Beavers never fear the 'R' word

Solid group of recruits takes the sting out of losing star pitchers

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Jun 12, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Though drafted, Joey Mahalic of Wilson High may wind up at Oregon State, where coach Pat Casey has signed the top high school pitchers in five states to replace two-thirds of his pitching lineup.

JIM CLARK / P0RTLAND TRIBUNE

CORVALLIS — After losing Dallas Buck, Jonah Nickerson and Kevin Gunderson to the professional ranks after last season’s magical ride to the College World Series title, Oregon State’s coaching staff knew it had the “R” word to deal with this season.

And that is going to be even more true in 2008.

“You talk about rebuilding the pitching staff — next year will really be that year for us,” pitching coach Dan Spencer says.

Six of the nine Oregon State pitchers who got at least nine innings of work this season will be gone, including five — Eddie Kunz, Mike Stutes, Daniel Turpen, Joe Paterson and Anton Maxwell — who went in last week’s major league draft. All are expected to sign.

That would leave only sophomore Mark Grbavac and freshmen Jorge Reyes and Blake Keitzman as regulars returning next season.

That doesn’t mean the cupboard is bare. Much depends on which players from the 2007 recruiting class sign pro contracts or come to school, but the group has a chance to eventually remind fans of the Buck-Nickerson-Gunderson class of four years ago.

OSU coach Pat Casey had signed the top high school pitchers in five states — Tim Alderson of Phoenix; Tanner Robles of Murray, Utah; Josh Osich of Boise, Idaho; Greg Peavey of Vancouver, Wash.; and Joey Mahalic of Portland’s Wilson High.

Alderson, who went in the first round of the the draft, almost certainly will go to the pros, as will OSU signees Travis Mattair, a third baseman from Kennewick, Wash.; and Garrett Nash, a shortstop from Draper, Utah.

Peavey — taken in the 24th round by the New York Yankees — says he is 50-50 about signing. Robles and Mahalic also were drafted, but OSU coaches are optimistic both will wind up in Corvallis along with Osich, who wasn’t drafted in part because he let scouts know he intended to pitch for the Beavers next season.

Reyes is penciled in as the Friday night starter next season. The 6-2, 175-pound right-hander from Warden, Wash., reminds Spencer of a combination of Buck and Nickerson.

Lefties help out a lot

Keitzman, a 5-10, 170-pound lefty from Roseburg High, is a candidate for a starting role.

“It’s important to have at least one left-hander in your rotation if possible,” Spencer says. “The Pac-10 is such a left-handed-hitting league, and having a left-handed starter neutralizes a lot of that. I like the movement on Blake’s fastball, that he can pitch with runners on base. He has been a big contributor on a very good club. He just has to be patient and keep progressing.”

The third starter could be a lot of guys. Maybe Brad Reid, a 6-4, 225-pound right-hander from Bellevue (Wash.) Community College. Or Eric Sogard, a 6-3, 210-pound freshman lefty from Phoenix who threw only 3 2/3 innings for the Beavers this season. Or Josh Keller, a 6-4, 240-pound sophomore right-handed Cleveland High grad who worked just one inning.

“Peavy could be that guy as a freshman, if he shows up,” Spencer says. “Brad has a plus fastball — 88 to 91 mph with sink — a very good breaking ball and a year of college under his belt.

“Eric cut his teeth this season and he has become more consistent. He has the potential to be a dominant left-hander for us, maybe even next year. Josh will throw 50 to 60 innings next year as a starter or middle guy. He’s a strike thrower with heavy sink, with an 88- to 90-mph fastball and a good slider.”

Grbavac, a 6-0, 180-pound righty from Central Catholic, seems the top choice to succeed Kunz.

“Mark has closer stuff, and you like to have some veterans in your bullpen,” Spencer says.

Alaskan needs experience

Redshirt freshmen Chad Nading (6-5, 210 right-hander from Anchorage, Alaska) and Kraig Sitton (6-5, 170-pound lefty out of McMinnville), along with Mahalic, Robles, Osich and incoming freshman Taylor Starr of Washington’s Kelso High would vie for middle-relief jobs.

“Chad’s biggest obstacle is he pitched in Anchorage, where he was flat-out striking everybody out,” Spencer says. “He needs experience, but he has a 90-mph fastball with a curve and a change. Kraig is going to be a stud. He’ll pitch some next year and be a major factor the following season. I like Joey’s sink, the bulldog mentality, the way he throws groundball outs. He’s a tough kid who will pitch in the bullpen for us next season if he comes.

“Robles was projected as a first- or second-round draft pick. He’s a left-hander with a bazooka arm and a great body. He’ll take some time, but he’ll throw some innings for us next season. Osich is a 6-3 lefty who has movement on his fastball and a good breaking ball. He’s a real prospect, too. Taylor is going to be a good one. He throws from a low angle, kind of like Turpen.”

OSU Baseball

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