College Baseball Returns

Friday, February 13, Corvallis, Ore. – Major college baseball opens today for over 300 NCAA DI programs across the United States, with the hometown Oregon State Beavers getting things started in Surprise, Arizona at the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers facility.

Knights partner programs and alumni up and down the West Coast kick-off their seasons this weekend, highlighted by several programs with legitimate national title aspirations.

The Beavers look to return the College World Series after reaching Omaha last season for the first time since the Beavers won it all in 2018. Head coach Mitch Canham returns for this 7^th season at the helm, and his Beavs are ranked as high as #7 in preseason polls. Alum pitching coach Rich Dorman’s staff looks to be even stronger than last spring and features pre-season All-Americans Dax Whitney and Ethan Kleinschmit. The Oregon State roster is littered with former Knights including righty arm Tyler Bellerose (2025), LHP Tanner Douglas (2025), first baseman Jacob Krieg (2023), outfielder Josh Proctor (2025) and third baseman Paul Vazquez (2024).

In the Big 10 conference Pac-12 defectors fared well last season, finishing first (Oregon), second (UCLA), fourth (USC), and fifth (Washington) in the regular season standings.

Longtime Knights partner program UCLA is ranked #1 in most preseason polls. Junior second baseman Phoenix Call (2023) looks to lead the Bruins back to Omaha in 2026. Alum outfielder Kasen Khansarinia (2024) hopes to carve out a larger role heading into his sophomore season, while last summer’s Corvallis hit machine left-handed hitting first baseman Maverek Russell begins his Bruins career.

Newer Corvallis partner program Nebraska captured the Big 10 Tournament championship for the second consecutive season last year. In that championship game, alumnus Ty Horn (2024) started and threw 8.0 dominant scoreless innings. He returns at the top of the Huskers rotation, which will also feature key alumni arms in the Husker bullen: LHP Grant Cleavinger (2023-2024), LHP Chase Olson (2025) and righty J’Shawn Unger (2025). Olson was an honorable mention all-WCL performer last season, and Unger was a WCL all-star.

Second-year coach Eddie Smith has Washington turned in the right direction as the Huskies look to build on last season’s 17-13 conference record. Knights fan-favorite Blake Wilson (2024-2025) is set for a breakout spring with the Dawgs. Blake participated in the West Coast League All-Star Game the past two summers.

Utility man Kevin Takeuchi of USC (2024) hopes to bounce back from an injury last spring to have a big junior year. Takeuchi was a first-team all-WCL performer for the Knights following a stellar frosh season with the Trojans. Alumnus infielder Maddox Riske (2025) looks to fill some of the void left in USC’s infield and lineup by All-American RHP/3B Ethan Hedges (2023), who was selected by the Rockies in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft. The Trojans are poised to return to the NCAA Tournament after finishing runner-up in last season’s Corvallis Regional.

Other Knights’ former Pac-12 programs Stanford and Utah look to rebound after disappointing inaugural seasons in new conferences.

In the ACC, Stanford missed the NCAA postseason for the second consecutive season after making the College World Series each season from 2021-2023. The Cardinal feature a slew of Corvallis alumni who will all compete for playing time including RHP Cohen Gomez (2024), outfielder Ethan Hott (2023), LHP/OF Brock Ketelsen (2025), catcher/outfielder Luke Lavin (2024) and pitcher Parker Warner (2025). Ketelsen was named the West Coast League’s Top Prospect last summer and earned first-team all-WCL honors. Former Knights standouts and Cardinal stars RHP Matt Scott (2022) and infielder Temo Becerra (2022) have transferred to Georgia and Texas, respectively.

In the Big 12, the Utah Utes will introduce a brand-new ballpark this spring. Alum two-way player Colter McAnelly (2024) is set to be the Utes’ Friday night starter. Last season, McAnelly was an all-Big 12 first team selection after going 4-4 with a 3.79 ERA while striking out 92 over 92.2 innings pitched.

In the Big West, longtime partner program UC Santa Barbara looks to get back to the NCAA Tournament after winning the conference in 2024 and hosting a regional. The Gauchos are led by Knights alumnus Andrew Checketts (2000), who is back for his 15^th season as UCSB’s skipper. Santa Barbara returns pre-season All-American and RHP and alum Jackson Flora (2024). Flora, a big-time prospect, is expected to replace fellow alum RHP Tyler Bremner (2023) in the Gauchos rotation. Bremner was taken with the second overall pick in last summer’s MLB Draft. The Gauchos roster also features sophomore battery mates LHP Van Froling and catcher Ian Fernandez, both 2025 alumni and prospects.

Another longtime partner program, Cal Poly, led by Larry Lee, the father of alumnus and Minnesota Twins star Brooks Lee (2019), will look to build on last season’s NCAA Tournament appearance. The Mustangs roster features three 2025 Knights in infielder Antonio Castro, LHP Luke Kalsbeek and right-hander Troy Cooper, as well as former Corvallis pitcher Laif Palmer (2024), an Oregon State transfer.

Cal State Northridge is led by alumnus Eddie Cornejo (2001), who is entering his fourth season as the Matadors head coach. CSUN heads into the season with a young roster featuring catcher Xavier Rios (2025), a West Coast League all-star, and Corvallis stalwart right-handed pitchers Zach Johnson (2023-2025) and Gabe Hernandez (2024).

In the West Coast Conference, longtime partner program University of Portland hopes to make it once again to the WCC Tournament, this spring in Scottsdale, Arizona.

On the Bluff, the Pilots are led by alumnus Geoff Loomis (1996-1998, 2000-2004), who enters his 11^th season as UP’s skipper. Coach Loomis will be joined in the dugout by assistants and fellow alumni Jake Holcroft (2019) and Spencer Scott (2021-2022). Corvallis alumni right-handers Kaden Segel (2021-2024), Morgan Codron (2023) and Trey Swygart (2025) are slated to be the opening weekend starters for UP’s first series at Purdue. Alumnus Ky Hoskinson (2024) will be a key arm in the bullpen. Infielders Cole Katayama-Stall (2025), coming off a stellar true freshman season, and Swygart will bring serious left-handed pop to the Pilot lineup. Former Knights shortstop Brooks Avery (2025) and OF/LHP Quin Dufort (2024-2025) add depth to the Portland roster.

Locally, back-to-back NWAC champion Linn-Benton CC is led once again led by Oregon State alumnus Andy Peterson. The Roadrunners will look to three-peat behind alumni RHP/OF Kellen Segel (2023-2025) and catcher Aiden Hazen (2025).

To check out your favorite Corvallis Knights alumni throughout the spring, click here.