midseason due in part to arm fatigue. He’s thrown the ball like his old self during the postseason.

RHP Casey Hintz

It’s been an up-and-down junior season for Hintz, who remains a go-to guy out of the bullpen — especially when the Wildcats need ground balls. Hintz ranks fourth among UA relievers who pitch regularly in at 44.6%, although that figure is down from 64.3% in 2024. Hintz was arguably ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s MVP through the first month of the season, notching four wins as a multi-inning piggyback reliever on Friday nights. Perhaps because of fatigue, he hit a midseason rough patch. Aside from one hanging slider vs. UNC, Hintz has been sharp in the postseason.

RHP Owen Kramkowski

The Walden Grove High School product began the season as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s No. 2 starter before moving up to the No. 1 spot in May. Kramkowski got roughed up in his first start and his most recent one; in between, he’s been durable and dependable. Although his fastball can reach the mid-90s, the sophomore is a pitch-to-contact guy at this stage of his career. He ranks in the top 30 nationally in fewest walks allowed per nine innings (1.76) and has yet to issue more than two free passes in a start. Kramkowski gets in trouble when he misses his spots.

3B Maddox Mihalakis

Mihalakis didn’t start ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s season opener but has become one of the Wildcats’ most dependable offensive and defensive players. A .278 hitter overall, the junior is batting .293 with runners in scoring position. He notched the game-winning hit in Game 2 of the Super Regionals at UNC, a two-out, two-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mihalakis wasn’t a consistent defender when he first arrived at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ but has worked to improve that aspect of his game. He has improved his fielding percentage from .943 in 2024 to .962 this year.

RHP Tony Pluta

Pluta has picked up multiple accolades in the midst of a breakout year during which he broke the UA single-season record with 14 saves (and counting). Pluta’s 1.83 ERA is only that high because of a fluky outing at Grand Canyon on April 1 when he was late to arrive because he had to take an exam; Pluta is an aerospace engineering major with a 3.91 GPA. The junior gave up four runs that day; he’s allowed just one — total — in his other 27 appearances. Pluta complements a low-90s fastball with a cutter, a 12-6 curve and a darting changeup.

1B Tommy Splaine

Splaine is playing like someone who doesn’t want his college career to end. The senior is batting .455 in six postseason games with three home runs in 22 at-bats; he had two home runs in his first 185 at-bats this season. Since May 15, Splaine has raised his batting average from .264 to .290. He has become a stellar first baseman who on multiple occasions has used his 6-5 frame to turn would-be base hits into outs. UA coach Chip Hale has lauded Splaine’s defense and his positive demeanor in the dugout.

RF Brendan Summerhill

The player known as “Thrillâ€� has lived up to his nickname with a season that’s never been uninteresting. The junior was batting over .400 when he broke his right hand on March 23. He returned a month later, only to suffer a hamstring injury in his second start. Not quite 100% healthy, Summerhill has been a mere mortal at the plate since then. But he still has a team-best .358 batting average while retaining his keen eye at the plate (36 walks, 21 strikeouts). If the can find his form, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will be a dangerous team in Omaha.

CF Aaron Walton

A transfer from Samford, Walton has been one of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s best all-around players during his first (and probably only) season as a Wildcat. The junior leads the team in runs scored (69), doubles (22) and stolen bases (18); ranks second in hits (79), home runs (14) and on-base percentage (.434); and ranks third in batting average (.320). Walton has been susceptible to breaking pitches at times but will hammer mistakes over the wall. He himself went over the wall to rob a home run at North Carolina. The 6-3, 218-pound former football prospect is a high-end athlete.

SS Mason White

The Salpointe Catholic product whose father and grandfather played at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ will go down as an all-time great Wildcat. The junior ranks second on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s career home run leaderboard (48) and is tied for first in extra-base hits (110). White, who drove in the tying and winning runs in Game 3 of the Super Regional, leads the team with a 1.106 OPS. He also has developed into a steady shortstop after starting his career as a second baseman. White’s error in the sixth vs. UNC on Sunday was a rare miscue. Two innings later, he redeemed himself and then some.