From Omaha to Reno: Current Aces Who Starred on College Baseball’s Biggest Stage

RENO, Nev. – With the College World Series set to begin Friday, it’s the perfect time to look back at Reno Aces players who once shined on college baseball’s biggest stage.

Among the most memorable performances came from Tommy Henry, who was a standout for Michigan during their 2019 run. The left-hander posted a perfect 3-0 record with a 2.27 ERA in the tournament, allowing just eight earned runs over 31 2/3 innings with 31 punchouts. He delivered a masterclass in the semifinals, tossing a complete-game shutout with 10 strikeouts against Florida State to send the Wolverines to the finals.

Henry wasn’t done—he earned the win in Game 1 of the championship series against Vanderbilt after an electric outing, allowing just three run in 8 1/3 frames. His dominance in the playoffs earned him a spot on the NCAA College World Series All-Tournament Team. Just weeks later, Henry was selected 74th overall by the Diamondbacks in the 2019 MLB Draft.

In honor of the College World Series starting, let's remember the CWS legend that was Tommy Henry 👀

In 2019, he threw a complete game shutout against Florida State and went 8.1 innings in this game against Vanderbilt with 8 strikeouts 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vFaDg5xlP9

— Reno Aces (@Aces) June 12, 2025

Another Aces arm who made his mark on college baseball’s biggest stage is Kyle Nelson, a key piece of UC Santa Barbara’s 2016 College World Series team.

As a sophomore reliever, Nelson was instrumental in the Gauchos’ improbable postseason run, helping lead the program to its first-ever appearance in Omaha. His defining moment came in UCSB’s College World Series opener, where he earned a three-inning save to close out a win over Miami. In that outing, Nelson allowed two runs on five hits to the Hurricanes but held firm under pressure to lock down the victory, his only runs allowed in the entire 2016 postseason.

His steady presence out of the bullpen was a major reason UCSB was able to upset heavily favored Louisville in the Super Regionals. For his efforts that season, Nelson was named to the All-Big West First Team and solidified himself as one of the top relief arms in the country.

Rounding out the trio is John Curtiss, who made his impact with the Texas Longhorns in 2014. As a redshirt sophomore, Curtiss was a key bullpen contributor for a Texas team that made a deep run in Omaha. He finished the season with a 2.06 ERA and nine saves, and in the CWS, delivered a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning in a tightly contested game against Vanderbilt.

Curtiss wasn’t just a force on the mound—he was also honored with the prestigious Elite 89 Award, given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA among all players on the eight CWS teams, highlighting his excellence both on and off the field.

John Curtiss presented with the Elite 89 Award for having the highest individual GPA among CWS student-athletes! pic.twitter.com/9ZZYasIyV7

— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) June 14, 2014

As this year’s College World Series begins, the spotlight turns once again to the next generation of college baseball stars. For current Aces like Tommy Henry, Kyle Nelson, and John Curtiss, the memories of Omaha remain defining chapters in their journeys to professional baseball. Their performances on the game’s biggest amateur stage not only helped shape their careers but also serve as lasting reminders of the grit, talent, and heart it takes to reach the next level.

Single-game tickets are sold at RenoAces.com, the Greater Nevada Field Ticket Office, or by texting “TIXX” to 21003. Season Memberships are available via RenoAces.com, texting “MEMBER” to 21003, or calling (775) 334-7000.

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