Nebraska Cornhuskers news: Draft nightmare, 5-star drama, and passing game red flags

The Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball has to be wishing the 2025 MLB Draft never took place. Not only did Will Bolt's squad lose several players he was hoping might return to Lincoln for the 2026, but he's also lost several that were supposed to report to the Huskers for the first time this fall.

The latest is Nebraska freshman-to-be Carter Gwost who won't be a Husker after all, as the outfielder signed a professional contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

Gwost, a Minnesota native, was picked by the Pirates in the 17th round of this month's MLB Draft and will forego his commitment to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It's a significant loss, as the left-handed hitting two-way player that the Pirates liked as an outfielder, Gwost hit .444 with nine homers as a senior this spring.

Nebraska Cornhuskers' 2027 top target Tory Pittman gets his fifth star

As if it wasn't important enough before for the Nebraska football program to lock down the state and haul in the best talent on offer from local high schools, Tory Pittman was boosted to a 5-star prospect earlier this week.

Pittman is thought to be leaning towards the Huskers, but he has plenty of big teams gunning for him. Now that he's an official 5-star Blue Chipper, it's a safe bet Nebraska will have its hands full getting him to commit and sign on the dotted line next December.

Passing game a concern for analyst

While most people are quite excited about what Dylan Raiola will do as a sophomore there is at least one analyst who beleives that while the offense will be better in 2025 than it was a year ago, it will be the running game that will be the strength of the team.

Tim Vergehese thinks the offensive line is in fact, better suited to open up holes for the Nebraska Cornhuskers running backs and that his concerns focus on whether they'll really be able to block well enough in the passing game.