College World Series 2022: Predictions, Prospects to Watch on Sunday's Schedule
While the College World Series doesn't draw as much national attention as the College Football Playoff or the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, it's still one of the marquee college tournaments.
The CWS is also a must-follow event for many baseball purists and draftniks. The annual tournament, which takes place in Omaha, not only crowns a national champion, but also showcases future MLB talent.
The College World Series is the final eight-team portion of the 64-team NCAA Division 1 Baseball Championship tournament and features two four-team brackets and double-elimination play.
Below, you'll find a rundown of Sunday's schedule, predictions and a look at some of the top major league prospects to follow.
Sunday June 19 Schedule
No. 5 Texas A&M vs. No. 9 Texas *Elimination Game
Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV and Live Stream: ESPN, ESPN+ and ESPN.com
Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV and Live Stream: ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN.com
*Full bracket and scheduling information can be found at NCAA.com
Preview and Predictions
Texas and Texas A&M find themselves facing off and facing elimination after a pair of blowout losses on Friday.
Texas fell to Notre Dame 7-3 in a game that saw surprisingly surging Notre Dame continue its run. The Aggies tried to climb back against Oklahoma after a brutal 8-0 early deficit, but the Sooners' offense never relented. Oklahoma advanced with a 13-8 victory.
Still, A&M remains a resilient and upbeat squad.
"There's been all kinds of different stories in this College World Series for many, many years," coach Jim Schlossnagle said, per Andrew Olson of Saturday Down South. "And we can either cower down and put our tail between our legs and go back to College Station or we can fight. My money is on our guys fighting."
A&M should carry some momentum after Friday's rally even if it fell short. If their pitching can hold up early, they definitely have to bats to squeak past the Longhorns.
Notre Dame meanwhile, carries plenty of momentum into Sunday. The unranked squad has been riding a wave since upsetting No. 1 Tennessee in the super regionals.
Coach Link Jarrett plans to let the momentum—and his players—lead the charge against Oklahoma.
"Stay out of their way," Jarrett said, per Tom Nole of ND Insider. "Just let them go. That's the beauty of it. Like, let them go."
While Notre Dame and Oklahoma are well-matched offensively—they have averaged 7.6 and 7.8 runs per game, respectively—Notre Dame has the defensive edge. While the Sooners have allowed an average of 6.2 runs per game, Notre Dame has allowed just 4.4.
Oklahoma got off to a fast start against Texas. Don't expect the Sooners to enjoy the same early spark on Sunday.
Predictions
Texas A&M 10, Texas 7
Notre Dame 7, Oklahoma 6
MLB Prospects to Watch
Jack Brannigan, 3B & RHP, Notre Dame
Multi-positional players are sometimes viewed as novelties, but versatility will always intrigue major league clubs.
Notre Dame third baseman and right-hander Jack Brannigan may not have the goods to be a starting pitcher at the next level, but he's a talented defender who can add depth to a bullpen.
Brannigan is also a fine offensive player who hit .296 during the regular season with 45 runs and 46 RBI. He pitched 14.2 innings during the season.
While Brannigan isn't viewed as a top prospect—he's ranked 163rd by MLB.com—he's a unique player with a ton of developmental potential.
Ivan Melendez, 1B, Texas
Texas first baseman Ivan Melendez doesn't possess the versatility of Brannigan, but he's a more polished prospect at his position. The 115th-ranked prospect this year, Melendez was drafted in the 16th round by the Miami Marlins last year but opted to return.
The decision could pay big dividends for Melendez.
This season, the 22-year-old has been an offensive force for the Longhorns. He finished the regular season with 32 home runs, 75 runs, 94 RBI and an impressive .516 on-base percentage.
Melendez's power and consistency at the plate (.396 BA) will likely make him a top-100 selection in next month's draft.
Peyton Graham, SS, Oklahoma
While Brannigan is an intriguing developmental prospect and Melendez will get early-round consideration, Oklahoma shortstop Peyton Graham has an outside chance of being a first-round pick.
The 33rd-ranked prospect for 2022, Graham plays a premium position and plays it well.
During the regular season, Graham batted .35520 home runs, 72 runs and 71 RBI. His 61 strikeouts this season are a concern, but Graham brings intriguing power and a 6'3" frame to the proverbial table.
After making the transition from third base to short this year, Graham also has enough positional versatility to draft interest from multiple clubs. The 21-year-old has loads of upside and should have no trouble finding a role in an MLB team's system this fall.