Corvallis Unveils 2025 Roster

Monday, April 28, Corvallis, Ore. – For the first time in 8 years, the Corvallis Knights are not defending a West Coast League title. Last summer, the reigning champs were dethroned by the Portland Pickles after posting the league’s top mark with an impressive 41-13 record.

This off-season, head coach Brooke Knight assembled what looks to be another formidable roster that features several returners, deep pitching and versatile position players. All are Knights’ trademarks.

“We’re excited to work with a talented roster this season,” said skipper Brooke Knight. “I like our depth and versatility. We’ll be aggressive on the bases and should be good defensively and on the mound.

“I think our fans will really enjoy watching this young group progress over the summer.

“We’re looking forward to competing for a championship and enjoying the great experiences that come with being in Corvallis and playing in the West Coast League.”

As in past seasons, the Knights are strong up the middle as Corvallis will showcase the talents of freshman catcher Ian Fernandez of UC Santa Barbara, freshmen middle infielders Cole Katayama-Stall of Portland and Maddux Riske of USC, incoming frosh shortstop Antonio Castro of Cal Poly and returnee center fielder/shortstop Blake Wilson of Washington.

Fernandez has made 16 starts for the Gauchos and is hitting .259 with 7 doubles, 2 homers and 9 RBIs. Over 123 at bats, Katyama-Stall is hitting .248 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs and 26 RBIs for the Pilots.

2024 WCL All-Star Blake Wilson is hitting .234 with 9 doubles, 2 homers and 9 stolen bases in the Huskies inaugural Big Ten campaign.

Junior infielder Thomas Ferroggiaro of Santa Clara returns for a second season in Corvallis. The switch-hitter plays both third and second base and is expected to be a team leader.

Newcomer Mikey Bell of Gonzaga, a redshirt sophomore, is a middle-of-the-order bat with tremendous arm strength that can play third base and right field equally well. Bell is hitting .349 with 11 doubles, 9 home runs and 31 RBIs for the WCC first-place Zags.

Northwest Nazarene second baseman Gavin Brubaker will add depth to the infield. Gavin also pitches and is hitting .345 with 4 homers and 29 RBIs over 167 at bats this spring.

First base will be anchored by two incoming frosh sluggers in right-handed hitting Oregon State commit Josh Proctor and future UCLA Bruins left-handed bat Maverek Russell.

Teaming with Ian Fernandez at catcher will be incoming frosh Dakota Chun of Portland, frosh catcher Aiden Hazen of Linn-Benton CC and junior catcher Angel Cortez of Cal State Northridge. Chun is currently catching for Sunset High School in the Portland area.

The outfield features returnee redshirt freshman Kellen Segel of Linn-Benton CC and incoming freshman Brock Ketelsen of Stanford. Ketelsen, who bats and throws left, will share center field with sophomore returner Blake Wilson.

Ketelsen and Segel also pitch. Segel had surgery following last summer’s season and did not play this spring.

The Knights’ pitching staff is loaded with talented arms.

Top candidates for starting roles are Big West freshmen left-handers Van Froling (UC Santa Barbara) and Luke Kalfsbeek (Cal Poly) and right-handers Nathan Aceves (UC Santa Barbara) and Troy Cooper (Cal Poly).

Aceves has posted a 1.65 ERA and 3-1 record while striking out 32 over 13 appearances, 4 starts and 27.1 innings for the Gauchos.

Other rotation prospects are freshmen right-handers Parker Warner of Stanford, Easton Jones of Utah and Tee Southesine of USC. Sophomore righty Sam Coffman of Umpqua CC should also compete for starts. Coffman has started 9 games for the Riverhawks in the NWAC South. He’s struck out 60 over 50 innings pitched while posting a 6-0 record and 1.80 ERA.

Returnee freshman left-hander Quin Dufort of Portland is also a possible starter. This summer, Quin and fellow southpaw freshmen Anderson Decker of Utah and Chase Olson of Nebraska are set to make their first 2025 collegiate appearances. Dufort also plays outfield and first base. He hit .299 in WCL action last season.

Freshman right-hander Nate Stern of TCU and incoming frosh righty Kaleb Wing of LMU are two young arms to watch. Both are prospects and will be key bullpen arms and possible spot starters. Stern has made 10 relief appearances and struck out 21 over 11.1 innings for the Horned Frogs.

Returnee juniors Zack Johnson of Linfield, Nate Marshall of Eastern Illinois and lefty Dominic Tatone of Western Oregon and 2024 first-team all-WCL selection sophomore Gabe Hernandez of Cal State Northridge are all proven relievers that can eat innings. Marshall, a West Albany High School product, is 2-0 with a save for the Panthers this spring. He’s posted a 4.32 ERA over 13 appearances and two starts.

Crescent Valley High school alumnus Landen Parker, a junior at Northwest Nazarene, is also expected to be a key reliever as the righty has made 16 appearances, recorded two saves and posted a 3.47 ERA over 46.2 innings pitched for the NCAA DII Nighthawks.

Bolstering staff depth are frosh right-hander J’Shawn Unger of Nebraska, junior southpaw Chance Wallace of Pacific, junior righty Michael Singleton of George Fox and sophomore lefty Mac Zawistoski of Chaminade.

Wallace is the probable starter for the Corvallis Knights Science, Engineering & Art Day game, presented by Paventy & Brown Orthodontics, on May 22 at Goss Stadium.

The Knights’ roster also features four players that have signed 10-day contracts, sophomore second baseman Elliot Brown of Lane CC, junior shortstop Braden Mondeau of Hawai’i Hilo, sophomore outfielder Sam Giansante of Linn-Benton CC and sophomore first baseman Jake Holmes of Linn-Benton CC. As a freshman, Brown earned all-NWAC South Region honors.

The Knights open their 2025 season Thursday, May 22 vs. the NW Star Nighthawks in the club’s annual Science, Engineering & Art Day game at Goss Stadium (10 am first pitch). Their WCL campaign starts Friday, May 30 at the Marion Berries. The Knights’ league home opener is Wednesday, June 11 versus the Springfield Drifters.