SEC Starting Pitcher Power Rankings
WEEK 3
Week 3 delivered again.
Between neutral-site tournaments, real road environments, and multiple matchups against legitimate teams, this weekend gave us what early-season baseball is supposed to give us: context. I spent a stupid amount of time on this list — easily 15–20 hours — and watched well over 25 pitchers this weekend (and closer to 40 if you include bouncing around innings and key sequences). That’s the point of these rankings: not just box scores, but how it actually looked, how it played, and what it projects to.
Reminder on the framework — the “algorithm” behind the list:
40% Performance: What you did on the field, against who, and what it meant for your team.
40% Stuff / Profile: Physical ability, command, pitch quality, mix/usage, and how it plays at the next level.
20% Intangibles / Friday Night Traits: Presence, competitiveness, resilience, and projection — including the upside of what you can become by May.
Two notable arms are temporarily unranked due to injury/early exit: Austin Nye (Vanderbilt) and Aidan King (Florida). Both would otherwise be in the Top 25.
Alright — Week 3.
1) Ruger Riojas — Texas
(Last Week: #2)
Riojas is absolutely electric. Friday night against a Coastal Carolina team that played in the finals last year, he went 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 11 K — on 71 pitches. That’s not just “good.” That’s surgical.
I went back and watched every pitch. The way he tunnels, the pace he works with, and the way Max Weiner has these guys throwing right now… Riojas looks like he could pitch in the big leagues today. He reminds me of Freddy Peralta — the carry on the fastball, the angle, the confidence, the way he sequences.
And the swing-and-miss is outrageous: 22 whiffs on 71 pitches. That’s a cheat code.
2) LJ Mercurius — Oklahoma
(Last Week: #3)
This was hard not to make him No. 1.
Complete game (7-inning run-rule) against Gonzaga: 1 H, 1 R (unearned), 1 BB, 9 K. At one point he just settled in and went into absolute flow — I’m pretty sure he retired something like the last 19. The ball explodes out of his hand. Mid-90s, rides at the top, and the changeup is a true swing-and-miss weapon. The breaking ball plays because hitters are guessing.
He’s No. 2 because Coastal is a tougher task than Gonzaga — but make no mistake: Mercurius is dominating and looked like a big league ready arm on Saturday.
3) Jake Marciano — Auburn
(Last Week: #1)
Marciano drops from No. 1, but he’s still one of my favorite arms in the league.
5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K against Nebraska — and Auburn lost. Part of being a Friday night guy is getting you into the sixth and seventh when the game’s tight and protecting the bullpen. That’s the only “ding” here.
But the headline remains: 29 strikeouts and zero walks. In 16 innings. That’s ridiculous. He continues to command the zone, mix three above-average pitches, and keep hitters uncomfortable. His stuff plays because he can put it where he wants.
4) Dylan Volantis — Texas
(Last Week: #4)
Volantis continues to look like a true ace on Sundays.
He didn’t get through five this weekend, and the command wavered a bit (three walks), but he’s on a strict count and still punched eight. The talent is obvious. Texas has two legitimate “aces,” and Volantis is a major reason why.
5) Colin Fisher — Arkansas
(Last Week: #5)
Fisher stays right here and keeps stacking clean outings. Still no earned runs. He’s now 2-0 with 26 K to 3 BB in 18 innings.
Not overpowering in the traditional sense — but he fills up the zone, mixes, and gets outs. He’s the definition of a “rotation stabilizer,” and if Arkansas has a postseason run, he’s going to be a big part of it.
