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As the 2025 baseball season approaches, Stanford’s head coach David Esquer expressed his enthusiasm during a virtual media call, just one week before the team takes the field.
“We’re genuinely excited about this year’s club,” Esquer said, setting the tone for a season that comes on the heels of a disappointing 2024 campaign. The Cardinal finished last season with a 40% win rate, a significant drop from their usual standard.
Despite the tough losses of 2024, Esquer sees the struggles as a stepping stone for the current squad. “It was an investment in time and experience with a group that was virtually untested, without a whole lot of game-time experience,” he explained. “We lost nine players to the draft and a couple more to the portal, but I thought our tournament showing was more indicative of the type of team we could put together.”
Those “untested” players are now seasoned and ready to take on the challenge, bolstered by new talent. A major addition to the lineup is 19-year-old Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki, who set a national record for home runs in high school. Sasaki’s arrival has generated significant excitement, but Esquer is also focused on other key positions, notably behind the plate, where senior Charlie Saum will take over as the team’s starting catcher.
Esquer also faces a unique challenge: an abundance of talent at key positions, particularly in the infield. With shortstops Trevor Haskins and Temo Becerra in the mix, and Jimmy Nati’s experience at first base, Esquer’s task of assembling a defensive unit has become a matter of maximizing his depth.
“Probably my most difficult assignment is how to configure an infield with about five or six shortstops in the program,” Esquer said, highlighting the tough decisions ahead. “It’s about figuring out what will give us our best defense.”
Alongside returning players, Stanford will benefit from a strong freshman class, which Esquer believes will provide depth and competition for playing time. “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 talent,” he added.
Two key players Esquer is excited to have back are junior pitcher Matt Scott and junior infielder Jimmy Nati. Scott, who is slated to be Stanford’s “Friday night pitcher” – a role reserved for the team’s ace – spent the offseason refining his pitches. “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 explained.
Nati, an Australian import from the 2022 recruiting class, has focused on his mental game and leadership as he steps into a more prominent role. “Our inter-squad games have been super competitive, super fun — very chirpy as well,” Nati said. “We’re looking really good, looking ready to go. We’re counting down the days now till first pitch.”
Stanford’s transition into the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) continues this season, with Esquer acknowledging the added challenge but maintaining an optimistic view. “What I tell my team, it’s like traveling to a road super regional every weekend,” he said, referring to the tough competition the Cardinal will face in the ACC.
Esquer believes that regular matchups against high-caliber teams will help prepare his squad for the postseason. Fans can also look forward to the first-ever ACC series at Sunken Diamond when Stanford hosts Duke from March 14-16.
The 2025 season officially begins on February 14, as Stanford opens the year with a four-game series on the road against Cal State Fullerton.
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