The 2017 Oregon baseball season gets underway Friday with the start of practice. On Wednesday, the Ducks had their annual media day leading up to the start of the season.

Here’s head coach George Horton on what to expect for the upcoming season:

On being unranked heading into the season:

“We have to earn everything we’re going to get and that’s the way it should be. It doesn’t make you worry too much because last year’s national champion, Coastal Carolina, I don’t think anybody picked Coastal Carolina to win the championship and I don’t think anyone picked Utah to win the Pac-12 championship.”

On coaching Team USA in the offseason:

“Being identified as the Team USA coach of the year, I don’t think I deserved that. It was the staff of the year, but the team of the year. But the fact that we were able to win the last game in Cuba, and be the only American team to ever do that on Cuban soil, it was a nice reward. … It was a fun team, and a great experience. One that I’ll never forget.”

On Junior LHP David Peterson becoming a proven player:

“He’s one of several pitchers that we need to have a better year. We put a lot pressure on [Matt Krook] and Cole and [Peterson] last year and unfortunately maybe they underachieved. Let’s start with the coaching staff, I was working with the pitchers so if we did not reach our potential, you start with the head coach first. I would say there’s a lot of areas that we didn’t have the numbers we needed, the consistency we needed. The fact that we were slightly over .500, it’s not the gold standards we thrive for. We finished down in the standings, and all the stuff that goes with that, so nothing against the kids. I think they represented the university in a very positive way. They were fun to be around. The bottom line in athletics is you’ve got to win. So hopefully if [Peterson] ends up becoming the Friday guy, that becomes a critical momentum setter for the weekend defensively. I think he’s up for the challenge.”

On the strengths of this team:

“We’re not going to get off the bus and you’re going to go, ‘Wow. This is a physical looking Oregon baseball team.’ The cool thing about baseball is you don’t have to have a bunch of 6-foot-5 guys who are big and strong. So, the small ball, the execution, that’s the kind of game you need to play here at PK Park. … We’re not as deep as we’ve been maybe the last few years in position players, but we’re a lot deeper on the mound. Our roster’s going to be heavy loaded with quality pitchers, we’re going to have to play the game a lot better, which is OK. In coach Horton’s history, it hasn’t been one or two guys carrying the load, it has been put the ball in play. It’s been throw strikes and play great defense. In our year’s that we’ve been most successful here, they’ve been really good years defensively. I think this team has that potential.”

On the pitching staff:

“Mercer has had a great fall. Four freshman, Kenyon Yovan, we think as a freshman he might even be our back end of the bullpen guy, one of them. Ryan Nelson has been very impressive. James Acuna another freshman very impressive. Zack Noll, comes in here with great credentials. since he’s come back he’s been throwing really good in the bullpen.”

On players who are making improvements from last season:

“Probably the guy that had our best fall, and this isn’t a guy that’s improved a whole lot, is Jake Bennett. Leadership wise he’s the consummate leader. The way he goes about his business, I think guys gravitate to that with Jake.”

Follow Zak Laster on Twitter @zlast3445.

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