The 2025 World Series is set between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. It's the first-ever postseason meeting of the two franchises.
In a battle between the 2024 World Series champs and an organization making its first appearance in over 30 years, each team features budding stars, veterans still going strong and everything in between. And competing on the MLB’s biggest stage, it gives players the opportunity to cement themselves in playoff history in arguably the biggest moment of their careers.
But for some, this isn't the first time they've been the center of attention, chasing greatness at the NCAA baseball level.
Take a look at where Blue Jays and Dodgers players first made a name for themselves as NCAA baseball stars:
Dodgers’ Will Smith vs. Blue Jays’ Shane Bieber: A rematch 9 years later
Los Angeles and Toronto have never met in the postseason, but there will be a reunion between a player from each team: Dodgers catcher Will Smith and Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber.
The two faced each other in the 2016 NCAA baseball super regionals, when Bieber played at UC Santa Barbara and Smith at Louisville. Bieber took the bump in Game 1 of the series, allowing just two runs across 7 innings in the Gauchos’ 4-2 victory. Smith was one of Bieber’s seven strikeouts, but he still went 2 for 3 on the right-hander with two singles.
Smith starred on the Cardinals’ 2016 team, making the Louisville Regional All-Tournament Team and securing All-ACC Third Team honors. He led the team in batting average (.382) and slugging percentage (.567) with 43 RBI in his junior season.
Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner, was a household name for UCSB, going from walk-on to Friday night ace that would lead the program to its first Men’s College World Series appearance. Making the 2016 All-Big West First Team, the right-handed starter finished his college career with the second-most strikeouts (237), third-most wins (23) and fifth-best ERA (2.73) in Gauchos history.
Toronto Blue Jays
| Name | NCAA | Position | Year - Round/Pick | WS Jersey Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Bassitt | Akron | RHP | 2011 — 16/501 | 40 |
| Daulton Varsho | Milwaukee | OF | 2017 — CB-B/68 | 5 |
| Eric Lauer | Kent State | LHP | 2016 — 1/25 | 56 |
| Ernie Clement | Virginia | 3B | 2017 — 4/132 | 22 |
| George Springer | UConn | OF | 2011 — 1/11 | 4 |
| Jeff Hoffman | East Carolina | RHP | 2014 — 1/9 | 23 |
| Joey Loperfido | Duke | OF | 2021 — 7/208 | 10 |
| Kevin Gausman | LSU | RHP | 2012 — 1/4 | 34 |
| Louis Varland | Concordia-St. Paul (DII) | RHP | 2019 — 15/449 | 77 |
| Max Scherzer | Missouri | RHP | 2006 — 1/11 | 31 |
| Mason Fluharty | Liberty | LHP | 2022 — 5/158 | 68 |
| Nathan Lukes | Sacramento State | OF | 2015 — 7/214 | 38 |
| Shane Bieber | UC Santa Barbara | RHP | 2016 — 4/122 | 57 |
| Trey Yesavage | East Carolina | RHP | 2024 — 1/20 | 39 |
| Ty France | San Diego State | 1B | 2015 — 34/1017 | 2 |
| Tyler Heineman | UCLA | C | 2012 — 8/249 | 55 |
George Springer — UConn
The American League Championship Series Game 7 hero isn’t new to the spotlight, starring at UConn from 2009 to 2011.
Springer was the name for opposing teams to know when facing the Huskies since he stepped on campus, winning Big East Rookie of the Year after leading his team in runs scored (75), home runs (16) and RBI (57).
George Springer has always delivered in big moments 😤
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) October 21, 2025
Relive his unbelievable catch from @UConnBSB’s 2011 NCAA baseball Super Regionals 🔥#NCAABaseball pic.twitter.com/obu6vzEroZ
The 2017 World Series MVP produced another strong campaign during his sophomore campaign, leading UConn to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 16 years. A year later, he helped the Huskies reach the 2011 NCAA baseball Super Regionals for the first time since 1979.
Although Springer’s college career ended there, he still holds multiple program career records and was named the 2011 Big East Player of the Year. He was also a first-team All-American for Perfect Game USA, Louisville Slugger and the NCBWA.
Trey Yesavage — East Carolina
Yesavage’s uncanny route to the majors is one of the biggest storylines of the World Series. The East Carolina product will make his seventh professional start.
And this isn’t because of consuming minor league tenure or a feel-good comeback story. The right-hander was pitching for ECU just 16 months ago. He’s climbed four different minor league levels this season and made his MLB debut in September.
The 2024 American Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, Yesavage was East Carolina’s top arm in both 2023 and 2024, going 7-1 as a sophomore and 11-1 as a junior.
His biggest postseason moment came in the 2024 NCAA tournament. He led the Pirates past a ranked Wake Forest team, allowing just one hit across 7.1 innings, outdueling fellow 2024 first round pick Chase Burns.
Max Scherzer — Missouri
The most decorated career amongst Blue Jays and arguably any player in this year’s World Series, Scherzer’s professional accolades mirror his excellence from the mid-2000s at Missouri.
The right-hander’s rise began during his sophomore year in 2005, leading the Big 12 in ERA (1.86) and strikeouts (131) — the latter broke a 14-year-old school record. He was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year.
