Oregon State baseball 2025 season preview: 3 biggest games, key players, predictions and more
Oregon State Baseball produced another impressive season in the Mitch Canham era this year. They narrowly missed the Pac-12 regular season title, with their 19-10 conference record seeing them finish just 0.5 games behind the Arizona Wildcats.
Despite their early elimination from the Pac-12 tournament, they earned the No.15 seed in the postseason and the right to host an NCAA Regional. They breezed through the Corvallis Regional unbeaten but saw their season end in the Lexington Super Regional, where they were swept by the resurgent Kentucky Wildcats.
The Beavers saw seven of their players picked in the 2024 MLB Draft, the most notable was second baseman Travis Bazzana. This leaves Canham and the team with much work to do in the off-season to prepare for next spring. Here, we preview Oregon State Baseball ahead of the 2025 NCAA Baseball season.
3 key games for Oregon State Baseball in the 2025 season
3. USC Trojans
The Trojans have the most College World Series wins in NCAA Baseball history (12). They look to build on their fourth-place finish in the Pac-12 regular season this year and could pose a challenge for the Beavers next year.
Both teams are among the favorites to challenge the Wildcats for the regular season crown in 2025 and are working hard in the off-season to strengthen their respective rosters.
2. Arizona Wildcats
This season, Arizona won the Pac-12 title for the first time since 2021 and their first Pac-12 tournament in program history. Although they could not carry that form into the postseason, they are likely to be the frontrunners in the Pac-12 next year as well.
The Beavers will need to overcome the Wildcats' threat next season to achieve their ambition of winning the Pac-12 regular season title for the first time since 2017.
1. Oregon Ducks
Oregon State and Oregon will intensify their rivalry in 2025. Since the Ducks reinstated their baseball program in 2009, the Beavers have led the teams' head-to-head series 47-26. This will further motivate Oregon after the program finished just 0.5 games behind the Beavers in the Pac-12 regular season standings.
While their rivalry will play a major factor in their respective regular seasons in 2025, both teams are among the top contenders for the Pac-12 title next year.
Key players for the Oregon State Beavers in 2025
3. Eric Segura, RHP
Segura shined for the Beavers in his freshman season this year. He finished the season 6-1 in 15 starts while recording 72 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.93 in 69.1 innings pitched.
With Aiden May and Jacob Kmatz being drafted by the Miami Marlins and the Boston Red Sox, Segura is expected to play a larger role in his sophomore season.
2. Gavin Turley, OF
While Bazzana stole the show at the plate, Turley played his part in the Beavers' offense this year. The sophomore drove in the most runs of all Beavers hitters, including Bazzana (74), while swatting 19 home runs with an average of .277. He was also the only player to start all 61 of the Beavers' games in 2024.
With Bazzana being the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Guardians in this year's draft, Turley should play a massive role in the Beavers' line-up next year.
1. Dax Whitney, RHP
Whitney is the top-rated high school prospect in the Beavers' Class of 2025. Despite being the 56th-ranked prospect for this year's draft, he honored his commitment to the Beavers.
Whitney played in 12 games for Blackfoot High, Idaho during his senior year, conceding only two earned runs. He recorded a staggering 130 strikeouts in 52 and 2/3 innings, finishing the season with a 10-0 record. He could be a game-changer for the Beavers in his freshman season next year.
Predicting Oregon State Beavers' 2025 season
Canham and the Beavers have strengthened their roster significantly this off-season. While the loss of Bazzana hurts, they are likely to challenge for the Pac-12 regular season title again next year.
They should face no difficulties in making the postseason. However, they could face stiff competition from the SEC to secure a spot in the College World Series.