College Position Preview: Eight Outfielders to Watch in 2022

We continue our position preview series; now it’s time to look at the outfield.

Previously, we’ve done spotlights on:

• 6 Catchers to Watch in 2022
• 7 First Basemen to Watch in 2022
• 6 Second Basemen to Watch in 2022
• 6 Third Basemen to Watch in 2022
• 6 Shortstops to Watch in 2022

Here are a handful of outfielders to keep an eye on when the 2022 season rolls around…

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Sometimes playing the outfield means feeling like you’re standing around with nothing to do, only to be called upon to perform perfectly – and, sometimes, even more than perfectly – at a moment’s notice with the crack of a bat.

The outfield is stacked with talent across college softball. Here are some of the best that patrol the outfield grass in college softball…

Abby Sweet, Notre Dame
Oh, how Sweet it is in the Fighting Irish outfield. Sweet enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2021, one that saw her earn All-American honors and establish herself as an offensive threat on the national stage. Sweet led all ACC hitters with a .445 batting average during her All-American campaign and was one of the nation’s toughest outs.

Kelsey Brown, Virginia Tech
There are more than a couple of college softball stadiums whose fences probably still have a Brown-shaped impression in them. Brown’s defense turns heads and raises eyebrows regularly and she also happens to be a quality hitter at the plate; the mix of stellar defense and solid offense make her a dangerous, yet still underrated, Hokie star.

Jayda Coleman, Oklahoma
Coleman became a household name in college softball right away last season, gaining attention for her high-energy style of play as much as her eye-popping stats at the plate and impressive defense in the field. Even when that same high-energy style emerged in a controversial play, Coleman gained as many fans as she did detractors and she has already cemented herself as one of the game’s popular stars – and she’s only a sophomore!

Brooke Wilmes, Missouri
Wilmes’ return to CoMo started the avalanche of ‘super senior’ comebacks on the Mizzou roster, and she proved to be a major force on the team in more ways than one. Certainly not the least of those qualities is her offense, which included a team-leading .373 batting average as well as thirteen home runs and a 1.042 OPS last season.

Janelle Meono, Arizona
A second-year freshman in 2021, Meono became the Wildcats’ starting left fielder and proceeded to lead the entire PAC-12 in batting average with a .432 mark. She ended the year with 72 hits and a .483 on-base percentage; both marks ranked third in the PAC-12.

Addison Barnard, Wichita State
Let’s talk about some sheer power at the plate and Barnard will enter the conversation right away. A breakout star in her own right as a true freshman in 2021, Barnard ended the year as the American Athletic conference tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and set a Shockers program record with 22 home runs on the year.

Carmyn Greenwood, Louisville
Greenwood’s return for her ‘super senior’ season is a major plus for Louisville, as she has established herself as one of the best offensive threats in the ACC since arriving in the ‘ville. She led the program with a .430 batting average last season and finished the year with 74 hits and 31 runs scored.

Jaycee Ruberti, Ohio State
Following a transfer this summer, Ruberti will look to build on a second-team All-Region campaign in 2021 and she’ll seek to do it as part of the Big Ten. At Ohio State, Ruberti figures to play a hearty role in the Buckeyes’ offensive attack after finishing the 2021 season with a .380 batting average and a 1.031 OPS while at Hofstra.