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CORVALLIS — Oregon State baseball is facing one of the most challenging obstacles in the country.
Dax Whitney, Oregon State’s ace and one of the best starting pitchers in the nation, is out for the season with an elbow injury. With the Beavers (36-11) just weeks away from prospective postseason play, they now must fill crucial innings from the bump without their stud right-hander.
Luckily for the Beavers, they roster one of the most confident, talented group of pitchers around.
“Our pitching staff is so deep. We’re all so talented and I think any one of us can take the ball on any given day and have outings where we put our team in a really good place to win the game,” relief pitcher Isaac Yeager said.
There will be a ripple effect from shifting starters, starting with left-hander Ethan Kleinschmit, who is typically Oregon State’s Saturday starter. Kleinschmit is jumping into Whitney’s slot as the series opener.
Eric Segura, the Beavers’ Sunday starter, is moving into the Saturday role. Sunday remains in the air, Canham said after Oregon State’s May 1 home game against Cal State Northridge. On May 3, OSU went with Trey Morris as the Sunday starter and allowed one run over five innings.
Other Beavers who have started on the mound this spring are Connor Mendez, Noah Scott and Mason Pike. One or several of those pitchers are anticipated to see a boost in innings as Canham and OSU shuffle the puzzle pieces.
Oregon State’s most consistent relievers, such as Yeager, Wyatt Queen, AJ Hutcheson, Zach Kmatz, Zach Edwards and Tanner Douglas could also see their pitch counts rise over the coming games.
“It’s just trying to keep our team in it and just pass it on to the next guy,” Yeager said.
Whatever happens, coach Mitch Canham wants his pitching staff to remain positive, motivated and sharp.
“Some people can look at it as difficult, but we look at it as opportunity,” Canham said. “All those hard things that happen in the world, you’ve got to look at it as opportunity … We can look at a pitcher and sit there and tell you this is awful, or you can say, ‘look at all these other great things we have, and how much stronger are we going to be from these things?’”
The key to finding success through the innings Whitney’s injury has created is to lean into the camaraderie, Canham said.
“Our pitchers are so stinking tight, those guys care about each other, they work their butts off,” the coach said. “I want them to talk to each other, I want them to go fishing, I want them to work their butts off when they’re here, I want them to take care of their school work — focus on the really good things that they’re doing.”
Doing so keeps the energy high through the long, busy spring. The Beavers are in the homestretch of the regular season with eight scheduled games left counting the May 5 content versus Portland in Hillsboro, and it’s a crucial span of the season.
Oregon State has Portland, Long Beach State and Air Force remaining on the calendar. There are wins to be had that can impact whether or not the Beavers host an NCAA regional, where they’re seeded and who they play in the postseason.
Across numerous outlets, Oregon State is currently projected to host a regional in Corvallis. But with straining losses to UTRGV and CSUN within the last week, anything can happen.
Canham said the Beavers just have to keep a foot on the gas.
Whitney, who spoke to the media May 1 following a report of his impending elbow surgery, said he's ready to support his teammates from the sideline while injured, too. He wants to do everything he can to boost morale in the dugout and bullpen.
"I think the only thing I can do is focus on what I can do," Whitney said. "I've just got to make the most of every single day. It's already happened, it's not going to change, so it's just making the most of what I've got."
Canham said that’s just the type of person Whitney is.
“He’s going to still influence people at a very high level until he gets back,” the coach said. “The guys love being around him. What he did after he left the game (against Hawaii), he was right out there on the top step (of the dugout) being the type of human he is.”
Whitney’s teammates feel his support and want to reciprocate it for their injured teammate.
“We’re all pretty tight-knit,” Yeager said. “We’re just trying to do our part to make sure (Whitney) is involved, and I think he feels involved. You look at him and he’s always up on the rails, he’s always cheering, he’s the loudest one in the dugout.”
While Whitney was the Beavers’ ace and among the nation’s best in numerous statistical categories, he’s not the only OSU pitcher posting impressive numbers.
Of Oregon State’s eight pitchers with over 20 innings this season, five, in addition to Whitney, have earned-run averages below or around two runs. Segura (1.70 ERA), Yeager (1.74), Morris (1.99), Queen (1.85) and Roblez (1.66) are all challenging matchups for any batter.
In Oregon State’s May 1 matchup against CSUN without Whitney, Queen came in and was dominant for over three innings. He struck out a season-high seven batters.
“It looked like when he wanted to bury it, man, that was big time command,” Canham said of Queen. “And to go out for multiple innings this time, keep us in a really good spot in the game, too, I love seeing it. The demeanor each time he got the ball back in his glove was so consistent. I love that.”
Kleinschmit, who took the Friday start and owns a 4.11 ERA, struggled against CSUN. He allowed three home runs and six total runs, but Canham’s not worried about his new No. 1 starter.
“He’s a competitor,” Canham said of Kleinschmit. “Everyone still loves and has faith in that guy, and he’s exciting to watch.”
In Saturday’s 11-inning win over CSUN, Segura went five innings and struck out six. After that, Canham reached to the bullpen and used Edwards, Scott and Yeager.
Yeager was credited for the win after taking the bump in the eighth inning, striking out five of the first six batters he faced. He kept CSUN scoreless through four crucial innings and posted a season-high seven strikeouts to secure a Beaver win.
His and Queen’s recent performances from the bullpen are prime examples of the workload and quality the Beavers pitching staff will have to exert to close the season.
“We feel good about whatever option we have,” Canham said.
Landon Bartlett covers Oregon State University and high school sports for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at LBartlett EMAIL or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Dax Whitney injury leaves Oregon State pitchers with a tall task
Continue reading...
