As the 2025 season approaches, the Oregon State baseball club is in a familiar position: Inside the top 10.
In the first of five major college baseball preseason polls to be revealed, the Beavers made their debut at No. 10 in the Perfect Game Top 25, securing a place among the country’s best.
The only team outside of the SEC and ACC to place in the top 10 and the only independent team in the top 25, Oregon State is the highest placed team on the West Coast. The Arizona Wildcats (12) and Oregon Ducks (14), two former Pac-12 rivals, both secured positions in the preseason poll.
First-ranked Texas A&M was followed by LSU at number two, Virginia at number three, Georgia at number four, and Tennessee at number five.
Before the 2024 collegiate baseball season began, the Beavers were a resounding top 10 pick. However, they lost to the Kentucky Wildcats in the super regionals and missed out on a trip to the collegiate World Series.
Numerous important players were lost by that team, including Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft; two of its starting pitchers, Aiden May and Jacob Kmatz; a closer, Bridger Holmes; a starting shortstop, Elijah Hainline; and multiple multi-year starters, Micah McDowell, Brady Kasper, and Mason Guerra. In the draft, seven OSU players were chosen.
However, the enduring force, which has participated in 23 regionals and won three College World Series titles, is accustomed to reloading, and coach Mitch Canham has the Beavers poised to compete once more in 2025.
MLB.com lists five Oregon State players in the top 100 MLB draft prospects: left-hander Nelson Keljo (89), junior outfielders Gavin Turley (84) and Dallas Macias (60), sophomore third baseman Trent Caraway (21), and transfer shortstop Aiva Arquette (No. 6).
Keljo is vying to be the headliner of a revamped starting lineup that might be as strong and gifted as any during the Canham era. A number of young arms are in the running, headlined by sophomore right-handers Eric Segura, Laif Palmer and Drew Talavs, freshman Dax Whitney, and redshirt freshman James DeCremer. However, the decision is probably not going to be made until February.
The Beavers’ attack may be deeper, more adaptable, and more effective from top to bottom than it was in 2024, despite losing all of the star power from their record-setting squad from the previous season.
On February 14, Oregon State plays Xavier in Surprise, Arizona, to start the season.
Joe Freeman | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman | [email protected] | For the most recent news and top stories, subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts.
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