He again led the conference in ERA in 2006 at 1.95, and helped take the Tigers to the NCAA tournament for the first time in nearly 40 years. Entering the regional round, Scherzer had thrown 17 consecutive innings without giving up a run.
Scherzer finished his career with 206.1 innings pitched, a 2.40 ERA and 232 strikeouts.
Ernie Clement — Virginia
Clement has put together one of the most historic postseason runs amongst active MLB players. He has 18 hits through his first 11 postseason games, more than anyone else currently.
Virginia fans, does this ring a bell?
Before Clement took on a major role in the Blue Jays’ run, the infielder starred for the Cavaliers from 2015 to 2017. As a 19-year-old freshman, he helped the program win its first and only national championship at the 2015 Men’s College World Series. He was named to the All-College World Series Team and batted .292 in Omaha, the second-best on the team.
The infielder had a few iconic moments in the tournament, hitting the game-winning run in Game 2 of MCWS Finals against Vanderbilt and a walk-off single to send the UVA to the MCWS.
Kevin Gausman — LSU
LSU has produced a multitude of star college pitchers that shined on the MLB level throughout the years. Gausman was the perfect example of that, becoming arguably the biggest college pitching prospect in 2012.
The two-time MLB All-Star was the Friday Night starter for the Tigers, mowing through the SEC with ease. Posting a 12-2 record, the most wins in the SEC, Gausman held a 2.77 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) and led the conference in strikeouts with 135 strikeouts across 123.2 innings.
Blowing by batters consistently with a fastball that could touch triple-digits, the right-hander threw back-to-back complete games during the regular season. Although LSU fell in the Stony Brook Super Regional, Gausman’s one relief appearance came in the 12th inning of Game 1, putting together a scoreless frame that set the table for a 5-4 win.
Also notable:
Eric Lauer, Kent State: 2016 will always be memorable for the Kent State baseball program, specifically because of Lauer. Leading the country in ERA (0.69) and throwing a no-hitter during his junior year, the left-hander was named the National Pitcher of the Year and MAC Pitcher of the Year
Nathan Lukes, Sacramento State: Churning out a three-year career for the Hornets, Lukes was a hitting machine the day he stepped on campus. He finished his career as the program leader in hits (244) and second in runs scored (137), while batting .345 and .347 in his last two seasons, respectively.
Los Angeles Dodgers
| Name | NCAA | Position | Year - Round/Pick | WS Jersey Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Call | Ball State | OF | 2016 — 3/86 | 12 |
| Alex Vesia | Cal State East Bay (DII) | LHP | 2018 — 17/507 | 51 |
| Ben Casparius | UConn | RHP | 2021 — 5/162 | 78 |
| Blake Treinen | South Dakota State | RHP | 2011 — 7/226 | 49 |
| Emmet Sheehan | Boston College | RHP | 2021 — 6/192 | 80 |
| Evan Phillips | UNC Wilmington | RHP | 2015 — 17/510 | 59 |
| Jack Dreyer | Iowa | LHP | 2021 — Undrafted | 86 |
| Justin Dean | Lenoir-Rhyne (DII) | OF | 2018 — 17/502 | 75 |
| Justin Wrobleski | Oklahoma State | LHP | 2021 — 11/342 | 70 |
| Max Muncy | Baylor | IF | 2012 — 5/169 | 13 |
| Tommy Edman | Stanford | IF/OF | 2016 — 6/196 | 25 |
| Will Klein | Eastern Illinois | RHP | 2020 — 5/135 | 61 |
| Will Smith | Louisville | C | 2016 — 1/32 | 16 |
Max Muncy — Baylor
The Dodgers infielder hit the ground running in Waco, Texas, breaking five records as a freshman in 2010 and being named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. His success continued into the postseason, making the Fort Worth Regional All-Tournament team.
Although Muncy and the Bears weren’t able to capture a regional title while he was there, he helped lead Baylor to a regular season conference championship in 2012.
Muncy hit .311 over his three years at Baylor — not a shock that he tied the Dodgers’ all-time record for most times reaching base safely in a single postseason series in 2024.
Tommy Edman — Stanford
The 2024 NLCS MVP started 140 games in a row at Stanford dating back to his freshman season.
Talk about consistency.
A Pac-12 first team selection and All-Defensive team shortstop his junior year, he helped lead the Cardinal to the best defensive season in program history. Offensively, Edman led Stanford in runs (35), hits (61), triples (4) and stolen bases (8).
This play from Tommy Edman at Stanford was nasty pic.twitter.com/uchMvMSLcG
— Zach (@CardHard11in11) January 11, 2020
Also notable:
Ben Casparius, UConn: Before heading north, Casparius was a two-player at North Carolina with a 1.69 ERA and .316 batting average, playing a pivotal role in the Tar Heels’ route to the MCWS. For the Huskies, he finished second in school single-season history with 127 strikeouts.
Alex Call, Ball State: Call was the face of the 2016 Ball State team, winning MAC Player of the Year — the same year Blue Jays lefty Eric Lauer won MAC Pitcher of the Year at Kent State. The outfielder ranked top-10 nationally in total bases (sixth), runs (seventh) and doubles (ninth), and was one two-bagger away from setting the program’s single-season record.
