Anna 
The Iowa baseball team enters the 2025 season with a mix of returning talent and new recruits, hoping to bounce back after a frustrating 2024 campaign. Despite struggles throughout the season, the Hawkeyes’ offense remained one of their brightest spots, boasting a .301 team batting average and averaging 6.1 runs per game.
However, the team faces significant turnover after losing key players, including Raider Tello. Tello, now a Philadelphia Phillies prospect, led Iowa in batting average, hits, runs batted in (RBI), and slugging percentage last season. His departure leaves a gap in the lineup that will need to be filled by the returning players.
Among the most notable returning contributors is fifth-year player Andy Nelson. Coming off a career-best season in 2024, Nelson hit .325 and led the Hawkeyes with nine home runs. With those achievements behind him, Nelson is focused on maintaining a “clean slate” mentality heading into this year.
“For me, it’s never about trying to recreate something or be the person I was last year,” Nelson said. “I just want to focus on the team, compete, and do it for the right reasons. I’m putting my faith in God that everything will work out.”
Another key returnee is junior infielder Gable Mitchell, who started all 54 games last season. Mitchell hit .293 and drove in 43 RBIs. He believes that Iowa’s success in 2025 will hinge on the team’s ability to grind out tough at-bats.
“We lost a lot of really good players last year,” Mitchell said. “But we have a lot of new guys who might not be well-known yet. As a team, we’ll have power, but the key will be making pitchers work through gritty at-bats.”
Despite the optimism surrounding the offense, head coach Rick Heller remains cautious. He recognizes the potential of his team but knows that their true identity won’t be clear until they face live, high-quality pitching in games.
“The big question is, ‘Can we find an identity and score runs?’” Heller said. “We won’t know that until the lights come on. For many of these guys, it’s their first time facing that level of competition day in and day out.”
While the team has several promising newcomers, Heller also acknowledges the challenges of balancing offense and defense. He explained that some of the hitters the team is excited about may not be the best defensive options.
A key position battle this season will be behind the plate, where Heller plans to rotate Reese Moore and Daniel Rogers between catching and designated hitter duties. Moore, a redshirt sophomore, appeared in 51 games last year, posting a .287 batting average with 32 RBIs and five home runs. Rogers, a fifth-year transfer from Loras College, brings an impressive .404 career batting average and 24 home runs to the Hawkeyes.
“I think it’s huge having Daniel Rogers on our team,” Nelson said. “He was a great Division-III hitter, and now he’s going to be an even better Division-I hitter. I’m excited to see him play and know he’s eager to prove himself at this level.”
As the Hawkeyes prepare for their opening series against South Florida from Feb. 14-16 in Tampa, Heller has yet to finalize his starting lineup. He admitted that the decision is proving difficult as he continues to gather data and adjust to the new challenges of the season.
“It’s a little tough right now,” Heller chuckled. “We just found out who their starters are going to be, so trying to prepare has been challenging. But we’re still figuring things out.”
With a blend of returning veterans, promising newcomers, and plenty of questions yet to be answered, Iowa’s 2025 season will be a test of resilience and adaptability. Fans will be watching closely to see if the Hawkeyes can rebuild their offense and establish an identity amidst the departures of key players.
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