As we get into the guts of conference play in college baseball, now is the time hitters can separate themselves from the pack. Now is the time players show their mettle. Was the non-conference juice legit? Did the bat-to-ball skills take a jump? Inversely, was it all a ruse?
Over the last three weeks, some players have flourished, while others have left scouts asking more questions. Here are three hitters to keep tabs on the rest of the way. They’ve performed at a high level through the first few weeks of stiffer competition.
Make sure to check out where all three of these hitters rank on the FSS Plus Top 300
Charles Davalan, OF — Arkansas
Davalan has been the model of consistency for a Razorbacks team surprising some with their offensive output. Through 25 games, the former Florida Gulf Coast Eagle is slashing .408/.500/.653 with seven homers. He’s run a 7 percent whiff rate roughly halfway through the season with an average exit velocity of 87.6 mph. But it’s what he’s done over the last three weeks that has some area scouts buzzing.
As a few candidates, but Charles Davalan might be the hottest hitter in the country
— Jake Mckeever (@CBCJakeMck) March 23, 2025
Since March 14, including three series against Ole Miss, Oral Robers, and South Carolina, Davalan is slashing .553/.585/.895 with four homers. Better still, his whiff rate over the course of those games is under 6 percent. His average exit velocity is north of 88 mph.
Davalan has a chance to cement himself as the top hitter in the country from a bat-to-ball perspective by the time July rolls around. It’s a definitive up arrow.
Henry Godbout, 2B — Virginia
Godbout entered the season as a bat-to-ball merchant but got off to a slower start that many anticipated. He’s picked things up as of late and has helium next to his name once again. On the season, Godbout is hitting .318/.414/.506 with three homers. But it’s what he’s done over the last three weeks that improves the future outlook.
Since March 14, a stretch that has included series against Cal, Duke, and a game against Richmond, Godbout has flexed his muscles. While it’s only a .250 batting average over the last seven games, Godbout has hit all three of his homers on the season during that stretch. His average exit velocity is up 1.5 mph during that stretch. Perhaps he’s been a victim of poor batted-ball luck, too. Godbout had a mere 5 percent whiff rate across the last seven games.
In a draft lacking pure hitters who put the game in motion, Godbout represents something of a rarity. His contact quality must continue to improve if he hopes to hear his name called in the second round, but he’s unique for the class.
Shai Robinson, SS — Illinois State
Robinson got off to an absolutely putrid start this season. Through 14 games, he was hitting .190 with a huge strikeout rate. He wasn’t flashing the impact at the plate that many had grown to expect from him either. Things have improved dramatically since March 14. Granted, it’s only been a five-game sample, but perhaps the tides are turning for Robinson. His slash is up to .268/.315/.512.
Feelin’ GRAND@ShaiRobinson6 with the grand slam last night versus SIUE!@ISUCreative // @ISURedbirds pic.twitter.com/945oZmPgvL
— Illinois State Baseball (@RedbirdBaseball) March 19, 2025
The last five games have gone gangbusters for Robinson. Four games against Western Illinois and a contest against Belmont yielded a .458/.500/.917 slash. He pummeled three homers during that stretch. Robinson’s swing and miss and exit velocities have both improved too. He hit a ball north of 115 mph against Western Illinois and flaunted a 14% overall whiff rate during that stretch too.
It’s an uphill climb for the former Northwoods League standout but he’s got the tools to make it happen.
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