Coming off the heels of a Pacific-12 farewell where the Trojans reached the Pac-12 championship but fell to then-No. 18 Arizona, USC baseball is stepping back into the batter’s box for its first Big Ten at-bat.

“You can take losses either as [a] failure or a chance to learn,” said redshirt junior infielder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “We know how [it] feels to lose on a big stage like that and what it takes to get there.”

When Head Coach Andy Stankiewicz took the reins in 2023, he had the task of turning a last-place team into a contender. In just two seasons, he did just that, and now looks toward what he believes to be an exciting opportunity in a new conference.

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“We’re excited about being able to compete on a national scale,” Stankiewicz said. “The guys are excited, believe it or not, about traveling and seeing different parts of the country.”

In his first two seasons, he led the team to back-to-back 30-win campaigns and top-four conference finishes. Entering his third year of coaching, the Trojans have won 56% of their games under Stankiewicz and 58% of their conference battles. After ending 2023 34-23-1 and 2024 with a 31-28 record, USC is looking to put on another winning season.

As construction continues enhancing Dedeaux Field, this upcoming season will be played away from University Park Campus. The Trojans will once again look to call Great Park in Irvine and Loyola Marymount University’s Page Stadium their homes away from home. Fans willing to make the trip can attend all home games in both parks for free.

An opening series at Great Park against George Washington University kicks off USC’s free home games and the season. The Trojans are set to face four currently ranked opponents throughout the season. According to the preseason rankings, a familiar foe seems to be the most challenging: No. 12 Oregon. USC is not unfamiliar with wins over top opposition, with six wins in 2024 and three series wins in 2023 against ranked opponents.

“If anything, we’re excited for teams like that,” Martin-Grudzielanek said after practice on Tuesday. “We want the best in the country, so bring it on.”

The Trojans’ first-ever Big Ten series of the season will come against the Ducks at Great Park in March.

With five players drafted and two others with professional contracts as undrafted free agents in 2024, roster changes were on the horizon for the Trojans. Sophomore outfielder Austin Overn became the highest-drafted USC player in the MLB since 2014, being taken in the third round by the Baltimore Orioles.

In response to the many departures, freshmen recruits and transfer portal pickups became vital for the Trojans. In total, Stankiewicz and USC picked up eight transfers and 16 total incoming freshmen. This season’s recruiting class was ranked No. 20 in the nation by Perfect Game.

“It’s a mixture of both markets,” Stankiewicz said. “Some years may be a little bit heavier in the portal. Some years, if we feel like the right people are coming back that are already here, then we probably would not be as aggressive in the portal.”

A key part of last year’s roster was the underclassmen bats. Freshmen stepped up to the plate, with three occupying the team’s top-five batting averages. Sophomore outfielder Brayden Dowd led the team with a 0.324 batting average. He also successfully stole a base on eight of his ten attempts. Meanwhile, sophomore infielder Kevin Takeuchi led the team with 40 RBIs, tied with then-sophomore catcher Jacob Galloway who has since transferred to No. 1 Texas A&M.

On the mound, senior pitcher Fisher Johnson had the Trojans’ lowest ERA last season at 1.50 coming out of the bullpen. With eleven starts, senior pitcher Caden Aoki ended the season with a 3.91 ERA, the lowest of the returning starting pitchers.

After falling short on the big stage in 2024, the Trojans are approaching 2025 as if there are no options other than coming out on top of their conference.

“Our goals would be to get into a Big Ten Championship, first and foremost, and then make a regional which I think is something that we need to do this year,” Martin-Grudzielanek said. “Then a Super Regional in Omaha, but [we] can’t do that unless we start with the Big Ten championship.”

It will finally be time for Trojan baseball Friday at 6:30 p.m. against George Washington University at Irvine’s Great Park.