Senior outfielder Kyle Fossum and senior right-hander Jacob Gehring of the Youngstown State baseball team were each named to Perfect Game's Horizon League Preseason All-Conference Team in the website's 2025 conference preview.
Fossum will be in his first season as a Penguin after spending the last three seasons at Washington while Gehring returns after being a First-Team All-Horizon League selection as a junior in 2024. Fossum, who is one of 21 newcomers to YSU's roster, is expected to be an important part of YSU's lineup in 2025 after playing in 37 games and making 14 starts over three seasons at the University of Washington. The Seattle, Wash., native played in 25 games and made 10 starts as the designated hitter for the Huskies as a junior in 2024.
Gehring highlights a group of 19 returners after an impressive debut season as a Penguin in 2024. The Canfield, Ohio, native was named First-Team All-Horizon League last season after transferring home from Ohio State. Gehring led YSU with four victories, 57 strikeouts and 79.1 innings pitched while matching the single-season school record with 15 games started. He ranked in the top 10 in the Horizon League wins, ERA, strikeouts and innings pitched. Gehring finished with a 4-4 record, a 5.82 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 60.1 innings during league action last season. He was twice named the Horizon League's Pitcher of the Week during the 2024 campaign.
In addition, six different Penguins were listed among Perfect Game's Top MLB Draft Prospects in the Horizon League. Redshirt senior right-hander and Kansas transfer JJ Tylicki was ranked as the league's No. 2 prospect for the 2025 MLB Draft. He was joined on the website's top-25 prospects for 2025 by Gehring (No. 10), Fossum (No. 12), junior outfielder Brayden Kuriger (No. 17) and redshirt junior infielder Garrett Cutting (No. 25). Freshman right-hander Tyler Heflin was listed as Perfect Game's top 2027 MLB Draft prospect in the league.
Tylicki is expected to be a key part of YSU's pitching staff in 2025 after spending the last two seasons at Kansas. Kuriger becomes a Penguin after playing in 24 games and making 11 starts over two seasons at Nicholls while Cutting joins the program after playing in 80 games and making 59 starts over two seasons at Utah Tech. Heflin was ranked as the 39th overall player in the state of Ohio for the class of 2024 by Perfect Game. He posted a 2.45 ERA during his senior year at Archbishop Moeller High School, where he was part of a state championship team in 2023.
Youngstown State will begin its 2025 season on Feb. 14 when it opens a three-game series at Baylor. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
For news and updates throughout the 2025 season, follow @YSUBaseball on X and Instagram.
