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3 big questions for Oregon baseball heading into the offseason
3 big questions for Oregon baseball heading into the offseason
Logan Brown, Ducks WireMon, June 8, 2026 at 5:03 PM UTC·6 min readOnce again, the Oregon Ducks fell just one step short of the elusive trip to Omaha. The Ducks lost to the Texas Longhorns on Sunday night, ending their season by being swept in the Austin Super Regional.
It was still a terrific season for the Ducks, who finished as runner-ups to UCLA in the Big Ten Tournament and were the last team standing for the conference in the NCAA Tournament. Oregon found gems on the mound in Miles Gosztola and Will Sanford to anchor the rotation moving forward, while a trio of freshmen carried the Ducks' offense for stretches, providing some optimism for next season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs the Ducks enter the offseason, the team will split apart as some play summer and fall baseball elsewhere, and others wait to hear their names called in the MLB draft. That will lead to plenty of decisions for the Ducks' stars. Will they stay for another season in Eugene, hoping to finally get the program over the hump, or take off and begin their professional careers?
Mark Wasikowski will undoubtedly test the waters in the transfer portal to fill some of the holes the Ducks are expecting to open up, particularly at third base. However, after Oregon's freshmen class proved to be a force to be reckoned with, and the Ducks boast another strong recruiting class for the 2027 season, how Wasikowski balances the mix of new players will be worth watching.
Let's take a look at three big questions the Ducks are facing this offseason.
Will Maddox Molony return for his senior season?
Make no mistake, shortstop Maddox Molony is going to get drafted in an early round. The star Oregon defender has a projectable frame to stick at shortstop as a pro, but Molony's draft stock did slide quite a bit this season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEntering the season, Molony was a top-50 prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft with the potential to sneak into the first round. However, Molony put together his worst season at the plate in his three seasons with the Ducks, hitting for just a .233 average with 39 RBIs. The most recent prospect rankings slid Molony to No. 173 overall.
Molony still hits for power, mashing 12 home runs this season and sitting third in program history with 37 homers as a Duck. The stellar defense Molony plays at one of the most valuable positions on the field is enough to get him drafted. The question is whether or not he will sign or return to Oregon for another year.
By returning, the Springfield native would not only get to finish his Oregon career as a senior leader for the Ducks next season, but he could have a rebound season at the plate to vault his draft stock back up. It might be a stretch considering Molony has been on MLB watchlists since breaking out as a freshman, but the Ducks could definitely use his presence in the infield again next year.
How will Oregon's pitching staff shuffle?
Pitching became Oregon's strength down the stretch of the season, leading the Ducks to a series win over USC and guiding the Ducks to the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game and a sweep in the Eugene Regional. However, against a hardened Texas lineup, the Ducks were exposed.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNext year could look a lot different. Sanford and Gosztola are both likely to return and could lead the Ducks' rotation next season. Cal Scolari could return as well, but he has risen up MLB draft boards and could leave the program after being drafted. The Ducks will also have to replace the closer role after Devin Bell exhausted his eligibility.
The easy answer is for the Ducks to find more arms in the transfer portal. Wasikowski has relied on savvy pickups in the portal, similar to how he found Bell from Western Oregon. Ryan Featherston is also likely to return after missing most of the season due to injury, and Toby Twist is also a likely return candidate. Both could compete for a spot in the weekend rotation.
Tanner Bradley was Oregon's best reliever all season long and could be the most likely candidate for the closer role. However, the Ducks have deployed Bradley for multiple innings at a time, and he could be more valuable to the team as a setup man with more consistent appearances.
The biggest development in the offseason for the bullpen needs to come from Oregon's young arms. Cooper Markham and Jonah Barkoff figure to have bigger roles in the bullpen next season, as well as sophomore Michael Meckna. Perhaps the biggest wild card of all is Naulivou Lauaki Jr., who was recruited to Oregon because of his big fastball, but slugged 14 home runs for the Ducks this season as the designated hitter. If he can become a two-way threat, look out.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt's hard to predict what the pitching staff will look like while the transfer portal is still open and the MLB draft is on the horizon, but Wasikowski should have a rough outline of where the Ducks need to replace production.
Can Oregon replace Drew Smith and Ryan Cooney's production?
Drew Smith and Ryan Cooney were staples atop the lineup for the Ducks this season. Smith led the team with 16 homers and 64 RBIs while Cooney hit for a .331 average and hit 22 doubles. The Ducks will miss their steady presence in the lineup and solid defense at second and third base as they head to the next level.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOregon will need to replace them on the field, which, again, could come down to who the Ducks add in the transfer portal. As for the in-house options, Malosi Mata'afa-Alferos acted as a backup infielder for most of the season, and the Ducks are bringing in a talented freshman in Sebastian Rolon, who has a similar bat to Cooney.
The Ducks could also shake things up by moving Jax Gimenez from left field to second base. Gimenez was recruited as a shortstop and has played second base in the past. The move would open the door to Oregon's top incoming freshman, Isaiah Hearn, earning playing time right away. Hearn has great power from the left side to replace Smith's slugging prowess, and he has a great arm to play in a corner outfield spot.
However, although Hearn is committed to the Ducks, he is also a highly touted pro prospect for the upcoming MLB draft. If he makes it to Eugene, Hearn could post power numbers similar to what Lauaki and Angel Laya did this year.
Third base is likely a spot the Ducks will try to address in the transfer portal, unless a freshman comes in and wins the job. After Smith started 61 games at the hot corner this season, the Ducks don't have many players on the roster with a lot of reps over there, so they could look for an experienced defender and bat to take over the role.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 3 big questions Oregon baseball will face this offseason