Oregon State is not only the premier baseball program on the West Coast, but one of the best in all of college baseball.The Beavers have won three national championships, won a regional in two of the last three seasons and have produced two No. 1 overall picks—Adley Rutschman and Travis Bazzana—in two of the last six drafts. The Beavers not only get high-end talent to campus, but they also do an outstanding job of developing said talent.
This year’s class is led by infielder Xavier Neyens, who is a potential top-half of the first-round pick this July. At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Neyens has a big-league body with plus power from the left side. While there is some swing-and-miss to his game, Neyens generates impressive contact when he connects, and his patience allows him to draw walks and get on base at a respectable clip. He has a strong arm at third base, and while there’s a chance he could eventually move to a corner outfield spot, he has done a great job in the agility and conditioning department.
Switch-hitting infielder Mason Pike has quick hands and solid bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, and he also has a plus arm at shortstop, where he’s a good athlete. Pike also provides plenty of intrigue on the mound, where he’s been up to 97 mph. Fellow infielder Josh Proctor’s strength and bat speed translate to above-average raw power, and he does a nice job of keeping his swing relatively compact for someone who is 6-foot-5. He’s played shortstop up to this point, but Proctor figures to slide over to third base or out to a corner outfield spot.
This year’s class is led by infielder Xavier Neyens, who is a potential top-half of the first-round pick this July. At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Neyens has a big-league body with plus power from the left side. While there is some swing-and-miss to his game, Neyens generates impressive contact when he connects, and his patience allows him to draw walks and get on base at a respectable clip. He has a strong arm at third base, and while there’s a chance he could eventually move to a corner outfield spot, he has done a great job in the agility and conditioning department.
Switch-hitting infielder Mason Pike has quick hands and solid bat-to-ball skills from both sides of the plate, and he also has a plus arm at shortstop, where he’s a good athlete. Pike also provides plenty of intrigue on the mound, where he’s been up to 97 mph. Fellow infielder Josh Proctor’s strength and bat speed translate to above-average raw power, and he does a nice job of keeping his swing relatively compact for someone who is 6-foot-5. He’s played shortstop up to this point, but Proctor figures to slide over to third base or out to a corner outfield spot.