A look into the Hoosiers question-filled, depth-heavy outfield group for the 2025 season
By Zach Horwitz @HorwitzZach February 10th, 2025
One year ago, the Indiana outfield group was one set in stone by fall scrimmages. The script has been flipped for the 2025 season.
With the MLB Draft departures of Carter Mathison and Nick Mitchell, the Hoosiers lose out on two reliable left-handed bats in the order. An Indiana depth piece in Morgan Colopy also graduating has the Hoosiers yearning for a breakout season for an under-the-radar outfielder.
Indiana has a few holes to fill outside of its highly decorated player.
Devin Taylor
Preseason buzz has been at a constant for Indiana outfielder Devin Taylor. The once top-100 recruit has blossomed into one of the country’s best, and he’s seemingly the only Hoosier to lock down an outfield position at this point in time. Head Coach Jeff Mercer alluded to Taylor handling some of the outside noise in a positive manner due to his high profile and “being in the spotlight from such a young age”.
The projected first rounder in the 2025 MLB Draft is just one of six returning players to have played 40 games for head coach Jeff Mercer last season.
Taylor slashed .357 with 37 walks, which could increase as the scouting report may opt to pitch around him. During preseason media availability, the Indiana freshman-RBI leader spoke about his comfortability in the leadoff spot of Mercer’s lineup. You should expect to see the lefty amassing the most at-bats on the roster this season in that top spot.
Devin Taylor was named to the Preseason Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List, the most prominent award in college baseball. This is Taylor’s second time with the preseason honor, which is the most in IU history.
On top of this, he was named a unanimous preseason All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year by all three major media outlets (D1 Baseball, Baseball America, and Perfect Game). After playing in the highly-coveted Cape Cod Baseball League and representing Team USA this past summer, Devin Taylor looks to captain Indiana’s outfield group and become the first Hoosier since Kyle Schwarber, in 2014, to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.
Hogan Denny
Next up on the list to likely see playing time is Preseason Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Hogan Denny. The Mooresville, IN native hit .472 in high school as the third-ranked player in the state. Denny mentioned “the coaching staff, and playing for the state I grew up in and representing them” was the reason for sporting the cream and crimson.
Denny has made the transition from basketball star and football quarterback, into a catcher and outfield role for the Hoosiers. Although, as Jake Stadler mans the backstop, Mercer hopes to get Denny’s bat involved at an early portion of his career, mainly in the outfield.
From first glance, the newcomer has his mind set on season-long goals, with very few of those being personal accomplishments. “Obviously, I haven’t been here the past two seasons, but the clubhouse mindset is that we’ve gone to two regionals and now we’re looking to host a regional,” he said. Denny’s bat will find some spot in the order, and Indiana will likely trust the freshman in a corner outfield spot early on.
Tyler DeMartino
The biggest wild card of the group could be Xavier transfer Tyler DeMartino. After sitting out the majority of the 2024 season and being awarded a medical redshirt for his sixth season of college baseball, DeMartino could provide an experienced bat that is bound to flourish in the Big Ten’s top offense.
After transferring to Xavier following his freshman season at West Virginia, DeMartino now holds a veteran presence which includes 136 games played over three years. In his redshirt junior season, he hit .255 with 10 home runs in the cleanup spot. DeMartino also has some prior at-bats in NCAA Regionals.
It seems as if Devin Taylor could play the bulk of centerfield this season, but DeMartino’s 44 starts in center could offer a different approach to the outfield group.
Andrew Wiggins
Sophomore Andrew Wiggins looks to take a step forward after a minimal impact in his freshman campaign. Wiggins was a highly touted recruit out of Indianapolis, having earned an all-state selection three times while at Heritage Christian. After being the number two overall player in the state, Wiggins only started 14 games, with 13 of those coming in the designated hitter spot. After a few multi-hit games, Wiggins was sidelined with a hand injury that kept him out of the lineup for two weeks. While the strikeout rate neared 25 percent, the home run and extra base-hit power could provide the young lefty some opportunities this season. Wiggins could potentially make a huge impact with consistent playing time, especially with an uptick in defensive productivity.
Korbyn Dickerson and Cole Decker
Louisville transfer Korbyn Dickerson and Freshman Cole Decker seem to be similar players for Indiana in 2025. Dickerson played in 21 contests, with just one start, for Dan McDonell and the Cardinals last season. He was 4-for-17 at the plate in his redshirt freshman season.
Cole Decker is yet another in-state top prospect, coming out of Evansville North High School where he led the team to a state title. While hitting .400 in his senior season, Jeff Mercer also pointed to Decker as a great defender. Within the crowded group, it may be tough to see Decker during the early portion of the season.
For both Dickerson and Decker, the two could play the Morgan Colopy and Sam Murrison defensive replacement role this upcoming season. Mercer likes to opt for better defenders with a lead late in ball games which could turn some playing time into fruition.
Evidently, the Hoosiers have a hefty group filled with depth and raw talent for the 2025 season. Led by Devin Taylor, they’ll need some others to add on and earn an opening day lineup spot.
Indiana travels to Surprise, Arizona for a four-game mini tournament series with the likes of UNLV, Xavier, and Oregon State beginning this Friday, Feb. 14th.