Dax Whitney, Oregon State’s ace and one of the best starting pitchers in the nation, is out for the season with an elbow injury. With the Beavers (36-11) just weeks away from prospective postseason play, they now must fill crucial innings from the bump without their stud right-hander.
Luckily for the Beavers, they roster one of the most confident, talented group of pitchers around.
“Our pitching staff is so deep. We’re all so talented and I think any one of us can take the ball on any given day and have outings where we put our team in a really good place to win the game,” relief pitcher Isaac Yeager said.
There will be a ripple effect from shifting starters, starting with left-hander Ethan Kleinschmit, who is typically Oregon State’s Saturday starter. Kleinschmit is jumping into Whitney’s slot as the series opener.
Eric Segura, the Beavers’ Sunday starter, is moving into the Saturday role. Sunday remains in the air, Canham said after Oregon State’s May 1 home game against Cal State Northridge. On May 3, OSU went with Trey Morris as the Sunday starter and allowed one run over five innings.
Other Beavers who have started on the mound this spring are Connor Mendez, Noah Scott and Mason Pike. One or several of those pitchers are anticipated to see a boost in innings as Canham and OSU shuffle the puzzle pieces.
Oregon State’s most consistent relievers, such as Yeager, Wyatt Queen, AJ Hutcheson, Zach Kmatz, Zach Edwards and Tanner Douglas could also see their pitch counts rise over the coming games.
“It’s just trying to keep our team in it and just pass it on to the next guy,” Yeager said.
Whatever happens, coach Mitch Canham wants his pitching staff to remain positive, motivated and sharp.
“Some people can look at it as difficult, but we look at it as opportunity,” Canham said. “All those hard things that happen in the world, you’ve got to look at it as opportunity … We can look at a pitcher and sit there and tell you this is awful, or you can say, ‘look at all these other great things we have, and how much stronger are we going to be from these things?’”
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Staying positive through adversity
The key to finding success through the innings Whitney’s injury has created is to lean into the camaraderie, Canham said.
“Our pitchers are so stinking tight, those guys care about each other, they work their butts off,” the coach said. “I want them to talk to each other, I want them to go fishing, I want them to work their butts off when they’re here, I want them to take care of their school work — focus on the really good things that they’re doing.”
Doing so keeps the energy high through the long, busy spring. The Beavers are in the homestretch of the regular season with eight scheduled games left counting the May 5 content versus Portland in Hillsboro, and it’s a crucial span of the season.
Oregon State has Portland, Long Beach State and Air Force remaining on the calendar. There are wins to be had that can impact whether or not the Beavers host an NCAA regional, where they’re seeded and who they play in the postseason.
Across numerous outlets, Oregon State is currently projected to host a regional in Corvallis. But with straining losses to UTRGV and CSUN within the last week, anything can happen.
Canham said the Beavers just have to keep a foot on the gas.
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Whitney, who spoke to the media May 1 following a report of his impending elbow surgery, said he's ready to support his teammates from the sideline while injured, too. He wants to do everything he can to boost morale in the dugout and bullpen.
"I think the only thing I can do is focus on what I can do," Whitney said. "I've just got to make the most of every single day. It's already happened, it's not going to change, so it's just making the most of what I've got."
Canham said that’s just the type of person Whitney is.
“He’s going to still influence people at a very high level until he gets back,” the coach said. “The guys love being around him. What he did after he left the game (against Hawaii), he was right out there on the top step (of the dugout) being the type of human he is.”
Whitney’s teammates feel his support and want to reciprocate it for their injured teammate.
“We’re all pretty tight-knit,” Yeager said. “We’re just trying to do our part to make sure (Whitney) is involved, and I think he feels involved. You look at him and he’s always up on the rails, he’s always cheering, he’s the loudest one in the dugout.”
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Plenty of talent on the mound
While Whitney was the Beavers’ ace and among the nation’s best in numerous statistical categories, he’s not the only OSU pitcher posting impressive numbers.
Of Oregon State’s eight pitchers with over 20 innings this season, five, in addition to Whitney, have earned-run averages below or around two runs. Segura (1.70 ERA), Yeager (1.74), Morris (1.99), Queen (1.85) and Roblez (1.66) are all challenging matchups for any batter.
In Oregon State’s May 1 matchup against CSUN without Whitney, Queen came in and was dominant for over three innings. He struck out a season-high seven batters.
“It looked like when he wanted to bury it, man, that was big time command,” Canham said of Queen. “And to go out for multiple innings this time, keep us in a really good spot in the game, too, I love seeing it. The demeanor each time he got the ball back in his glove was so consistent. I love that.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Kleinschmit, who took the Friday start and owns a 4.11 ERA, struggled against CSUN. He allowed three home runs and six total runs, but Canham’s not worried about his new No. 1 starter.
“He’s a competitor,” Canham said of Kleinschmit. “Everyone still loves and has faith in that guy, and he’s exciting to watch.”
In Saturday’s 11-inning win over CSUN, Segura went five innings and struck out six. After that, Canham reached to the bullpen and used Edwards, Scott and Yeager.
Yeager was credited for the win after taking the bump in the eighth inning, striking out five of the first six batters he faced. He kept CSUN scoreless through four crucial innings and posted a season-high seven strikeouts to secure a Beaver win.
His and Queen’s recent performances from the bullpen are prime examples of the workload and quality the Beavers pitching staff will have to exert to close the season.
“We feel good about whatever option we have,” Canham said.
Landon Bartlett covers Oregon State University and high school sports for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at LBartlett EMAIL or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Dax Whitney injury leaves Oregon State pitchers with a tall task
Continue reading...
