ORLANDO – In a season that will see the Knights attempt to make back-to-back postseasons for the first time since 2012, Rich Wallace’s 2025 UCF baseball squad will be led by some familiar faces and some new ones.
Of those players, those who will be seen in the outfield bring a combination of skill, power, speed and experience.
RETURNERS
Of the players looking to lock up the outfield, Matt Prevesk is perhaps the most exciting. Prevesk played and started in 57 games, all at left field, last season and had a .342 batting average, the highest on the team. He recorded 80 hits, five home runs, 10 doubles and 35 RBIs, in addition to leading the team with 25 multiple-hit games. For his performance, he was named an All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention. In addition to playing the outfield, it is expected that Prevesk will make appearances as a designated hitter.
“We’re (the outfielders) eager,” Prevesk said. “Eager to play. Eager to be competitive. And eager to make a play in the field.”
Also returning to the team is sophomore Andrew Williamson. During his freshman campaign in 2024, he appeared in 50 games and started in 42, batting .258 with 25 RBIs and five home runs. He also registered a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 99 putouts, two outfield assists, and no errors.
“I don’t know what the ceiling is,” Wallace said. “You can put All-American or anything you want on Andrew Williamson, and could he achieve it? I think so.”
NEWCOMERS
Outside of their returners, the Knights will also be relying on a few newcomers to help solidify the outfield. One of those players is junior transfer DeAmez Ross. Ross played his first two collegiate seasons at Florida State. Last year he played in 20 games, posting a .253 batting average, 19 RBIs, six extra-base hits and eight stolen bases. The year before that, in which he worked with Coach Wallace who was an assistant coach for FSU that season, he became the first freshman to start for the Noles since 2017. He played 36 games (35 in center field), hitting .287 with 41 hits, four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 17 RBIs. He also scored 26 runs, which was good enough to be the fourth most on the team. This was despite the fact he had missed 18 games with an injury.
“He’s an unbelievable worker,” Wallace said. “And overall, he’s an unbelievable worker. They call him smiley sometimes, he just never stops smiling out there.”
Joining Ross in the outfield is a fellow transfer from an ACC school, sophomore Chase Krewson. Last season while playing at Duke, Krewson played in 46 games and started in 35. He recorded a .331 batting average, 35 runs, five home runs and 22 RBIs. He also helped the Blue Devils win the 2024 ACC Tournament and earn an appearance in the NCAA tournament.
“He’s (Krewson) just an athletic guy out there that has a really strong arm that can make a difference defensively and offensively.” Wallace said.
Outside the transfers, freshmen Alex Rodriguez (Coral Springs, Fla.) and Luke Mottola (Orlando, Fla.) will also look to help provide depth to the outfield. Rodriguez helped Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School win four straight state titles and in his senior season he had a .339 batting average and perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Mottola, who played at nearby Boone High School, was a FACA All-Star and a member of the National Honor Society. He is the son of UCF volleyball legend Emily Mottola and UCF Hall of Famer Chad Mottola.