Oregon Ducks
Overall Rank: #16
Conference Rank: #3 Pac-12
Oregon Team Page
The 2013 season saw Oregon set a new school record for wins, but it still was not enough to carry them beyond the NCAA Regional stage as they lost to Rice in the final. This year could be even better for the Ducks, as they welcome back a good portion of last year’s roster for the 2014 season. In the ultra-competitive Pac-12, the Ducks will be hoping to be a force once again, especially with a number of highly-rated players who will take the mound and the field this year.
2013: 48-16, 22-8
2013 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: George Horton
Field Players:
Many of last year’s biggest offensive producers return for the Ducks. Infielder Ryon Healy is gone, but Oregon has a great deal of depth all across the field positions. Much will be asked of junior Scott Heineman and Kyle Garlick to help replace Healy. Garlick missed last season with a wrist injury and could be the big bat the Ducks need in the middle of the lineup.
Pitchers:
Wins leader from 2013 Cole Irvin returns, as does the man who led the Ducks in strikeouts, Tommy Thorpe. The Ducks also have plenty of depth behind those two stars, most notably reliever Garrett Cleavinger. As a freshman Cleavinger made 37 appearances, pitched 43.2 innings and allowed a mere six runs. The Ducks pitching staff will keep Oregon in just about every game.
Who to Watch:
After a stellar 2013, Cole Irvin is once again the man to watch for the Ducks after his 12 wins last year. Already, he has been named to the Louisville Slugger and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Preseason All-American Third Teams, and if he can maintain his form in 2014 he will be quite a proposition for opposing batters.
Final Projection:
After a very impressive year ended with Oregon just short of progressing further in the NCAA Regionals, the Ducks will be hopeful of continuing their form from 2013 into this season. If their pitchers can rediscover what made them so unstoppable last year, and the offensive production continues from a largely settled roster, the Ducks will be hopeful of going further in the NCAA stages and may be an outside bet for the College World Series.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Baseball Tournament
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Scott Heineman, OF, 230
Hits: Ryon Healy, IF, 76
Home Runs: Ryon Healy, IF, 11
RBIs: Ryon Healy, IF, 56
Runs: Brett Thomas, OF, 45
Stolen Bases: Aaron Payne, IF, 16
Wins: Cole Irvin, P, 12
Innings Pitched: Cole Irvin, P, 116
Strikeouts: Tommy Thorpe, P, 87
Saves: Jimmie Sherfy, P, 21
Madness 2014 MLB Draft Rankings:
#71 Scott Heineman
#113 Jake Reed
See All Baseball Top 44 Previews
