Okay let’s start this out straight. Ever since moving down here close to Greenville, I caught a couple games at Fluor Field last year. Pure fun, way more energy than I expected for college ball. So, seeing the Stars of Fluor Field College Baseball 2025 chatter popping up early this season? Yeah, I was curious. Figured I’d dig in myself, see who’s really rising fast.
The Whole Plan Got Messy Fast
Honest truth? I thought I’d just grab some peanuts, settle in behind home plate with the radar app on my phone, maybe jot down some notes. Easy. Famous last words. Opening weekend hit, and Fluor Field was packed. Like, sold-out, standing-room-only, “excuse me, sorry, pardon me” every five steps packed. Found a spot down the first baseline finally, felt like I’d won the lottery. Pulled out my little notebook – looking like a scout wannabe, probably – and tried to focus.
First thing hit me? The level here is no joke. These guys play hard. Faster than I remembered. Trying to track a fastball with the naked eye? Forget it. My phone radar app? Useless in the crowd, bouncing around like crazy. Saw a kid for Wofford absolutely smoke a double into the gap, looked quick as lightning. Scribbled “Speed?!” in my notebook like it meant something profound.
Switching Gears & Embracing Chaos
Midway through the first game, realized my “plan” was junk. Needed to change it up. Next game, I did two things different: sat up higher behind the plate for a better view and brought actual binoculars. Game changer. Seriously. Seeing the spin on a curveball from that angle? Totally different story.
Started paying way more attention to stuff outside the obvious hits:
- That Clemson shortstop covering insane ground. Made a play deep in the hole look routine.
- USC Upstate pitcher working fast, pumping strikes, keeping batters off balance even without crazy velocity. Looked in total control.
- Furman’s lead-off guy fouling off pitch after tough pitch before finally walking. Tough out.
Also started eavesdropping a bit. Not like spying, but you hear names getting buzzed about in the crowd, especially after a big play. “Smith from Furman is killing it this year,” or “Have you seen the pop on Johnson’s bat?” Good way to double-check my own eyeballs.
The Big Takeaway? Forget the Hype
Here’s the main thing after catching maybe half a dozen games focused on this: The “rising fast” label gets tossed around easy online. Seeing it live? It’s dirtier. Grittier. Some guys jump out with pure tools – the kid with the cannon arm I saw from right field, wow. But others? You see the smaller stuff. The pitcher who doesn’t rattle after a bad call. The hitter who adjusts his approach after strike one looking nasty. The energy guys firing up the dugout.
My notebook is chaos now. Not neat stats. Things like “Great first step – CF,” or “Backdoor slider nasty!” or “Clutch AB.” It’s messy human observation. And honestly? That feels way more real than just looking at a batting average spike.
These guys are the real stars right now at Fluor Field. Forget the early hype lists. Get out there, sit somewhere halfway decent, actually watch them play. You’ll spot the ones rising fast yourself – and sometimes it’s the quiet guy who just keeps finding ways to get it done.