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The Oregon Ducks have already seen some of their big transfer portal entrants land elsewhere, and one of the best players still available in the portal could decide where he is going very soon.
Oregon freshman designated hitter Naulivou Lauaki Jr. announced three finalists in his transfer recruitment on TikTok, naming Georgia, Florida, and Texas A&M as the top contenders for his services. While there is currently no timeline for when he will make a decision, we now have an outline for where he will be going, and it is not too surprising.
The Ducks watched many of their best players leave via the transfer portal due to a lack of NIL resources that power programs in the SEC can provide. Oregon catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus became the first to make the move, committing to Mississippi State. Another freshman, outfielder Angel Laya, has also drawn interest from SEC powers, such as Texas, Texas A&M and LSU.
After Laya set the tone by entering the portal, Lauaki's decision to leave Eugene was a gut punch, but not unexpected. As a freshman, Lauaki hit .321 with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs after becoming a staple in the lineup in the second half of the season.
While his power in the lineup will be missed, his departure is also a blow to the pitching staff. The Ducks initially recruited Lauaki for his big fastball on the mound. After sitting out a season while he recovered from Tommy John surgery, he returned as a designated hitter for his redshirt-freshman season. In 2027, Lauaki was expected to return to the mound in a bullpen role, becoming a two-way star for Oregon.
However, those plans are up in the air. Georgia, Florida and Texas A&M are recruiting Lauaki for his powerful bat, leaving his ability to pitch in the future unclear. Lauaki is an important get for all three SEC programs. The Gators and Aggies both fell at home in their own regionals, while the Bulldogs, which led the nation in home runs by a healthy margin, came up short in the College World Series.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon transfer Naulivou Lauaki Jr. names SEC trio as finalists
Continue reading...
Oregon freshman designated hitter Naulivou Lauaki Jr. announced three finalists in his transfer recruitment on TikTok, naming Georgia, Florida, and Texas A&M as the top contenders for his services. While there is currently no timeline for when he will make a decision, we now have an outline for where he will be going, and it is not too surprising.
The Ducks watched many of their best players leave via the transfer portal due to a lack of NIL resources that power programs in the SEC can provide. Oregon catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus became the first to make the move, committing to Mississippi State. Another freshman, outfielder Angel Laya, has also drawn interest from SEC powers, such as Texas, Texas A&M and LSU.
After Laya set the tone by entering the portal, Lauaki's decision to leave Eugene was a gut punch, but not unexpected. As a freshman, Lauaki hit .321 with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs after becoming a staple in the lineup in the second half of the season.
While his power in the lineup will be missed, his departure is also a blow to the pitching staff. The Ducks initially recruited Lauaki for his big fastball on the mound. After sitting out a season while he recovered from Tommy John surgery, he returned as a designated hitter for his redshirt-freshman season. In 2027, Lauaki was expected to return to the mound in a bullpen role, becoming a two-way star for Oregon.
However, those plans are up in the air. Georgia, Florida and Texas A&M are recruiting Lauaki for his powerful bat, leaving his ability to pitch in the future unclear. Lauaki is an important get for all three SEC programs. The Gators and Aggies both fell at home in their own regionals, while the Bulldogs, which led the nation in home runs by a healthy margin, came up short in the College World Series.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon transfer Naulivou Lauaki Jr. names SEC trio as finalists
Continue reading...
