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2026 College Baseball Preview: Oregon State

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated Feb 11, 2026 10:42 PM ET

After a dominant season in 2025 as a de facto independent, the Oregon State Beavers will run the gauntlet one more time before the Pac-12 gets reinforcements after the 2025-26 athletic season. Oregon State finished just outside the top 10 of the preseason coaches’ poll, entering the year at #12. But, there’s a lot to like about this year’s team.

The pitchers

Good luck trying to hit against Oregon State this upcoming season. The Beavers have two of the best pitchers in the country: Ethan Kleinschmit and Dax Whitney. Both, though, are very different pitchers

As we noted in our fall college baseball preview, Whitney was one of the NCAA’s best overall pitchers last season. The right-hander struck out 120 batters last season and was a horse for the Beavers last year en route to a College World Series berth.

Whitney already has a pro-level pitch arsenal. It’s not a shock, given that he could have gone pro had he wanted to in 2024. But just take a look at his pitch profile, which should make MLB teams salivate next season. A cutting four-seamer with carry that can hit the 90s, a kick-change that’s a work in progress, as well as a sweeper and a curveball with relatively consistent profiles.

(via New Baseball Media)

Hence, it’s not a shock as to why Whitney made the Golden Spikes watch list in February.

Kleinschmit, like Whitney, is on the shortlist for the Golden Spikes, as he was also named to the preseason watch list.

The left-hander is a little different. He doesn’t throw that hard, nor does he have the kind of arsenal that Whitney does. Nonetheless, Kleinschmit is a legitimate pro prospect. Kleinschmit, a heavy fastball/slider combo, struck out 113 batters over 91 innings in 2025.

(via New Baseball Media)

Notable returning pitchers also include Eric Segura and Zach Kmatz, while reliever Isaac Yeager came over from Washington.

What’s new, the Beavers were also able to get future help by way of their 2025-26 recruiting class. OSU nabbed Mason Pike, a 19th-round pick by the Nationals this past July but probably someone who could have gone earlier had Pike wanted to go the professional route.

Pike has very good stuff, highlighted by a mid-80s sweeper and mid-90s fastball. Yet another addition to a very good pitching staff.

A strike from Pike @masepike @BeaverBaseball pic.twitter.com/8gysgKzKtZ
— DAM Analytics Squad (@DASBeavers) October 4, 2025

The hitters

After the 2025 season, the Beavers lost a lot of premier hitting talent. Aiva Arquette and Gavin Turley went pro, while Trent Caraway is now in the SEC with defending champion LSU.

The good news is the likes of Easton Talt, AJ Singer, and Jacob Krieg are back for 2026. All three played key roles for the team last year, particularly Talt, who was an on-base machine for the Beavers last season.

Aside from those three, Adam Haight and newcomer Tyler Inge are among some of the youngsters to watch. Bryson Glassco and Eli Gries-Smith, both of whom were transfer portal additions, hit well at their former homes.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

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