6 of the best lineups in the 2023 DI baseball tournament

When the 2023 DI Baseball Tournament starts with the first pitches on June 2 at 12 noon, we can expect offensive fireworks almost immediately.

Here’s a look at some of the field’s best 1-9 lineups, listed in alphabetical order.

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Campbell

For the Camels, the numbers speak for themselves. An offensive that leads the field of 64 players in a number of offensive categories such as OPS (percentage on base plus slugging) and total runs scored (555). The argument about the lack of stability in the schedule is moot, as Campbell has consistently put up numbers like this against opponents outside of the conference.

All of Campbell’s nine regulars hit over .250 on the plate and six different Camels hit double-digit home runs. Lawson Harrill leads the team in home runs and RBIs and is second with a .374 average. He’s behind Tyler Halstead, who also leads the Camels with over 30 stolen bases. Campbell has the third most stolen bases in the field as a team.

And for what it’s worth, the Camels also lead the country in pitch-hitting batters. Any way to base is a long way when the rest of the lineup is so capable of making runs.

#2 Florida

The Gators are no strangers to increasing their scores, and while they don’t lead the country in any statistic, UF is among the national leaders in many categories — slugging percentage (.555), home runs (116), and Total runs scored (478).

The obvious headliner is Jac Caglianone, who has been making headlines all season with his two-way game. Caglianone started 28 home runs and completed 76 runs at the plate. Wyatt Langford lands on base more than half of his plate appearances and Josh Rivera is always a tough opponent.

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No. 5 LSU

Despite the Tigers’ recent troubles, there’s no denying the star power and devastating hitters of this lineup.

Starting with SEC Player of the Year Dylan Crews and his .400+ batting average and nearly .600 on-base percentage, he literally hit the base safely every Game this season – Crews is as much a guarantor as anyone else in the country.

Tommy White soon follows, performing a punch. With a BA in the high .300s, 20 homers and 91 RBIs, he’s a nightmare. The lineup is dangerous at 1-9 and the best thing for any opponent is to slow them down rather than eliminate them.

As a team, LSU achieved .311 with an OBP of just under 1,000. As long as they regain their early season form, the Tigers will have a say in the national championship.

Maryland

The Terrapins’ offense was the Big Ten’s most productive all season, at both the team and individual levels. A team average of over .300, one of two teams in the field with a 1,000 OPS, top-3 in runs, and most long balls of any team in the field.

The extended statistics also support this. Maryland’s strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks in the top 3 nationally and is only behind Wake Forest among teams in the tournament.

Nick Lorusso is the three-time terp leader, and his 99 RBIs lead the entire DI — a Big Ten record in a single season and one shy of being the first DI player in 20 years with 100 RBIs in a season .

#1 Wake Forest

At this point, everyone knows about Winston-Salem’s arm talent, but the lineup deserves love. The Deacons have team ops up there with LSU, Maryland, and Campbell. Even the advanced love Wake. As mentioned above, the Deacs’ K to BB ratio is best in its class.

Half of the lineup hits well over .300, two players have hit 20 homers: Nick Kurtz and Brock Wilken, both of whom hit base in half their PAs and have slugging percentages over .800. Even if someone can mess up the Deacons’ starters and bullpen, good luck beating the #1 overall.

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#7 Va

The Cavaliers have a different definition of a high-powered offense. Long ball isn’t as common in Virginia games as it is in other national teams, but the Hoos more than make up for it with efficient shots. The team batting average of .334 is the best in the country with an OBP that ranks in the tournament’s top five.

UVA also leads the country in doubles, knocking out just 15% of the time. Want an advanced metric? How about a BABIP (Batch Average of Balls in Play) of 0.375? While the ball stays in the field more often than other teams mentioned here, the Cavaliers not only know how to hit, they know where to hit.