Excitement dissolved into disappointment at the tail-end of Maryland baseball’s 2024 season. 

The Terps controlled their own destiny entering the final series of the year; taking at least two games from a three-game set against Penn State likely would’ve secured a Big Ten Tournament berth for the squad that won it in 2023. Instead, Maryland got swept.   

Nine months later, and the sting from last season’s finish still lingers, but the Terps have had plenty of time to turn that frustration into motivation. 

“That’s the great thing about baseball, is you fail so much, so there’s so much you can actually learn from,” sophomore infielder Chris Hacopian said. 

With last year’s shortcomings behind them, the Terps have adopted a more aggressive mentality — one that’s encompassed by just three words: “Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime.” 

Head coach Matt Swope — a Washington Commanders fan — said he took inspiration from Dan Quinn’s squad, which reached this season’s NFC Championship game by following the same philosophy.

The mantra that materialized in Landover has made its way to College Park, and the players are fully bought in.

“We’re a team who, regardless of the scene, regardless of the scenery, regardless of … the outcome, … we’re gonna give you everything we got for every pitch,” redshirt sophomore Kyle McCoy said. “Every time that we’re out there, we’re gonna do everything we can to win.”

McCoy, the Terps’ scheduled Friday starter, returns to the fold after missing last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 6-foot-6 lefthander is also the lone pitcher in Maryland’s leadership council, another significant offseason development. 

In years past, captaincy responsibilities were signified by the No. 3 jersey. This is still the case, with senior Eddie Hacopian — Maryland’s leader in AVG and OPS last season — set to don the iconic jersey this campaign. But rather than leaving the weight of captaincy on one individual, it’s now shared amongst the four leadership council members. 

Joining McCoy and Eddie Hacopian in the distinguished position are Eddie’s younger brother Chris and senior outfielder Elijah Lambros. 

Chris put on a power display throughout a historical freshman campaign; he tallied 15 home runs and led the Terps in slugging percentage, capturing 2nd Team All-Big Ten honors in the process. Lambros saw a slight dip in production last year but has been a staple in the Terps’ lineup since transferring from South Carolina in 2022. 

“Me, Eddie, Chris, and Kyle — we all have our strengths and weaknesses as leaders,” Lambros said. “[Swope] wants to strengthen our strengths, of course, but turn our weaknesses to be even better.”

The Terps are expected to fill out the rest of the field with a mix of returners and transfers.

Sophomore Brayden Martin spent the majority of his freshman season in the outfield while bouncing between the top spots in Maryland’s lineup. The utilityman will likely slot in at second base this time around while being a pivotal piece in the Terps’ lineup once more.

Maryland also returns experience behind the dish, with senior Alex Calarco and junior Devin Russell expected to command the pitching staff. 

A trio of transfers will likely fill out the heart of Maryland’s lineup. 

First baseman Hollis Porter was a standout at Mississippi’s Pearl River Community College, where he put together a video-game-like slash line (.399/.488/.827) while also hitting 20 home runs.

Wake Forest transfer Liam Willson and VCU transfer Aden Hill will flank Lambros in left and right field, respectively. The sophomore Wilson posted a .867 OPS while featuring in nine games for the Demon Deacons last year. Hill saw a jump in playing time at VCU last year, hitting .276 and driving in 44 runs while starting all 61 of the Rams’ games. 

“Every single year I’ve been here, the team has always been a family, and that’s what this year’s team is,” Lambros said. “With Liam, Hollis, and Aden, and all of these guys coming in — they came in like they’ve been here for two or three years.   

Inconsistent starting pitching hindered the Terps in 2024, but a pair of sophomore returners are expected to fill out the weekend rotation alongside McCoy. 

Joey McMannis got significant looks as Maryland’s Sunday starter last season; he posted an ERA just below five and struck out 37 hitters. The tall right-hander will move up a day, inheriting Saturday-starting duties at this season’s onset.

Lefty Evan Smith mostly featured out of the bullpen last year but received several starting opportunities toward the end of the campaign. Smith totaled the second-highest K-rate of any Maryland pitcher in 2024, and he’s expected to provide similar strikeout success in the Sunday role this season.

“Being able to have that experience makes everybody a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more confident,” McCoy said.

Midweek starting duties often evolve throughout the year, but highly touted freshman Jake Yeager will take those reins to start the season. Perfect Game listed Yeager as the No. 1 pitcher and player in the state of Maryland. During his senior season, the Archbishop Spalding product pitched to a 1.25 ERA while adding 84 punchouts in 56 innings of work. 

Maryland’s enhanced pitching depth will prove crucial as it faces an improved schedule from the season prior.        

The Dirty Terps kick off their 2025 campaign by facing UAB, Ball State, and Mercyhurst in this weekend’s Swig & Swine College Classic in Charleston, SC. Maryland’s home opener comes just a few days later, when it faces familiar midweek foe Delaware on Tuesday. 

A pair of games against No. 14 Wake Forest in early March, plus an additional midweek against No. 2 Virginia on March 11, headline Maryland’s non-conference slate. 

The schedule gets even tougher once the Terps start conference play in the expanded Big Ten. Maryland faces three of the four newcomers, with home sets against UCLA and No. 12 Oregon, and an additional road trip to Washington in late March.

Maryland also has consecutive series against Indiana and No. 24 Nebraska in April, both of which were picked to finish top-6 in the Big Ten’s preseason poll. 

The first weekend of May brings with it a compelling road series against Penn State — a set with added significance given the way last year ended. The marathon then ends two weeks later when Maryland hosts Rutgers May 15-17.