On a virtual call for Bay Area Baseball Media Day just one week out from the 2025 season, Stanford baseball head coach David Esquer summed up his feelings right off the bat.
“We’re genuinely excited about this year’s club,” Esquer said.
The Cardinal is coming off a disappointing 2024 season, losing 60% of its games. So what explains the optimism this time around? Last season was a crucial step for this season according to Esquer.
“It was an investment in time and experience with a group that was virtually untested, without a whole lot of game-time experience,” Esquer said. “We lost nine players to the draft, a couple kids to the portal… I thought our tournament showing was more indicative of the type of team we could put together and the excitement we are building upon this year.”
Those previously untested players are now prepared to compete, aided by key additions. One such newcomer is Rintaro Sasaki, the 19-year-old phenom who set Japan’s high school record for home runs. While many are eager to see Sasaki join the Cardinal’s batting order, fans should also watch out for senior catcher Charlie Saum, who will take over from alumnus Malcolm Moore as the team’s everyday catcher.
One of Esquer’s toughest challenges is a good problem to have: sorting through his many quality options for key positions, with Trevor Haskins and Temo Becerra as contenders for shortstop and Jimmy Nati, with his first base experience, expected to play infield.
“Probably my most difficult assignment is how to configure an infield with about five or six shortstops in the program that we have running around and what’s going to give us our best defense,” Esquer said.
The Cardinal will also benefit from a large and promising freshman class, who Esquer said will have a chance to prove themselves by battling for spots on the field.
“If some new names fight their way into the lineup, that’s going to be good for us because that means they’ve won the job over somebody who’s got experience and has some talent,” Esquer said.
Two players Esquer is particularly happy to have on his squad — junior starting pitcher Matt Scott and junior infielder Jimmy Nati — who joined their coach on the call to answer questions. Scott is expected to be Stanford’s “Friday night pitcher,” a role reserved for the ace of the pitching staff. Scott has spent ample time during the off season preparing for his role as the ace.
“I’ve been raising the floor on my third and fourth pitch, being able to throw all four pitches to lefties and righties in addition to maintaining my fastballs and sliders,” Scott said.
Nati, who was recruited from Australia in 2022, said his mental game was his biggest focus for improvement. As an upperclassman, he is stepping into a leadership role while continuing to support his teammates.
“Our inter squads have been super competitive, super fun — very chirpy as well,” Nati said. “And Esquer always talks about how if you can fight with your brothers, you can play with them and love them. We’re looking really good, looking ready to go. We’re counting down the days now till first pitch.”
On the transition to competing against East Coast teams, a first since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2023, Esquer acknowledged the challenge but maintained a positive outlook.
“What I tell my team, it’s like traveling to a road super regional every weekend,” he said.
By regularly playing playoff-caliber teams on the road, Esquer believes ACC competition will prepare his team for the postseason. The Cardinal will also host never-before-seen matchups at Sunken Diamond, including its first home ACC series against Duke, scheduled for March 14-16.
The 2025 spring season will kick off for the Cardinal on the road against Cal State Fullerton in a four-game series beginning Feb. 14.