Photo by: Eric Becker @ericbecker__
Oregon is preseason pick to win Big Ten Conference
02/12/25 | Baseball
EUGENE, Ore. – Heading into its first season in the Big Ten Conference, Oregon is the team to beat according to the league's coaches.
The conference office polled the 17 Big Ten head coaches with the Ducks garnering the most points to claim a league title. Oregon finished ahead of Nebraska (second), Indiana (third), UCLA (fourth), Michigan (fifth) and UCLA (sixth). Oregon's last regular-season conference title came in 1974 when they were the Pac-12 Northern Division co-champions.
The Ducks enter the Big Ten Conference with a group of veterans who have combined to start 790 games offensively and 45 on the mound at the Division I level. Three players on the roster have more than 100 starts and two more boast more than 50 starts. Of those 790 stats, the Ducks return eight starters from the lineup that took the field in the final game of the 2024 season with those eight combining to start 336 games last season. Oregon also returns three players who were not in the Super Regional finale starting lineup who combined to start 71 games last season.
Projected Friday night starter Grayson Grinsell highlights the Ducks' experience on the bump with 17 career starts, including 14 last season as a member of the Ducks' weekend rotation. In addition to Division I starts, transfer Julien Hernandez made 48 starts at Division III Whitman. Combining all four-year college appearances, the Ducks' staff has combined to make 324 appearances during their careers.
The league office also released its Big Ten Players to Watch list featuring three players from each squad. Grinsell is joined on the list by teammates Maddox Molony, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season, and Mason Neville, an honorable-mention Pac-12 pick last year.
The conference office polled the 17 Big Ten head coaches with the Ducks garnering the most points to claim a league title. Oregon finished ahead of Nebraska (second), Indiana (third), UCLA (fourth), Michigan (fifth) and UCLA (sixth). Oregon's last regular-season conference title came in 1974 when they were the Pac-12 Northern Division co-champions.
The Ducks enter the Big Ten Conference with a group of veterans who have combined to start 790 games offensively and 45 on the mound at the Division I level. Three players on the roster have more than 100 starts and two more boast more than 50 starts. Of those 790 stats, the Ducks return eight starters from the lineup that took the field in the final game of the 2024 season with those eight combining to start 336 games last season. Oregon also returns three players who were not in the Super Regional finale starting lineup who combined to start 71 games last season.
Projected Friday night starter Grayson Grinsell highlights the Ducks' experience on the bump with 17 career starts, including 14 last season as a member of the Ducks' weekend rotation. In addition to Division I starts, transfer Julien Hernandez made 48 starts at Division III Whitman. Combining all four-year college appearances, the Ducks' staff has combined to make 324 appearances during their careers.
The league office also released its Big Ten Players to Watch list featuring three players from each squad. Grinsell is joined on the list by teammates Maddox Molony, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season, and Mason Neville, an honorable-mention Pac-12 pick last year.
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballMark Wasikowski | Postgame vs. Northwestern (Game 3)
Monday, March 23
Gabe Miranda | Postgame vs. Northwestern (Game 2)
Sunday, March 22
Devin Bell | Postgame vs. Northwestern (Game 2)
Sunday, March 22
Mark Wasikowski | Postgame vs. Northwestern (Game 2)
Sunday, March 22
