The Oregon baseball team is a day away from the first pitch of the 2016 season. The Ducks will begin the season in San Diego, California, on Friday against the San Diego State Aztecs. It’s the first time since 2010 Oregon hasn’t opened up its season in Hawaii.
“Poor us, we get to go to San Diego,” head coach George Horton said sarcastically, as the team was forced to move its Wednesday practice to the Moshofsky Center due to rain.
There was no breaking news when the team talked about its starting rotation for the upcoming series. Junior Cole Irvin will pitch Friday night. Then sophomores Matt Krook and David Peterson will start the Saturday and Sunday games, respectively.
Krook will be making his first start in an Oregon uniform since April 5, 2014, when the former 35th overall selection in the 2013 MLB Draft sustained an injury requiring Tommy John surgery.
“It was a long road, and I’m happy where I am at now,” Krook said.
Krook pitched over the summer in the Cape Cod League, but is “a lot more excited to pitch here.” The southpaw feels good, and if he’s not 100-percent recovered, he’s “very close.” Krook recently threw five innings in a scrimmage and felt strong the entire way.
Offensively, the official lineup won’t be announced until game time on Friday. However, Horton did reveal the majority of starters around the diamond.
Freshman Travis Moniot will be Oregon’s starting shortstop in San Diego. Moniot was drafted out of high school but opted to play for the Ducks. He earned first-team all-state and first-team all-league honors during his senior season at Palm Desert High School.
“Beyond physical ability, Travis has shown an ability to be a quick thinker and transfer information and be in the right place, take the defensive scheme and run with it, so to speak,” Horton said. “He showed up on the defensive side and think he’s going to be a fine shortstop.”
Previously, Mark Karaviotis manned the shortstop position for the Ducks. Karaviotis will start at third base this year, though.
“Mark’s had a tremendous two years here,” Horton said. “We think he’s flexible enough to move over to third.”
Phil Craig-St.Louis will be Oregon’s starting first baseman. Craig-St.Louis is the Ducks’ best hitter returning from 2015. The Quebec native hit .296 last season with 38 RBIs and two home runs.
The outfield will be full of veterans to begin the year. Sophmore Jakob Goldfarb will start in right field, junior Austin Grebeck in center and redshirt sophomore A.J. Balta in left.
Balta missed the entirety of last season with an preseason knee injury. The Valencia, California native hit .242 with three home runs and 29 RBIs as a freshman, good for freshman All-America honors.
Horton named Steven Packard the Ducks’ designated hitter to begin the season. Packard played in only six games in 2015 before an injury benched him for the remainder of the season. Horton said his recovery is affecting his ability to throw the ball from the outfield, hence the designated hitter position.
Sophomore Tim Susnara will be the starting catcher.
In summary, here’s what the likely defensive arrangement will look like to start the 2016 season:
- C – Tim Susnara
- 1b – Phil Craig-St.Louis
- 2b – Daniel Patzlaff*
- 3b – Mark Karaviotis
- SS – Travis Moniot
- LF – A.J. Balta
- CF – Austin Grebeck
- RF – Jakob Goldfarb
- DH – Steven Packard
Friday’s game will begin at 6 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego.
Follow Andrew Bantly on Twitter @AndrewBantly