The Beavers hit the KnupSports preseason poll at #9. Again, almost any of the Top Ten could be shuffled around.
2024 is the final season Oregon State will play in the Pac-12 and it could be one to remember for a long time. We, at KnupSports, have label the the Beavers at #9 but could be anywhere in the Top Ten.
They will have six starters returning to the everyday lineup. Also much of its rotation is back plus some quality players from the portal.
Last year for head coach Mitch Canham, the Oregon State team finished 41-20 overall and 18-12 in the conference behind Stanford/ OSU lost to eventual champions LSU in the regional.
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Gone from the ’23 club are slugging first baseman Garret Forrester, third baseman Mikey Kane and pitchers Trent Sellers, Ben Ferrer and Ryan Brown to the pros and shortstop Kyle Dernedde to a transfer to Michigan. Everyone else of significance is back, and there is additional help coming aboard.
The roster is headlined by as top five pick in second baseman Travis Bazzana who hit .374 with 11 home runs, 20 doubles.55 runs batted in and stole a conference leading number of bases with 36. He was named an all-American.
Coach Cab\nham announced 17 additions to the program for the 2024 season.
The 17 signees are:
Zach Blair, OF, Camas, Wash. Outfielder – L/L – 5-11, 165
- First-Team All-State and All-League as a junior. Led Camas to a league title and state quarterfinal appearance.- Also named a High School Gold Glove selection after his junior campaign.
- Batted .283 with a .483 on-base percentage as a junior. Tallied three triples, three home runs and 12 RBI. Scored 23 runs and drew 18 walks while swiping 11 bases.
- First-Team All-League and a high school Gold Glove selection as a sophomore.
- Batted .300 with three doubles, two triples and six stolen bases as a sophomore.
- Also lettered in football. Named second-team all-league at wide receiver/cornerback and helped Camas to a conference title. Also a kick and punt returner.
- Born Sept. 19, 2004 in Vancouver, Wash.
- Has earned Scholar-Athlete honors all four years at Camas. Also on the school’s honor roll.- Enjoys playing football, basketball and video games in his spare time.
Reeve Boyd, INF, Seattle, Wash. Infielder – R/R – 6-1, 190
- Played in 18 games as a junior, batting .357 with one home run, six doubles and a 1.010 OPS. Drove in 15 and stole six bases.
Trent Caraway, INF, Dana Point, Calif. – Infielder – R/R – 6-2, 200
- Batted .360 as a junior, tallying one home run.
- Named to the SBLive All-League second team after his junior season.
- Competed in the 2022 Perfect Game All-American Classic.
- Played in the 2022 Area Code Games on the Brewers squad.
- Transferred to JSerra after competing for Santa Margarita High School for two seasons.- Born March 29, 2004 in Laguna Hills, Cal
Easton Corey, RHP, Pendleton, Ore. RHP – L/R – 6-6, 220 - Earned all-league honors at designated hitter as both a junior and sophomore.
- Posted a 1-0 record and a 0.95 ERA In 7 1/3 innings as a junior,striking out 16. Batted .275 with seven doubles, one home run, 17 RBI with 10 stolen bases.
- Finished with a 3-0 record and 1.34 ERA his sophomore season. Struck out 26 in 15 2/3 innings. Batted .477 with one three doubles, one home run and 16 RBI.
James DeCremer, RHP, Scottsdale, Ariz. – RHP – R/R – 6-1, 20
- All-State selection as a junior.
- Posted a 5-2 record and 1.65 earned run average his junior season. Struck out 73 in 55 innings of work.
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Evan Gustafson, C, Eau Claire, Wis. Catcher – L/R – 6-2, 200
- Conference Player of the Year as a junior. Also named first-team all-league and served as a team captain.- Batted .441 with 10 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 29 RBI and 17 walks as a junior. Posted a .580 on-base percentage.
- Named Conference Player of the Year as a sophomore, adding first-team all-league honors while serving as a team captain.
- Named his team’s MVP on offense and as a pitcher.
- Hit .449 as a sophomore, tallying nine doubles, three triples, five home runs and 32 RBI. Finished with a .635 OBP and 26 walks. On the mound, was 4-0 with a 1.46 ERA and two saves. Struck out 54 in 33 2/3 innings.
Bryce Johnson, RHP, Sammamish, Wash. – RHP – R/R – 6-3, 215
- First-Team All-State as a pitcher after his junior campaign. Also earned first-team all-league honors on the mound and second-team at third base.
- Posted a 7-1 record and 1.70 ERA as a junior. Struck out 88 in 591/3 innings. Batted .400 with one home run, nine doubles and 22RBI.
- Finished with a 3-0 record and 0.64 ERA as a sophomore. Struck out 38 in 22 innings. Batted .524 with one home run, four doubles and 14 RBI.
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Levi Jones, INF, Portland, Ore. – Infielder- L/R – 6-1, 175
- First-Team All-State as a junior in addition to being named all-league.
- Batted .400 with nine doubles, seven home runs, 33 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases as a junior.
- Tallied five home runs, one double, 10 RBI and four stolen bases as a sophomore.
PITCHING is solid. Let’s begin with the bullpen.
Nelson Keijo made 23 appearances as a freshman with a 5.40 ERA. He aldo fanned 31% of the batters he faced. The lefty’s fastball sits in the mid-90s while the slider plays in the mid-80s.
Aiden Jimenez is also a sophomore who has a 5-2 record and a 5.58 EARin 38 innings with a 61% ground ball rate. Senior transfer from Cal Poly, Kyle Scott is a senior with a mid 90’s fastball and a very good slider, He had 21 saves and a 4.43 ERA. Junior Bridger Hiolmes comes from Feather River Junior College where he delivered nasty pitches. He was 7-1 on the season with a 2.63 ERA. He will likely be the top closer for Coach Canham. Laif Palmer, a freshman. stands at 6’6” and throws a fastball mid 90’s and will likely hit triple digits at times before his collegiate career is finished.
The rotation has had a large boost with the addition of Arizona transfer Aiden May. His sophomore campaign ended with a 6.33 ERA and a 5-3 record with the improvements, May could be poised for a breakout campaign in 2024.
Jaren Hunter threw 32 innings with a 3.03 ERA before his season had to be shut down. Jacob KMatz had 14 appearances and a 4.71 ERA in 72 innings\ and 61 strikeouts. AJ Lattery will likely be a starter as he is 6’5” and 200 lbs and struck out 52 batters in 19 appearances. He fanned 25% of all batters faced.
